Richard paused.
"We all carried something away from that room."
Arthur said nothing.
Richard looked toward the training floor.
"Maybe that's why you should teach."
Arthur shook his head.
"Don't."
"I'm not asking you to fight again."
"I know."
"I'm asking you not to let the worst thing that happened become the only thing you remember."
Arthur looked at him.
Richard's voice softened.
"Daniel loved training. He loved learning. He loved being around people who understood him. You can still honor that without pretending nothing happened."
Arthur stared at the empty mat.
He thought about the photograph.
The unfinished training schedule.
Daniel asking him to teach somebody.
And the words he had spoken at the rehabilitation community.
People get hurt anyway. Doesn't mean you stop helping.
Arthur looked back at Richard.
"You're becoming sentimental."
Richard smiled.
"Age does that."
Arthur shook his head.
But he was smiling too.
That afternoon, Grant Harrington arrived at Apex.
He had not been there since the argument with Victoria.
He walked into the reception area and asked for her.
Victoria met him in the office.
"Grant."
"Victoria."
He placed a folder on the desk.
"I've reviewed the revised sponsorship agreement."
Victoria nodded.
"And?"
"I have concerns."
She sat down.
"About what?"
"The new safety policies. The additional instructor position. The changes to the advanced program."
Victoria folded her hands.
"They are necessary."
Grant looked at her.
"You're spending money on someone who was hired to clean the building."
Victoria's expression did not change.
"Arthur is now an instructor."
"Because you decided to promote him."
"Because he has the experience and knowledge we need."
Grant opened the folder.
"I've received several messages from members. Some are concerned that the academy is changing its focus."
Victoria raised an eyebrow.
"Which members?"
Grant did not answer.
She continued.
"Have they spoken to you directly?"
"Some."
"Are they concerned about safety?"
Grant looked uncomfortable.
"They're concerned about standards."
"Which standards?"
He closed the folder.
"Victoria, you know what I'm saying."
She did.
Grant wanted the academy to remain a place where influential members received special treatment.
He wanted his son to move ahead without having to earn every step.
He wanted the old arrangement.
Victoria stood.
"I won't do that."
Grant looked up.
"Excuse me?"
"I won't lower our standards to satisfy your expectations."
"You're making a mistake."
"Maybe."
Grant rose.
"Then I think we should reconsider the sponsorship."
Victoria nodded.
"If that's what you decide."
Grant looked at her for several seconds.
Then he left.
Victoria remained standing.
She felt the weight of the decision.
The academy needed money.
The second location was expensive.
There were salaries, equipment costs, rent, insurance, and maintenance expenses.
Losing Grant's support would hurt.
But she had begun to understand that the price of keeping his money might be greater than the money itself.
Blake learned about the meeting that evening.
His father called him while he was driving home.
"What did Victoria say?"
Grant was silent for a moment.
"She intends to continue with the new policies."
Blake frowned.
"What's wrong with that?"
"She is changing the academy because of one employee."
Blake gripped the steering wheel.
"Arthur?"
"Yes."
Blake looked through the windshield.
"He's not just an employee."
Grant sighed.
"Don't start."
Blake continued.
"He knows what he's doing."
"That isn't the point."
"Then what is?"
Grant's voice became sharper.
"The point is that people are beginning to treat him as if he is more important than the people who built this place."
Blake was quiet.
Then he said:
"Maybe they respect him because he respects them."
Grant did not answer.
Blake continued.
"Maybe people listen to him because he doesn't care whether they're rich."
Grant's voice hardened.
"You're my son. I don't expect you to take sides against me."
"I'm not taking sides."
"Then stop defending him."
Blake looked at the road.
"I don't think he's the problem."
The call ended shortly afterward.
Blake drove home in silence.
For the first time, he was beginning to understand how much of his behavior had come from watching his father.
Grant had never told him to insult staff.
He had never explicitly told him to ignore coaches.
But he had taught him, through years of small decisions, that money created exceptions.
Blake had simply learned the lesson too well.
The next day, Marcus found Blake working alone on the footwork markers.
He was repeating the same movement over and over.
Marcus approached.
"How's the wrist?"
"Better."
"Good."
Blake continued.
Marcus watched for a moment.
"Your balance is improving."
Blake nodded.
"Arthur showed me something."
"That's good."
Blake stopped.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Did you know he was that good?"
Marcus smiled.
"Not at first."
"Why didn't he tell anyone?"