"I see."
Michael noticed.
Victor knew the name.
Arthur said:
"We need to talk."
Victor sat.
"You've been investigating my company."
Arthur placed the evidence on the table.
"Your company?"
Victor smiled.
"You misunderstand."
"No."
Arthur pushed the documents forward.
"I understand perfectly."
Victor leaned back.
"You have no proof."
Michael placed the notebook on the table.
Victor looked at it.
"What is that?"
"History."
Victor laughed.
"History doesn't prove anything."
"No."
Michael answered.
"But records do."
He placed the financial documents beside it.
Victor's smile disappeared.
Arthur spoke quietly.
"You stole from me."
Victor stood.
"I protected this company."
"You tried to destroy it."
"I tried to save it from you."
Arthur looked at him.
"By stealing?"
Victor said nothing.
Michael stepped forward.
"You made one mistake."
Victor glared.
"What?"
"You assumed hungry people had nothing to offer."
Victor laughed.
"What does that mean?"
Michael smiled.
"It means you never understood who you were dealing with."
Victor turned toward the door.
Police officers entered.
Arthur had already contacted authorities.
Victor stopped.
For the first time, he looked afraid.
The investigation lasted months.
Victor was charged.
Richard cooperated.
The stolen money was recovered.
The Bellmont's employees were protected.
And Arthur changed the hotel permanently.
Every night, edible food was collected.
Fresh meals were distributed.
No questions.
No paperwork.
No humiliation.
Just food.
Michael became director of the new program.
They called it:
Yesterday's Bread.
The program expanded.
First one hotel.
Then five.
Then twenty.
Restaurants joined.
Bakeries joined.
Grocery stores joined.
Thousands of meals were delivered every week.
Michael never forgot the first night.
The night he had walked into the Bellmont carrying Lily.
The night he had asked for bread nobody wanted.
One evening, Arthur found Michael in the kitchen.
"You know something?"
"What?"