Chapter 8 — Respect Has No Price

At ten o'clock the next morning, the doorbell rang. I opened the door. James stood outside, with two assistants behind him. Each person's hand was full of brand shopping bags. He bowed slightly, his expression extremely serious.

“I'm here.”

I leaned over to let him enter the house.

“James, there's really no need to do it so solemnly.”

He shook his head.

“I really need to do that.”

As soon as he entered the living room, James saw my mother carrying tea out of the kitchen. He immediately walked quickly forward, taking the tea cup with both hands.

“You must be Van's mother.”

“Auntie… sorry for making you feel upset.”

His Chinese is not yet clear, but his attitude is so sincere that it is impossible to scrutinize. My mother was embarrassed by that serious look and quickly waved her hand.

“It's okay, it's okay.”

“Quickly sit down, don't stand anymore.”

James did not sit. He turned around and took the bags from his assistant, placing them on the tea table one by one.

“Auntie, here are some products of our brand.”

“I asked my assistant to choose suitable models for you…”

He thought for a moment before finding the right words.

“Consider it… an apology gift.”

My mother looked at the pile of shopping bags in front of her and widened her eyes.

“This much… this much?!”

“Not much.”

James put down the last bag, then stood seriously in front of my mother, bowing again.

“I want to say something to you.”

“You are a very wonderful mother.”

"Van can become the outstanding person he is today... definitely thanks to you."

My mother was complimented until her face turned red. The mouth kept saying "it's not there", but the corners of the lips curled up and couldn't be pressed down. I stood next to him and watched, my heart softening. After the social scene, James turned to me, his expression gradually becoming more serious.

“Van, about cooperation…”

“Don't talk about cooperation.”

I interrupted.

“Let's talk about compensation first.”

“Public-private distinction.”

“I don't take advantage of you, but don't let me suffer either.”

James nodded.

“You say it.”

"The first."

“All compensation is made according to the law.”

“My mother was threatened, forced to illegally detain her, causing mental harm.”

“Emotional compensation is calculated according to legal standards.”

James nodded immediately.

“The management and employees involved must be handled according to the law.”

“I do not interfere with the judiciary.”

“But I reserve the right to pursue it to the end.”

I looked straight at him.

“The brand's official account must publicly apologize.”

“Also linked to my account.”

“The apology video must be sincere.”

“I don't need a PR post full of cliches.”

“I want everyone to know…”

“This is not ‘employee personal conduct’.”

“It's a failure in the management of the entire brand.”

James was silent for a few seconds then nodded. I added.

“Sorry video, you have to appear in person.”

James paused. Then laugh bitterly.

“Are you sure?”

“If I appeared in person, headquarters might…”

I leaned back on the sofa and shook my head.

“What you need to worry about now is not whether headquarters agrees to let you appear or not.”

“If you don't show up.”

“This will not pass.”

“He is the global vice president.”

“The flagship store under you sells fake goods.”

“Store manager blackmails customers.”

“The operations director used a 10% discount card to cover it up mouth of the victim."

“If you don't come forward.”

“So who stands up?”

James was silent for a long time. My mother sat next to me, looked at me and then looked at him, so tense that she almost didn't dare breathe loudly. James slowly exhaled a long breath, as if he had just made a great determination.

“I will appear in person.”

James took out a file from his briefcase and gave it to me.

“This is the first draft of the apology statement, please take a look.”

I received it, skimmed a few lines, and my eyebrows immediately furrowed.

“No way.”

“No place?”

“It's all nonsense.”

I placed the documents firmly on the coffee table.

“What is 'extremely sorry', 'especially important', 'seriously handling'..."

“These are all standard sentences for crisis PR articles.”

“Saying it is the same as not saying it.”