“My 78-Year-Old Boss Took Me to a Park and Said, ‘As of Today, You No Longer Work for Me.’ I Froze, Thinking He Was Firing Me After Years of Loyalty… Then He Offered to Keep Me Only on One Condition. What He Said Made Me Walk Away in Tears.”

At four o’clock on Friday, Richard came downstairs. He was not even wearing a tie.

“Let’s go.”

“Where?”

“Not far.”

Ten minutes later, we arrived at a small park. We walked to a bench. Richard sat down. I remained standing.

“Sit down, Emily.”

“Mr. Bennett, if you’re going to fire me, please just say it.”

He looked at me silently for a moment.

Then he said,

“Fine. As of today, you no longer work for me.”