Later that day, Dennis asked through counsel whether he could send me a personal letter.

I considered it and agreed to receive it through Elaine.

It arrived a week later.

He wrote that he’d been arrogant, that he had treated my work and intelligence as threats, and that he regretted making me leave.

He said the failed sale had frightened him and that he’d looked for someone to blame.

He did not ask me to come back.

I couldn’t tell how much of the letter came from genuine self-examination and how much came from losing the admiration he once took for granted.