Chapter 66: The Result

The following week, Matthew and Harold stood before a gathering of Harold's workers at the company's main stables. The air was thick with uncertainty as the workers, clad in the worn uniforms of their trade, sat on benches and crates, murmuring among themselves. Most of them looked skeptical, a few openly hostile, but all were curious to hear what their employer and this new automobile magnate had to say.

Harold stepped forward, clearing his throat. He looked out at his workers, men and women he had known for years, and took a deep breath.

"Listen up, everyone," Harold began, his voice steady but tinged with emotion. "You all know me. I've been running this business for decades, and I've always tried to do right by you. But times are changing faster than any of us expected. The truth is… the world doesn't need as many horses and carriages anymore. The automobile is here, and it's changing everything."