Chapter 4

I fired my first warning shot as the new boss on Monday morning.

The all-hands meeting was packed. The large auditorium was filled to capacity.

Standing on the stage, I looked out at the sea of familiar faces.

These were my colleagues of eight years. People I had shared lunches and jokes with just three months ago. Now, they looked at me with a mix of fear, curiosity, and respect.

Some avoided my eyes, some tried to smile flatteringly, and some just looked numb. A few were even secretly gloating, throwing glances at the front row where Richard and Brenda sat, waiting for the drama to unfold.

Richard had put on a fresh, ironed shirt, trying desperately to look composed. But his hands betrayed him—resting on his knees, his knuckles were white. Brenda sat next to him, dark circles under her eyes, looking like she hadn't slept in days.

I turned on the projector.

"Vanguard Capital's acquisition of Aura Tech is officially finalized, effective today," I announced. I paused, letting my voice carry through the room.

"As the lead representative, my first executive order is this: every single position is open for re-application."

A collective murmur rippled through the crowd.

"Every role will be evaluated based on merit alone. The standard is simple: performance."

I clicked to the next slide, displaying a detailed spreadsheet.

"The HR department has compiled the performance reviews for the last three years. Anyone with consecutive 'Needs Improvement' or low-grade ratings will automatically be placed on probation. Anyone with consistent failing marks will proceed directly to termination."

Brenda’s head snapped up.

I met her gaze and smiled. "Any questions, Brenda?"

Her lips trembled, but no sound came out.

"Great." I clicked to the next slide. "The schedule and requirements for the application process will be emailed to you by noon. Portfolios are due by Friday, and interviews will begin next Monday."

The room was dead silent.

I turned off the projector and nodded to the crowd. "Meeting adjourned."

As the crowd filed out, I stood my ground. Some people gave me polite, hesitant nods; some pretended not to see me; others looked like they wanted to apologize but lacked the courage.

Once the room emptied out, I walked slowly toward the exit.

Richard was waiting for me at the door.

"Nora," he said, squeezing out a tight smile. "Do you have a few minutes?"

I checked my watch. "Five minutes."

He nodded frantically, leading me into a small, vacant meeting room nearby.

The moment the door clicked shut, his shoulders slumped, and he practically bowed.

"Nora, listen," he said, rubbing his hands together. "We worked together for eight years. I’ve always supported you. Remember when you first interviewed here? I was the one who approved your hire."

I looked at him calmly. "I remember. You told me it wasn't easy for a young woman in this industry, and that I should work hard."

"Exactly!" His eyes lit up. "I always saw your potential. The year you got your first A-grade review, I was the one who nominated you—"

"Richard," I cut him off. "What is your point?"

His smile faltered.

"Well," he whispered, "about this re-application... I’m forty-eight, and I’ve been with this company for almost two decades. Surely my loyalty counts for something? Some of these younger kids have talent, sure, but they don't have my experience—"

"So you want to bypass the interview process?"

He choked on his words, his jaw slack.

"Nora," he pleaded, dropping the professional title. "Why are you doing this? What happened back then... it was just corporate policy. It wasn't my personal decision—"

"What happened back then," I said, "your exact words were: 'If you had a boyfriend, we might have reconsidered.'"

Richard’s face burned red. "That was... I was just talking—"

"I recorded it."

He froze.

I pulled my phone from my pocket and tapped a voice memo.

"Nora, you’re thirty, right?"

"I’m three months away from thirty."

"So, thirty. The company is rebranding... A single woman your age is a liability."

Brenda’s sharp, condescending voice filled the quiet room, clear as day.

Richard's face drained of color.

"Richard," I said, locking my phone. "Do you have anything else to say?"

His mouth opened and closed, but he couldn't form a single word.

I opened the door and walked out.

Behind me, his hollow voice drifted out: "That recording... when did you start recording?"

I didn't turn around. "The second I walked into that office three months ago."

At the end of the hallway, the elevator doors opened. Liam was leaning against the wall inside, a smirk playing on his lips.

"All done?"

"Just warming up," I said, stepping inside. "What are you doing here?"

"Picking up my wife from work," he said, pressing the lobby button. "Didn't you promise I'd get to see some action tonight?"

I laughed.

"Don't be impatient," I said, watching the numbers tick down. "The real show is just getting started."