He looked around the room.
“This is insane.”
Regina remained still.
Kyle stood.
“This whole thing is discrimination.”
Serena raised one eyebrow.
“Against whom?”
“Against us.”
Kyle pointed toward Regina.
“She buys the company and starts firing white employees.”
Regina looked toward the screen.
“Would you like the racial demographics of everyone retaining employment today?”
Kyle stopped.
Regina continued.
“Or would you prefer we stay with the documented reasons your employment is ending?”
His face reddened.
Security moved closer.
Kyle grabbed the envelope.
“This place is going to collapse.”
Regina nodded.
“Then you’ll be relieved not to work here.”
He left.
Meredith followed two minutes later.
At the door, she turned back.
“You have no idea what you’re destroying.”
Regina looked around the conference room.
“No.”
“I know what I purchased.”
Meredith left.
The door closed.
Nobody relaxed.
Regina understood why.
She looked around the table.
“The rest of you are not being fired today.”
Several people exhaled.
“Do not mistake that for clearance.”
The relief disappeared.
“Over the next thirty days, every employee at this location will undergo individual review.”
“Customer complaints.”
“Sales patterns.”
“Internal behavior.”
“Training history.”
“Those who can change will have an opportunity to stay.”
She paused.
“Those who believe dignity is a service reserved for customers who look wealthy enough will not.”
Then she looked toward Elena.
“Elena Morris.”
The trainee stiffened.
“Yes, ma’am?”
“How long have you worked here?”
“Five months.”
Regina nodded.
“You were the only employee yesterday who approached without asking yourself whether I was worth the effort.”
Elena looked down.
“I just offered water.”
“Exactly.”
Regina smiled slightly.
“Basic decency should not be remarkable.”
She slid a folder toward her.
“That is why this is not a reward for heroism.”
Elena opened it.
Inside was a temporary appointment as client-experience coordinator.
Six months.
Training budget.
Mentorship.
No guarantee of permanent promotion.
Elena looked confused.
“I thought you might make me manager.”
Regina smiled.
“Why?”
“Because I was nice to you.”
“That qualifies you to remain in the conversation.”
Regina leaned back.
“Management requires more.”
Elena stared at the paperwork.
Then slowly smiled.
“I like that answer.”