C240 The First Blow

The atmosphere inside the boardroom grew heavier with every passing second. Not a single executive dared to make a sound. The silence was no longer ordinary, it was oppressive. Everyone could tell that Director Alicia Smith had not gathered them merely to settle yesterday's disagreement. There was something much bigger hidden behind her questions. Alicia calmly looked around the boardroom before speaking. "Good morning, everyone."

Her composed voice echoed through the silent room. "I heard that some people called a board meeting yesterday." Her sharp eyes slowly swept across every face seated before her before she continued. "What surprises me even more is that the board members actually approved that meeting." Silence. Not a single person dared to respond. Alicia folded her hands neatly on the table. "I made it very clear that no one should do what is beyond their authority, yet it seems my words were treated as though they meant nothing."

She paused, allowing her words to sink in. "I honestly don't know whether I should consider this as my verbal warning being completely ignored... or something else." Cold sweat instantly formed on the foreheads of Thomas Becker and Edwards McCarthy. Alicia raised her gaze once more. "I never intended to begin my leadership on the wrong foot. I wanted us to work together peacefully. Unfortunately, some people have forced me to take a different approach."

Her eyes settled directly on the two supervisors. "Would the two of you mind answering a question for me?" Both men stiffened before slowly nodding. Alicia leaned back in her chair. "Tell me... how did the two of you know that Harris Group was one of the companies interested in acquiring Lucia Goods?" The entire boardroom froze. Several board members exchanged puzzled glances. That was not the question anyone had been expecting.

Everyone had assumed Alicia would question the two supervisors about yesterday's attempt to delay the appointment of the inspectors. Instead, she had completely changed the direction of the meeting. Even Thomas Becker and Edwards McCarthy were visibly caught off guard. The two men looked at each other, silently searching for an answer. After waiting several seconds, Alicia asked again, "Well? Are neither of you going to answer me?"

Thomas Becker finally cleared his throat and slowly stood up. "Director... we only heard the rumours circulating throughout the company. At that time, we didn't know that the Mooney family had already purchased Lucia Goods." A faint smile appeared on Alicia's face. "Really?" She then shifted her attention to Edwards McCarthy. "And you, Mr. McCarthy? Aren't you going to answer my question as well?" Edwards McCarthy slowly rose from his seat. "Director, with all due respect, I don't understand how Harris Group has anything to do with what we discussed yesterday."

Alicia looked at him without the slightest change in expression. "Was that the answer to my question?" Mr. McCarthy froze. The calmness in Alicia's voice irritated him even more. Being questioned by someone young enough to be his daughter bruised his pride, yet he couldn't openly challenge her authority. After a brief silence, he reluctantly spoke. "My apologies, Director. To answer your question... my response is the same as Mr. Becker's. We simply heard the rumours that were spreading around the company."

Alicia slowly nodded as though everything had become clear. "I see." She paused before asking another question. "So... the reason both of you oppose everything I do is because you genuinely believed Harris Group would become the new owners of Lucia Goods?" The moment those words left her mouth, both men froze. Alicia rested both hands lightly on the polished conference table before speaking again.

She looked directly at Thomas Becker before shifting her gaze to Edward McCarthy. "...perhaps you can explain something else to me." Thomas felt his heartbeat quicken. "What... what would you like to know, Director?" Alicia smiled faintly. "This morning I personally reviewed the company's financial records." The room instantly became tense. Several department heads exchanged uneasy glances. Finance reports? Why was she reviewing those herself? Wasn't she only in her second day?

Alicia continued calmly. "According to the purchasing records, the number of technical components bought over the last several years is consistently much higher than the number of finished products our company has manufactured." She gently tapped the documents before her. "I would like someone to explain that difference." Silence. No one volunteered. Thomas slowly stood up. "Director..." "In manufacturing there are always defective parts." He forced a smile. "Some components fail quality standards. Others are damaged during assembly. Production losses are normal in every factory." Several employees nodded instinctively.

His explanation sounded reasonable. Even some people who had worked there for years accepted it without question. Alicia nodded thoughtfully. "I agree." Thomas immediately relaxed. "But..." That single word made him tense again. "If defective production is the explanation..." She looked straight into his eyes. "...then why were you and Mr. McCarthy so strongly opposed to creating inspection positions yesterday?" The room fell silent again. "If quality losses are already occurring..." "Shouldn't additional inspectors reduce those losses?"

No one answered. Alicia continued. "Instead..." "You fought harder than anyone else against the inspection department." Her gaze became noticeably colder. "You even requested that my decision be revoked." Thomas opened his mouth before closing it again. Edward finally spoke. "Director..." "We simply believed the company wasn't financially prepared." Alicia tilted her head. "Really?"

She slowly lifted another report. "Interesting." "Because according to these reports..." "...our purchasing costs have continued increasing while production efficiency has continued dropping." She placed the file back onto the table. "So tell me..." "If the company is already losing money..." "Why would anyone reject tighter inspections?" No one had an answer. The executives sitting nearby suddenly realized something.

Director Alicia wasn't questioning them emotionally. She was cornering them with logic. Every answer they gave only created another question. Edward clenched his fists beneath the table. This young woman... She wasn't as inexperienced as everyone had assumed. Meanwhile, I watched quietly from beside her. A small smile slowly appeared on my face. She's doing exactly what she planned. She's making them expose themselves.

Alicia finally broke the silence again. "When I first arrived here..." "I made something very clear." She looked around the room. "I told everyone that regardless of age, position or years of experience..." "...everyone in this company is an employee." "And every employee must know when to speak..." "...and when to respect authority." Her voice remained gentle. Yet every word carried unmistakable pressure. "I also remember giving everyone a warning."

She paused briefly. "My first warning..." "...would also be my final warning." Thomas and Edward immediately understood where the conversation was heading. Neither of them looked comfortable anymore. Alicia folded her hands together. "Unfortunately..." "You both ignored that warning." She looked directly at them. "You challenged my authority before I had even completed my second day as Director." "You attempted to influence company decisions." "You questioned appointments that were never within your authority." "You even tried convincing other executives to vote against management decisions."

She took a slow breath. "So..." "As Director..." "I have reached my decision." The room became deathly quiet. Every eye focused on Alicia. Alicia spoke clearly. "Mr. Thomas Becker..." "Mr. Edward McCarthy..." "I am officially relieving both of you of your positions as departmental supervisors..." "...effective immediately." A loud gasp escaped from several executives. "What?" Thomas shot to his feet. "Director!" "What do you mean by that?"

Edward also stood abruptly. "You can't simply remove us!" "We've worked here for years!" "We earned those positions!" Alicia remained perfectly calm. "I never said I was dismissing either of you." Both men froze. She continued. "You are still employees of Lucia Goods." "You will simply return to your original departments as ordinary staff members." "The supervisor positions you currently occupy..." "...will be filled by people who understand the meaning of responsibility."

Shock spread throughout the room. No one had expected this outcome. She wasn't firing them. She was humiliating them. Being stripped of authority in front of every executive was worse than dismissal. Thomas's face turned pale. Edward's breathing became heavier. "This is impossible!" Edward shouted. "I know my rights!" "You've only been Director for two days!" "You have no right to humiliate us like this!"

Alicia looked at him without even blinking. "If you truly understood your rights..." "...then you would also understand my authority." "My warning last time was very clear." "I am not responsible for teaching experienced adults how to conduct themselves." Her voice remained composed. "If either of you is dissatisfied with this decision..." "...you are completely free to resign." She smiled politely. "Or retire." "The company will gladly process your benefits and UIF."

Once again... Silence. The executives sitting nearby lowered their heads. Nobody wanted Alicia's attention to shift toward them. Thomas suddenly laughed bitterly. "So..." "This is how you intend to lead?" "A child becomes Director and immediately humiliates her elders?" He looked around the room. "No wonder Charlie Kinlore resigned." He turned back toward Alicia. "If that's your leadership style..." "Then I resign." "Effective immediately." Everyone inhaled sharply.

Edward looked at Thomas before nodding. "Then I resign too." He pointed at Alicia. "You'll regret this." "This company will collapse under your leadership." "You'll understand that experience matters more than arrogance." Alicia simply smiled. "Thank you for your service, Mr. Becker." "And thank you, Mr. McCarthy." She gestured toward the boardroom doors. "You are now dismissed." "For HR purposes, please submit your resignation letters before leaving the premises." Neither man moved.

Alicia calmly added, "Unless..." "You've changed your minds." Their expressions became even uglier. Without another word, they stormed out of the boardroom. The heavy doors slammed shut behind them. The loud bang echoed throughout the silent room. Nobody spoke. Nobody even dared to breathe too loudly. For the first time... Everyone truly understood. Director Alicia Smith wasn't merely making threats.

She acted on every word she spoke. And that realization left every remaining executive wondering the same frightening question. If she could demote two senior supervisors without hesitation... ...what would happen to anyone else who dared stand against her?