Outside on the sidewalk, Alicia pulled out her phone and dialed Camille. "How did it go?" Camille asked. "Prepare the terminations," Alicia replied, her voice calm but resolute. "And move up the announcement. I've seen everything I need to see."
The next morning, Vanessa Whitfield arrived at Prestige & Co. 15 minutes early, as was her habit. She prided herself on being the first to arrive and the last to leave. Her dedication had earned her the manager position 5 years ago. The store wouldn't open to the public for another hour, giving the staff time to prepare the displays and review the day's appointments.
As she unlocked the front door, Vanessa noticed something unusual. The lights were already on. Moving cautiously into the main showroom, she spotted a notice taped to the door of the conference room. Mandatory emergency corporate briefing 8 a.m. sharp. All staff required to attend.
Frowning, Vanessa checked her email. There was nothing from corporate headquarters about a meeting. She pulled out her phone to call her district manager, but was interrupted by the arrival of Chad Thompson. "What's with the sign?" he asked, shrugging off his jacket. "I don't know." Vanessa admitted. "No one told me about a meeting."
By 7:55, the entire staff had arrived, clustering uncertainly outside the conference room. Maya was the last to join them, clutching her notebook nervously. "Should we go in?" she asked. Vanessa straightened her blazer and adopted her most authoritative posture. "Let's find out what this is about."
She pushed open the door and stopped abruptly. Seated at the head of the conference table was the woman from yesterday, the one she'd dismissed as a casual browser. But today, she was transformed. Gone were the jeans and simple blouse, replaced by an impeccably tailored suit.
Her hair was pulled back in a sleek chignon, and a single strand of diamonds glinted at her throat. Even more surprising were the people flanking her. Two individuals in expensive suits who had the unmistakable bearing of corporate lawyers, and two others who, based on their earpieces and vigilant posture, were clearly security personnel.
Vanessa felt a cold knot form in her stomach. "Please, everyone take a seat." the woman said, her voice calm but commanding. The staff filed in silently, exchanging confused glances. Chad leaned toward Vanessa as they sat down. "What is she even doing here?" he whispered.
The woman stood and the room fell silent. "For those of you who don't know me, my name is Alicia Monroe," she began. "As of last week, I became the sole owner of Prestige & Company." A collective gasp rippled through the room. Vanessa felt the blood drain from her face.
"This wasn't scheduled to be announced until next week," Alicia continued. "But after my visit yesterday, I decided to accelerate the timeline." She nodded to one of the suited individuals who handed out folders to each staff member. "Inside you'll find documentation of the acquisition along with a comprehensive review of yesterday's store visit."