GREEN STATUS

THE COUNTDOWN

6 58 AM Floor 50 Executive Boardroom

The air on floor 50 was colder than anywhere else in Hayes Corp It always had been Power did that to a place

Richard Hayes sat at the head of the table Papers were laid out in front of him neat and precise Each one was a piece of the case against Catherine Holloway and Joseph Hayes

Nathan sat to his right Quiet alert watching

Catherine sat across from them Alone No Joseph to back her up this time

Three days had passed since Joseph was placed on leave Three days of silence from his office Three days of rumors spreading through the building like wildfire

Richard tapped the table once

We’re here because of multiple violations of company policy and potential criminal conduct he said His voice was calm but it carried He looked at Catherine Holloway do you have anything to say before we begin

Catherine sat straight Her makeup was perfect Her suit was flawless But her hands under the table were clenched

I have served this company for twelve years she said I have built this department from nothing I will not sit here and let the word of a girl with no record be used to destroy me

Elma wasn’t in the room But her name was

Richard slid a folder across the table Open it

Catherine opened it slowly Inside were printouts Emails contracts time logs The same evidence Elma had found but more The IT team had gone deeper

There was an email from Catherine to an outside vendor dated two weeks ago Subject Adjustment needed Body Reduce the invoice for department 12 by 8 percent Keep the difference in the holding account

There was a contract signed by Catherine with a shell company that didn’t exist

There was a record of Joseph transferring funds from that account to a personal account in the Cayman Islands

Catherine’s face didn’t change But her eyes did

This is fabricated she said

IT has verified the metadata Richard said Every timestamp Every IP address Every edit It’s real Catherine

Nathan spoke for the first time Do you want to explain it

Catherine looked at him She had trained him She had mentored him She had thought he was loyal

I did what was necessary for this company she said Low voice steady If I didn’t keep the numbers looking good the board would have cut the department We would have lost hundreds of jobs I did it to protect people

Richard leaned forward Protect them by stealing

I never took a cent for myself Catherine said That money went back into the department Projects bonuses overtime I kept this place running

Nathan shook his head That’s not how it works Catherine You don’t get to break the law and call it loyalty

Catherine stood up Then fire me She said Fire me and watch what happens to department 12 without me

Richard didn’t blink Effective immediately you are suspended pending termination proceedings Your access is revoked Security will escort you out

Catherine’s composure cracked for half a second Her mouth opened but no words came out

Two security officers stepped into the room

Catherine looked at Richard one last time You’ll regret this she said Then she walked out between the guards

The door closed

Silence fell

Richard exhaled He looked tired for the first time in the meeting

It’s done he said Not clean Not easy But done

Nathan nodded Joseph is next

Joseph will be charged Richard said Police are already involved He won’t walk away from this

Nathan stood up What about Elma

Richard smiled faintly She stays She earned it She also gets a promotion If she wants it

Nathan nodded I’ll tell her

Down on floor 12 Elma was working when Linda walked over and stopped at her desk

You need to come with me Linda said Quiet urgent

Elma followed her to the empty supply room

Linda closed the door

It’s over Linda said Catherine’s gone Suspended pending termination Joseph’s next

Elma blinked She had been waiting for this moment for weeks But now that it was here she didn’t know what to feel

Relief Anger Exhaustion

What happens now she asked

Now you get to decide Linda said Richard wants to meet you Tomorrow 9 AM Floor 50 He said you earned a choice

Elma nodded slowly A choice

Linda smiled for the first time in weeks Take it Elma You earned it

Elma walked back to her desk The flickering light was off today Fixed overnight

She sat down and looked at the clean desk in front of her

No more running No more hiding

Tomorrow she would face Richard Hayes And decide what came next

Outside the building the city was starting to wake up

Inside Hayes Corp the war was almost over