GREEN STATUS

THE BOARD ROOM

9 00 AM Floor 60 Boardroom

The room was larger than any Elma had been in Glass walls City view Silent tension

She sat at the side table with her notes and a laptop Richard sat at the head of the table The board members filed in one by one Some nodded at her Some didn’t look up

Chairman Williams called the meeting to order

First item Vendor Z dispute Richard said Elma Okonkwo will present

Elma stood Her hands were steady Her voice was clear

Board members Vendor Z is disputing a contract revision made last week she began The revision removed 22000 dollars in overbilling that was not covered under section 4 2 of the original agreement We have a signed amendment from their account manager dated Monday

She pulled up the document on the screen

The amendment is valid Elma said Legal has reviewed it If Vendor Z proceeds with legal action they will lose and incur additional costs I recommend we hold position and offer renegotiation on new terms only

A board member spoke up Why should we trust a temp’s judgment

Elma met his eyes I’m no longer a temp sir I’m Executive Assistant to the Chairman And the numbers don’t lie

Silence

Chairman Williams nodded Good work Miss Okonkwo Motion to accept recommendation

All in favor said the chairman

The vote was unanimous

Elma sat down

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11 30 AM Floor 50

Richard walked into Elma’s office and set a folder on her desk

Done he said

Elma looked up That was it

That was it Richard said You just changed how this board sees you

Elma closed the folder What happens now

Now we move to phase two Richard said Vendor audits across all departments You lead it

Elma blinked Me

You’ve proven you can handle it Richard said And the board knows your name now

Elma nodded Understood

Richard paused There’s one more thing

Elma waited

Catherine’s plea deal was finalized this morning Richard said Six months house arrest Full restitution She won’t be back

Elma felt something settle in her chest Good

Richard nodded It’s over Elma

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1 00 PM Floor 12

Elma took the elevator down without telling anyone She walked onto floor 12 for the first time as a visitor

It looked the same The flickering light was still there Someone had put a note under it Out of order

Linda saw her first

Elma Linda said Standing up

Hey Elma said

You’re here Linda said Like really here

Yeah Elma said I just came to say thank you

For what Linda asked

For not letting me quit Linda said You could have You didn’t

Linda hugged her Hard

You’re different now Linda said

Maybe Elma said But I’m still me

Linda smiled Good Keep it that way

Elma looked around the floor People were watching She waved

I’ll come back Elma said To check on you

Do that Linda said

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6 00 PM Destiny’s Apartment

Destiny opened the door with a bottle of wine

You’re late she said

Board meeting ran long Elma said

And Destiny asked

We won Elma said Vendor Z backed down Catherine’s deal is final I’m leading the audit

Destiny poured the wine Holy hell Elma

Elma took the glass and sat down

It feels weird she said

What feels weird Destiny asked

Being on the other side Elma said Not fighting to get in Fighting to make sure other people get in

Destiny clinked her glass To that

They drank

Outside the city lights flickered on

Inside Elma’s apartment things were finally quiet

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Thursday 8 00 PM

Elma sat at her kitchen table with a notebook

She wrote one line

Day 1 as lead auditor

She underlined it twice

The fight wasn’t over

But now she was the one writing the rules