The 8 AM Meeting
705 Words
8:00 AM.
Ava Sterling was already in her new office.
Her office.
Formerly Ethan Carter's office.
The nameplate on the door still said "CEO: Ethan Carter."
Maya had ordered a new one. It would arrive at noon.
Ava sat behind the massive desk, legs crossed, reviewing Q4 reports.
She didn't look up when the door opened.
"I see you're punctual," she said.
"Always," Ethan replied.
She finally looked up.
Ethan Carter stood in the doorway in a $10,000 suit. Hair freshly cut. Clean shaven.
And in his hands: two coffees.
"One black. No sugar," he said, setting one down on her desk. "The way you like it."
Ava didn't touch it. "You can go."
"I have a 9 AM board meeting," Ethan said, sitting down in the chair across from her without being asked. "As your newly appointed... what did you call it? Transition CEO?"
Ava closed the report. "Don't get comfortable."
"Wouldn't dream of it, Ms. Sterling."
The tension was thick enough to cut.
Maya knocked and entered. "Ms. Sterling, the board is waiting."
"Tell them I'll be there in 5."
Maya glanced at Ethan, then left.
Silence.
"You didn't drink the coffee," Ethan said quietly.
"And you didn't have to bring it."
"I know."
Ethan leaned forward. "Can we talk? For one minute. Not as CEO and owner. As... us."
Ava stood up. Walked to the window. Her back to him.
"There is no 'us', Ethan. You made sure of that 3 years ago."
"Then why didn't you fire me yesterday?"
"Because firing you would be too easy."
"And this?"
"This is punishment."
Ethan stood up. Came to stand behind her. Not touching. But close.
"I deserve it."
Ava turned around. They were inches apart.
"Do you? Because from where I'm standing, you got to keep your job, your title, and your office."
"For 6 months," Ethan reminded her. "Then you can destroy me."
"Maybe I will."
The intercom buzzed. "Ms. Sterling, the board is waiting."
Ava walked past him to the door. Stopped.
"Oh. And Ethan?"
"Yes?"
"The coffee is cold."
She walked out.
---
The board meeting was hell.
30 people who used to report to Ethan were now staring at him like he was the enemy.
Because he was.
Ava ran the meeting like a general. Cold. Precise. Ruthless.
She announced layoffs. Restructuring. New policies.
And every 10 minutes, she asked Ethan: "Mr. Carter, your opinion?"
He had to answer. As her employee.
By the end, he was sweating.
After, in the hallway, one of the old VPs muttered, "How does it feel, Carter? Working for your ex-wife?"
Ethan just smiled. "She's the best CEO this company ever had."
---
6 PM.
Ava was still in the office.
Ethan knocked. "Can I come in?"
"Why?"
"To give you the final report."
She waved him in.
He set a folder on her desk. "Everything you asked for. Plus projections for Q1."
"Thank you, Mr. Carter."
"You're welcome, Ms. Sterling."
He turned to leave.
"Wait."
Ethan stopped.
Ava was looking at the coffee from this morning. Still on her desk. Untouched.
"Did you mean it?" she asked. "Yesterday. About choosing me over money."
Ethan didn't turn around. "Every word."
"Then why did you send divorce papers with a $50M check?"
"Because I thought that's what you wanted."
"And if it's not?"
"Then tell me what you do want, Ava."
Silence.
Ava stood up. Walked around the desk.
She picked up the cold coffee. Took a sip. Made a face.
"Terrible."
Ethan almost smiled.
Ava set it down. "You can go, Mr. Carter."
"Yes, Ms. Sterling."
At the door, he stopped. "For what it's worth... I'm sorry. For everything."
He left.
Ava sat back down. Alone in the office that used to be his.
She looked at the cold coffee.
She looked at the reports.
She looked at the door he just walked out of.
Her phone buzzed.
Unknown: Dinner. Tomorrow. 8 PM. My treat. As a thank you. For hiring me.
Ava stared at it.
She shouldn't.
She couldn't.
She...
Ava typed back:
8 PM. Don't be late.
She threw the phone on the desk.
What was she doing?
---
Across the city, Ethan got the text.
He smiled.
Phase two: complete.
- Writer
