Miles Sullivan—freshly returned from abroad—fixed me with a taunting smirk and spoke again. "I'm announcing that effective today, Jacob Gilbert is stripped of his position as Vice President. His new assignment: restroom janitor."
"As for the other eighty? Terminated. Every last one."
The room erupted.
"On what grounds are you firing us?"
"Exactly! Vice President Gilbert led us with everything he had. We never made a single mistake—we delivered outstanding results!"
Some pushed back.
Others watched with barely concealed amusement.
"Hmph. Being loyal to Jacob Gilbert is your crime!"
"I've been sick of him for a long time. Riding Ms. Henson's coattails, bossing the rest of us around."
"Sure, he got us bonuses. Sure, he gave us more time off. But at the end of the day, he's just the CEO's lapdog. Not exactly someone who belongs in the boardroom."
"Some community college kid—how's he supposed to compare to Consultant Sullivan, who studied overseas?"
More than a few of them owed their careers to me. Now they were turning like weathervanes in a storm.
"Enough! Everyone, quiet!"
Marlene slammed her palm on the table.