Part 10
Richard’s face drained of all color. He looked around the room for support, but his colleagues kept their eyes firmly planted on their legal pads.
No one was going to defend him. Not today.
“Julian,” Marcus said, turning his gaze to the COO.
“Do you have the paperwork?”
Julian nodded, sliding a thick folder across the table toward Richard.
“Your severance is forfeited due to breach of ethics protocols, Richard,” Julian said quietly. “Security will escort you from the building to collect your personal belongings.”
Richard stood up slowly, his hands shaking, and left the room without another word.
The remaining executives felt a collective shiver run down their spines.
Marcus leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table.
“We are not just firing people today,” Marcus announced.
“We are redesigning the entire protocol.”
“The manual override feature on the reservation software? It’s deleted. As of ten minutes ago, I pushed a global update that removes it entirely.”
“From now on, if a room is vacant, the system automatically assigns it. No human intervention. No gatekeeping.”
“Furthermore, every single employee at this branch will undergo an immediate independent review.”
“Those who participated in that forum are terminated immediately. Those who ignored it are suspended without pay pending investigation.”
He looked at the Head of HR, a woman named Elena.
“Elena, I want a new training program developed within forty-eight hours.”
“Focus entirely on empathy, bias recognition, and dignity.”
“If our staff cannot treat every human being who walks through those doors like royalty, they do not deserve to wear our brand.”
Elena nodded frantically, writing down every word.
“What about the front desk clerk, Derek?” Julian asked.
Marcus’s eyes darkened.
May you like
“Derek is currently waiting in the manager’s office downstairs,” Marcus said.
“I am going to handle him myself.”
