“And how are you treated here?”
The question changed everything.
Rosa's eyes moved toward Claire.
Then toward Richard.
“I don't want any trouble.”
Naomi's voice softened.
“You aren't causing trouble.”
Rosa remained silent.
“You're being asked a question.”
Rosa looked down at the floor.
Claire interrupted.
“This is getting completely out of proportion.”
Naomi turned sharply.
“Claire.”
The single word stopped her.
Naomi looked back at Rosa.
“You don't have to answer in front of everyone. But I would like to speak with you privately today.”
Rosa nodded.
“Yes, ma'am.”
Naomi smiled.
“Thank you.”
Claire looked increasingly nervous.
Richard Halston stepped closer to Naomi.
“We should probably move upstairs.”
Naomi glanced at the clock.
8:58.
Her official introduction was scheduled for 9:15.
She had been CEO for less than an hour and already had her first cultural crisis.
“No,” she said.
Richard raised an eyebrow.
“No?”
“I think we're exactly where we need to be.”
Naomi looked around the lobby.
Dozens of employees were now watching.
Some looked uncomfortable.
Some looked fascinated.
Others looked frightened.
Naomi realized something important.
They were not simply watching Claire.
They were watching her.
They wanted to know what kind of leader she would be.
Would she explode?
Would she humiliate Claire in return?
Would she fire someone publicly to demonstrate power?
Or would she pretend nothing had happened because executives protected executives?
Naomi had spent years studying organizational culture.
She knew employees rarely believed speeches.
They believed moments.
This was one of those moments.
She looked toward Claire.
“Come with us.”
Claire swallowed.
“Where?”
“Upstairs.”
They entered the elevator together.
Naomi.
Richard.
Daniel.
Martin.
Stephen.
And Claire.
The doors closed.
No one spoke for several seconds.
Claire stared at the floor indicator.
Second floor.
Third.
Fourth.
Finally she whispered, “Dr. Brooks, I sincerely apologize.”
Naomi looked at her.
“What are you apologizing for?”
Claire hesitated.
“For the misunderstanding.”
Naomi shook her head.
“Try again.”
Claire's cheeks reddened.
“For assuming you were part of the cleaning staff.”
“Try again.”
Claire looked confused.
Richard said nothing.
Neither did anyone else.
Naomi waited.
Claire finally understood.
“For the way I treated you.”
“Better.”
“I was rude.”
“Yes.”
“And disrespectful.”
“Yes.”
Claire took a breath.
“I shouldn't have thrown the cloth.”
“No.”
“I apologize.”
Naomi studied her.
“Would you be apologizing if those elevator doors hadn't opened?”
Claire looked away.
That was answer enough.
The elevator reached the twentieth floor.
The doors opened onto the executive level.
Twenty minutes later, Naomi stood in a conference room overlooking the city.
The board sat around a long walnut table.
Claire sat at the far end beside Martin Ellis from legal.
The atmosphere was very different from the lobby.
Naomi had asked security to preserve the lobby camera footage.
She had also requested Claire's personnel records.
Then she had asked a question that surprised everyone.
“Has anyone complained about her before?”
Martin Ellis hesitated.
“That depends on what you mean by complained.”
Naomi looked at him.
“I mean exactly what I said.”
Martin opened a folder.
“There have been concerns.”
“How many?”
He looked uncomfortable.
“Seven documented.”
Richard Halston frowned.
“Seven?”
Martin nodded.
“Over approximately four years.”
Naomi leaned back.
“What kind?”
“Mostly communication issues. Two assistants complained about verbal treatment. One facilities employee reported that Ms. Whitmore shouted at him in front of clients. There was also an incident involving a catering employee.”
Claire immediately spoke.
“Those were resolved.”
Naomi looked at her.
“How?”
“Management handled them.”
Naomi turned toward Martin.
“How?”
Martin cleared his throat.
“Informal coaching.”
Naomi stared at him.
“Seven complaints resulted in informal coaching?”
“No single incident was considered serious enough to justify formal disciplinary action.”
Naomi thought about Rosa's nervous expression.
I don't want any trouble.
She understood now.
The company did not have a Claire problem.
It had a system that had taught Claire there would be no consequences.
Naomi closed the folder.
“I want interviews with every complainant.”
Claire's head snapped up.
“Every one?”
“Yes.”
“This feels retaliatory.”
Naomi looked at her calmly.
“Against whom?”
Claire had no answer.
Naomi continued.
“You will be placed on paid administrative leave while HR and outside counsel conduct an independent review.”
Claire stared at her.
“You're suspending me?”
“Temporarily.”
“Over a cleaning cloth?”
“No.”
Naomi's voice remained level.