Ethan sat in the high-backed chair, his fingers steepled as he looked at the five survivors of the Halbert era. They had been sidelined, humiliated, and stripped of their authority, yet they had remained like unyielding pillars in a storm.
"I know what you went through. Coercion, bribes, threats to your families... Vincent tried every trick in the book to break you, and yet you're still here," Ethan said.
"We didn't do it for the paycheck, Ethan. We did it because we promised your father that we wouldn't let his dream become a weapon for men like Vincent," said Robert Vance.
Ethan leaned forward, resting his elbows on the mahogany table. "The restructuring starts now. I'm not just looking for employees; I'm looking for the architects of a new era. Tell me, where did Vincent hide you all? What are your current roles?" Ethan said.
"I was the Chief Financial Officer. Now, I'm just a senior accountant in the basement, restricted from seeing any real ledgers," said Sarah Miller.
