Chapter 4

Gagged and bound to the chair, I could only watch helplessly as Kimmy walked away.

I struggled against the restraints, but my efforts were in vain. Instead of breaking free, I only managed to topple the chair and crash painfully to the floor with it.

The company was hurtling toward a man-made disaster that I could see coming but was powerless to stop it.

First thing the next morning, Dale arrived on the production floor, overseeing the shipment himself.

Once everything was dispatched, he walked in with a grin on his face.

A smug smile was plastered on his face as he waved a document in front of me.

“See this, Lisa? This is why you’ve been a middle manager for years. You’re just too rigid. This is the customs clearance certificate. If I’d listened to your hysterics about not shipping the product, the penalties alone would’ve crushed us.”

Looking at his stupid, triumphant expression, I laughed inwardly.

If we had delayed delivery, the worst outcome would have been liquidated damages.

Once the client put those defective parts into service, the entire product would be affected.

Then, the consequences would go far beyond a breach fee.

It was sometimes not possible to save someone who was determined to walk straight into the fire.

At that point, there was nothing I could do.

With the shipment dispatched on time, Dale was in a good mood. He threw an arm around Kimmy’s shoulders.

“Kimmy, this wouldn’t have happened without you holding the fort. Go on, name your reward.”

Kimmy’s eyes instantly welled up with theatrical tears.

“Mr. Huidobro, you’ve been more than kind to me. I don’t want anything. I just want Ms. Turner to apologize to me publicly and clear my name.”

“Okay! As you wish.”

Dale had me hauled out and then summoned everyone to the floor.

“I called you all here today to address Lisa’s abuse of authority and misappropriation of company funds. Kimmy brought this to light and, as a result, prevented the company from incurring significant financial losses. So, effective immediately, she is your new Production Floor Manager. As for Lisa, once the corporate audit is complete, she’ll be handed over to the proper authorities. Now, Lisa, you’ll apologize to Kimmy.”

The gag was removed.

I worked my stiff, sore jaw.

“I won’t apologize for something I didn’t do. And you’re celebrating too soon, Dale. The mess Kimmy created isn’t something you can clean up!”

Maybe Dale had not expected my defiance. After saving everyone from a delayed shipment, my refusal to play along was a direct insult to his authority.

He grabbed me by the collar. His eyes blazed with rage.

“Lisa, you’re choosing the hard way. When this gets out, no company in the industry will hire you!”

He clearly did not know Kimmy had already made sure of that.

Trying to use that as leverage on me? There was no chance in hell.

Dale tightened his grip and doubled down.

“You brought over a few dozen people when you jumped ship. They’re not young. They have families. What if I fire every last one of them?”

A wave of angry murmurs rippled through the veteran staff.

Everyone who had joined this company with me was a skilled technician.

The moment they heard him threaten their jobs, they snapped.

“Ms. Turner, don’t listen to him! We’ve got real skills. We can find work anywhere.”

“Exactly! If this is the kind of management we have to deal with, we don’t need this job.”

“Dale, you don’t get to fire us. We quit!”

A few of them tore off their work jackets and moved toward me, ready to walk out together.

The situation spiraled.

Dale looked rattled.

Then, a sharp, commanding voice cut through the noise.

“What’s going on here?”

Dale turned around. His face lit up with a mixture of relief and triumph.

“Michael, thank god you’re here!”