“So what happens now?”
Alexander’s tone hardened.
“Now I find out why HR thought they could override my authority.”
Sophia already knew the answer.
“Lauren Hayes.”
“Yes.”
He paused.
Then added quietly,
“She’s already been suspended.”
Sophia stood up and walked toward the window.
Down below, the city moved like nothing had changed.
But somewhere inside that glass tower in Midtown…
Everything was collapsing.
Alexander spoke again.
“Sophia, I want you back.”
She didn’t answer immediately.
Instead she watched a yellow taxi crawl through traffic.
“You offered me six hundred dollars yesterday.”
“That was HR, not me.”
“It was still your company.”
He sighed.
“You’re right.”
Then he said something unexpected.
“I’ll triple your salary.”
Sophia laughed.
“You’re negotiating with the wrong person, Alex.”
“What do you want?”
She thought for a moment.
Then answered.
“I want control of the entire Talent Division.”
Alexander didn’t hesitate.
“Done.”
“And HR no longer reports to itself.”
“Also done.”
“And Lauren Hayes?”
Another pause.
“She’s already packing her desk.”
Sophia smiled slightly.
Finally, Alexander asked quietly,
“So… are you coming back?”
Sophia looked around her small apartment.
For the first time in years…
She felt completely free.
Then she said the words that made Alexander Morgan nearly fall out of his chair.
“No.”
Silence filled the phone.
Then she added calmly,
“But I might consider returning…”
“Under one condition.”
Alexander leaned forward.
“Name it.”
Sophia smiled slowly.
“You’ll have to hire me as a consultant.”
“And my rate starts at $25,000 per day.”
On the other end of the phone…
Alexander Morgan laughed like a man who had just realized he was about to pay the most expensive lesson in corporate history.
END OF PART 2
