Chapter 5 - The Reorganization
By Wednesday afternoon, news of Vance Sterling's sudden, dramatic firing had sent shockwaves through the entire staff of Whitaker Holdings.
Julian didn't return to his corporate penthouse in downtown Charlotte. He stayed at the estate, setting up a temporary command center in the primary study.
He summoned Arthur Bell and Ryan Mercer to a meeting at three o'clock.
"Effective immediately," Julian announced, handing both men a fresh set of organizational charts, "we are completely restructuring the management of this estate and all five of my domestic properties."
Arthur looked at the chart. His eyes widened.
"Estate Director of Facilities and Engineering..." Arthur read aloud. He looked up at Julian. "Ellie?"
"Ellie," Julian confirmed. "She will oversee all structural, mechanical, and vendor contracts for the estate. Starting salary: one hundred and twenty thousand dollars a year, with full executive health cover, tuition reimbursement if she wants to finish her engineering degree, and a company vehicle adapted for her needs."
"Mr. Whitaker," Arthur breathed, his voice thick with emotion. "She’s nineteen—"
"She knows more about this estate’s real operational needs than three outsourced engineering firms combined, Arthur," Julian said. "Age is a metric used by lazy executives who don't know how to evaluate talent."
Julian turned to Arthur. "And you, Arthur. You are being promoted to Chief Residential Administrator. You answer directly to me. No HR middlemen. No third-party cost-cutting firms. If any staff member in this house needs medical assistance, equipment, or emergency relief, you have a direct fifty-thousand-dollar discretionary fund that requires no approval but your own."
Arthur sat back, placing a hand over his mouth as he tried to swallow the lump in his throat. Twelve years he had spent watching corporate suits squeeze his staff, feeling powerless to stop it.
"Mr. Whitaker..." Arthur managed to say. "I don't know what to say."
"Say you'll help me fix the rest of this company, Arthur," Julian said. "Because we're just getting started."
Before they could continue, the study door knocked gently.
Ellie stepped inside.
She wasn't using crutches. She was wearing a lightweight temporary vacuum-fit prosthetic provided by Dr. Harrison's team, covered by a neat pair of dark trousers.
Her step was smooth. The heavy, awkward hitch in her stride was completely gone.
She looked at Julian, her face glowing with a mixture of nervous excitement and new-found confidence.
"Mr. Whitaker," Ellie said, holding a tablet in her hands. "I just finished reviewing the HVAC maintenance contracts for the west wing."
Julian smiled, leaning back in his leather chair. "And what did you find, Director Mercer?"
May you like
Ellie matched his smile with a sharp, brilliant grin of her own. "I found that we’ve been paying eighteen thousand dollars a month for a filtration service that hasn't changed a filter since last November. And I’ve already drafted the cancellation letters."
Julian looked at Arthur and Ryan. "See? Best hire I ever made."
