Tiffany: You can't do this to me! Do you know who my father is?!
Agent Miller: Your father was taken into custody at JFK Airport an hour ago, Miss Vance. He was trying to board a private flight to Dubai.
Tiffany's voice caught in her throat. She felt her knees go completely weak.
Tiffany: He... he left without me?
Agent Miller: Walk forward, please.
The federal agents escorted Tiffany through the main lobby. News reporters had already gathered outside the glass revolving doors, their camera lights flashing blindingly through the windows.
Reporter 1: Miss Vance! Did you know about the embezzled millions?!
Reporter 2: Is it true your father abandoned you at the airport?!
Tiffany: Get those cameras out of my face! Don't look at me!
Tiffany ducked her head, trying to hide behind her hair as the agents ushered her into the back of an unmarked black SUV. The door slammed shut, cutting off the noise of the crowd outside.
Upstairs in the boardroom, Evelyn watched the news broadcast on the large wall monitor.
Richard: The story just broke on Wall Street, Miss Sterling. Stock prices are already recovering.
Evelyn: Good. Turn the monitor off. We have real work to do.
Board Member 1: What is your first order of business as CEO, Evelyn?
Evelyn: We are restructuring the employee policy. Effective immediately, no executive can terminate or penalize junior staff without a full review panel.
Board Member 3: Agreed. The toxic culture under Vance ends today.
Evelyn: Secondly, we are promoting Sarah Jenkins to head of marketing.
Richard: Sarah? The analyst Tiffany made cry last week?
Evelyn: Sarah has a master's degree in business analytics and ran the department's most profitable campaigns while Tiffany took the credit. She earned it.
Board Member 2: A brilliant choice, Miss Sterling.
Evelyn: Now, let me review the quarterly budget projections. I want every single dollar accounted for.
Evelyn sat at the head of the dark oak table, pulling out a silver pen. The wet grey suit jacket was gone, replaced by a fresh dark blazer brought up by her assistant. She looked every bit the powerful leader she was born to be.