Chapter 7: A real change
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The elevator doors slid open with a quiet hiss, revealing the polished expanse of the executive floor. The air smelled different up here—less like stale coffee and printer ink, more like leather-bound books and the faint citrus tang of a high-end air freshener. The carpet underfoot was a deep, plush navy, the kind that muffled footsteps so completely it felt like walking on a cloud. James hesitated for half a second, his fingers tightening around the strap of his messenger bag. Amina, already halfway out of the elevator, glanced back at him, one perfectly arched eyebrow raised.
"You coming, or are you planning to take root in the elevator?" she asked, her voice laced with amusement.
"I need you in that meeting, James. Thompson's already sharpening his knives."
James exhaled sharply through his nose and stepped forward, the elevator doors sliding shut behind him with a quiet *whoosh*. "Right. Because nothing says 'teamwork' like watching our former boss try to sabotage us from his new desk in the corner."
Amina smirked, adjusting the strap of her designer bag. "Oh, he’s not in the corner. He’s in the *executive* corner. With a view. And a nameplate that says *Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives*."
James groaned. "That’s the most corporate bullshit I’ve ever heard.
What the hell is a *Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives* supposed to do, anyway?"
Amina laughed, the sound bright and genuine in the otherwise sterile hallway. "Exactly nothing. That’s the point. They gave him a title that sounds important but comes with zero actual responsibility. It’s like giving a toddler a scepter and calling him king."
James shook his head, a reluctant smile tugging at his lips. "God, I hope he chokes on it."
Amina shot him a look, her eyes glinting with mischief. "James. That’s *dark*."
He shrugged, unrepentant. "I’m just saying…”
But he didn't have time to finish his sentence. Meredith Grey, sales manager at Green Power, Digital Enabling Solution's main client, entered the room, followed by Enabling's CEO.
The meeting room was filled with the scent of polished wood and the faint, lingering aroma of coffee. The large screen at the front of the room displayed the Green Power logo, its clean, modern design a stark contrast to the tension that filled the air.
James sat stiffly in his chair, his fingers tapping restlessly against the table. He glanced at Amina, who was already seated, her posture perfect, her expression unreadable. She gave him a subtle nod, a silent acknowledgment that they were in this together.
Thompson, now in his new role as *Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives*, sat across from them, his face a mask of forced professionalism.
Without further ado, Jim Stark, CEO of Digital Enabling Solutions, got straight to the point. Of course! Given his long-standing friendship with Jeremy Thompson, he couldn't tell the Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives that the client wanted him out of any connection with the project, so he said: "Jeremy, given your extensive experience, we've decided to promote you to head of the finance department. Amina Hal-hassan is attending this meeting as the new Director of Strategic Initiatives. This means she will be managing the Green Power project completely independently. But she will also oversee all other projects in the Business Unit. This means, Amina, that you will have a new role, a new salary, and company benefits more appropriate to the role you will hold. Before you all think I'm crazy, let's just say that this is a retention move against Green Power's intention to make an offer to the entire team to bring the project in-house and save costs. As for you, James Osbone, I honestly don't know what you're doing here. Amina wanted you at all costs."
Meredith Grey let out a giggle that sounded a lot like a shark circling its prey before eating it. “What are you talking about, Jim!?! I would never do something like that to you!” But it was clear she had been beaten to her feet before she could make her move.
The CEO’s words were a hammer blow, and the room seemed to tilt slightly as the implications settled in. James felt the blood drain from his face. He glanced at Amina, whose expression had gone from professional composure to something far more dangerous in the span of a single breath. Her fingers tightened around the edge of the table, her knuckles whitening.
Thompson, on the other hand, looked like a man who had just been handed the keys to a kingdom he didn’t know how to rule. His eyes darted between the CEO and Meredith Grey, as if waiting for someone to tell him this was a joke. “Finance?” he repeated, his voice cracking slightly.
“I’m not a numbers guy. I don’t even do my own taxes.”
The CEO, Jim Stark, leaned back in his chair with a practiced smile. “You’ll have a team for that. And let’s be honest, Jeremy—you’ve always had a knack for… strategic vision. This is just formalizing that.”
James watched as the realization dawned on Thompson. The man’s face went through a series of expressions—shock, denial, then finally, a slow, calculating understanding. He wasn’t being demoted. He was being *removed*.
Amina, meanwhile, had gone perfectly still. James could practically see the gears turning behind her eyes. She wasn’t looking at Thompson.
She wasn’t looking at the CEO. Her sharp, dark eyes were fixed on James, and there was a question in them—a silent, unspoken *What do you think of this?*
James swallowed hard. He didn’t know what to think. The air in the room felt thick, charged with something electric, like the moment before a storm breaks. The CEO was still talking, his voice smooth and practiced, but James couldn’t focus on the words. All he could see was the way Amina’s fingers flexed against the table, the way her jaw tightened just slightly.
Thompson was still sputtering. “Finance? But I don’t—”
Jim Stark cuts him off with a wave of his hand. "If you haven't figured it out yet, Jeremy, I'm giving you a lifeline. After the mess you've made, it's a miracle I promoted you to another department instead of firing you! I'm sorry to be so blunt, but you gave me no choice!" Jim said these things almost in a whisper, but Meredith Grey's acute hearing was working perfectly, and the smirk that spread across the manager's lips was clear.
She was enjoying the spectacle. Thompson's face turned red, then purple, as he struggled to process the words. His fingers tightened around the edge of the table, his knuckles whitening. James could practically see the gears turning in his head, the desperate calculations of how to salvage this.
"You can't be serious," Thompson finally managed, his voice cracking. "I've been leading this project for months. I've put in the work. I've earned this."
Jim Stark sighed, rubbing his temples as if this were an inconvenience rather than a career-ending moment. "Jeremy, let's not make this harder than it has to be. You've had your chance. You've made your mistakes.
And now, it's time for someone else to take the reins." The CEO's voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. The room was thick with tension, the air heavy with unspoken words and barely contained emotions.
James sat frozen, his fingers digging into the armrests of his chair. He could feel Amina's gaze on him, sharp and assessing, but he couldn't bring himself to look at her. His mind was racing, trying to process the implications of what was happening. Thompson, demoted. Amina, promoted. And him—what was his role in all of this?
Thompson's face twisted into something ugly, his composure finally cracking. But, being the seasoned man that he was, he realized that the outstretched hand Jim was offering him was much more than anyone else in his place could have gotten, and so he made the best of it. “Thank you, Jim, you’re a true friend.
I accept the promotion,” Thompson said, his voice dripping with false gratitude. He stood up, smoothing down his suit jacket with a practiced motion. “I’ll make sure the transition is smooth. Amina, I’m sure you’ll do great.” His tone suggested the opposite.
Amina didn’t react. Her expression remained neutral, but James knew her well enough to see the tension in her shoulders, the way her fingers curled just slightly around the edge of the table. She was holding herself together with an effort that was almost visible.
The CEO nodded, clearly satisfied with the outcome. “Excellent. Now that that’s settled, let’s discuss the next steps for the Green Power project. Jeremy, we have done with you now with you. We’ll see later to toast!” He turned to Amina.
”Amina, you’ll need to meet with the client’s CTO tomorrow at 10 AM. Meredith will send you the details. James, you’re with her. I want you two to present the updated architecture and timeline. No surprises.”
James felt his stomach drop. He hadn’t expected to be thrown into the deep end so quickly. But before he could react, Amina spoke up.
”Jim, I appreciate the confidence, but I think it’s important to clarify a few things before we proceed,” she said, her voice steady and professional. ”First, I need full access to all project documentation and any internal communications related to Green Power.
Second, I want James to be my direct report for this project. And third—” she paused, her gaze flickering to Meredith Grey, who was watching the exchange with a predatory smile, ”—I need to know exactly what Meredith’s expectations are for this project. No more surprises.”
The room fell silent. James could feel the weight of Amina’s words hanging in the air. He glanced at her, impressed by the way she had taken control of the situation. She wasn’t just accepting the promotion—she was demanding the tools and authority to succeed.
Jim Stark leaned back in his chair, considering her requests. “Amina, you know we can’t give you full access to all communications, but… “ he stopped suddenly realizing that Meredith was about to intervene “ok, why not? I’ll speak with the cyber security to grant you the privilege you need! Welcome on board. Among people who matter” Jim said to Amina. “You’re now the Director of Strategic Initiatives. Your first task will be to ensure that the Green Power project is delivered on time and within budget. You’ll report directly to me, and you’ll have full autonomy over the team and resources. As for you, James—” he turned to James, his expression softening slightly, “you’ll continue to work on the frontend architecture, but now you’ll also be Amina’s right hand. You’ll help her navigate the project’s complexities and ensure smooth communication between the teams. Any questions?”
James shook his head, still processing the sudden shift in dynamics. Amina, on the other hand, had already shifted into full professional mode.