By Tuesday, HR announced a “leadership restructuring initiative.” Brad was quietly reassigned to “Process Optimization Support,” which everyone knew was corporate purgatory. His new desk faced the supply closet. The only process he optimized was ordering printer toner.
When the email came naming Ethan as “Interim Analytics Lead,” nobody was surprised. Even the interns clapped. The CEO congratulated him in person, calling his “quiet professionalism a stabilizing influence.” Ethan smiled modestly. “Just trying to bring clarity to the data,” he said. Inside, he was still grinning.