"I don't pay you to play social worker. Turn in your badge. You're fired on the spot."
Lily took a breath, reached up, and unclipped her employee name badge from her teal polo shirt. She placed it calmly on the stainless steel counter, looking straight into Baxter's eyes without a shred of fear.
"I'd do it again," Lily said softly.
Chapter III: The Call to Boardroom One
Baxter sneered, snatching the badge off the counter and motioning for security to escort the teenager off the premises.
Beside the register, the frail old woman stood frozen. Her tearful, vulnerable expression slowly shifted into a posture of sharp, steely authority.
Without a word, she reached into the inside pocket of her worn coat, pulled out a black smartphone, and answered an incoming secure line.
She held the phone to her ear, speaking in a crisp, powerful tone that commanded immediate attention:
"Approve the acquisition."