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CHAPTER 68
Jacy’s absence landed harder than Charlie expected. He’d known she was staying in San Francisco at Rebecca Wong’s VC firm had made the offer irresistible but understanding the decision didn’t dull the feeling of being left behind.Their Sunday calls still happened at eight, steady and familiar, though the substance had changed. Jacy appeared on screen with the Golden Gate Bridge behind her, business casual even on weekends, laptop always within reach. She looked energized and focused, already embedded in a life Charlie could watch but not enter.Cindy remained in Thailand, her extension approved through December. Her connection flickered, backgrounds shifting between rural villages and cramped NGO offices, but her voice carried certainty. She spoke about trauma counseling and microfinance with a passion that cut through the static.Daniel was the only one still nearby, though increasingly occupied with classes and part-time work at his father’s firm. They ate together, studied togethe
CHAPTER 67
Charlie pulled into Yorkers University's parking lot on a Tuesday morning in late August, the familiar brick buildings rising against a cloudless sky. He'd driven this route hundreds of times, but something felt different now. The campus looked smaller somehow, less significant after three months navigating Claire Corporation's glass towers and boardroom politics.He grabbed his bag and walked toward the main quad, where students clustered in familiar patterns with freshmen looking lost, sophomores pretending confidence, seniors already nostalgic. Their conversations drifted past him: class schedules, party plans, who hooked up with whom over summer.It all felt strangely trivial.Daniel found him at their usual spot near the fountain, grinning wide. "There he is! The corporate warrior returns."They hugged, and the warmth was genuine, but Charlie noticed something beneath it. A hesitation, a gap that hadn't existed in May. Daniel had spent his summer filing papers and fighting copy
CHAPTER 66
Charlie's final day at Claire Corporation started with scheduled exit interviews, a ritual he'd initially dreaded but now approached with something close to relief. Three months compressed into institutional feedback, measured and documented.Emily Torres sat across from him in her office, the same glass-walled space where she'd first handed him that impossible Riverside assignment. Her expression was softer than usual, though not by much."You have real potential," she said without preamble. "Not because you're connected to the Maxwell family, but because you think strategically and you're willing to admit when you don't know something. Those are rare qualities."Charlie nodded, absorbing the weight of her words. Coming from Emily, this was practically effusive praise."Most people defend their ignorance," she continued. "They pretend to know things they don't, then make catastrophic decisions based on false confidence. You asked questions. You verified assumptions. That depreciation
CHAPTER 65
The turnaround didn't happen immediately. There was no single moment of victory, no triumphant announcement. Instead, it came in pieces over three brutal weeks.The first customer returned on a Tuesday. Aerodyne Manufacturing, the original defection that started everything, called Emily directly. Their operations VP was blunt: "Blackstone's pricing was great, but their service is garbage. Three weeks in and we've had two delivery delays and zero technical support. We're coming back if your terms still stand."Emily didn't celebrate. She just called Charlie. "Get Aerodyne's customized service package finalized by tomorrow. We're not losing them twice."The second customer came back Friday of that same week, citing similar issues. Cross's suppliers were cheaper but couldn't match Riverside's responsiveness or technical expertise.By week three, the numbers shifted. Two of the three lost customers had returned. New contracts replaced the third loss. Riverside's financial projections clim
CHAPTER 64
The memo landed on Marcus's desk Tuesday morning, professionally bound with Claire Corporation's internal review letterhead. Eight pages of carefully worded concerns that read like an indictment disguised as corporate governance.Marcus called Charlie into his office at ten a.m. "Sit," he said, sliding the document across. "Read this."Charlie picked it up. The title first hit RISK ASSESSMENT: DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES IN RECENT ACQUISITIONS.Written By Perry Stone.Charlie read slowly, feeling each paragraph like a physical blow. Perry didn't attack directly, he never mentioned Charlie by name initially. Instead, he built a case about appropriate experience levels, industry standards, and the importance of seasoned judgment.Then came page four.The Riverside Manufacturing acquisition presents a concerning case study. Recent customer defections have eroded projected value by 35-40%. Investigation reveals that a 21-year-old summer intern with minimal industry experience was given sign
CHAPTER 63
The first contract cancellation came on a Tuesday. Emily received the call from Riverside's operations manager, her face going carefully blank in that way Charlie had learned meant she was furious but forcing it under control."Which customer?" she asked, voice tight.She listened, made a few sharp notes, then ended the call with a clipped, "Keep me informed."Charlie looked up from his desk. “Is there a problem?""Aerodyne Manufacturing just cancelled their contract with Riverside. Effective in thirty days." Emily's jaw worked. "They've been a client for eight years.""Did they say why?""Better pricing elsewhere." Emily's eyes narrowed. "Want to guess who made the offer?"Charlie's stomach sank. "Cross.""Blackstone Acquisitions. Nathan Cross personally called Aerodyne's CEO to offer terms fifteen percent below current rates. And made sure to mention that Claire Corporation 'stole Riverside in a rigged process.'" Emily tossed her pen aside. "It's revenge. Pure, petty revenge."By Th
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