Get on Your Knees
“Get on your knees and clean it properly.”
The voice cut through the executive restroom like a knife.
Victoria Matthews froze.
For three seconds, she simply stood there.
The room was immaculate except for a few streaks of water around one of the sinks and a small smear near the base of a toilet.
She had not touched anything.
She had been standing near the mirror, studying the executive floor and taking mental notes about the company she had just purchased.
Now a white woman in a navy business suit stood directly in front of her.
Sandra Miller.
Vice President of Human Resources.
Victoria didn't know her name yet.
But she knew exactly what kind of woman she was.
The manager's expression carried open disgust.
“People like you always miss the corners,” Sandra said. “If you're going to work in an executive building, at least learn how to do the job properly.”
Victoria looked at the cleaning supplies Sandra had thrust into her hands.
A bottle of disinfectant.
A cloth.
Rubber gloves.
A small brush.
She looked back at Sandra.
“I believe there has been a misunderstanding.”
Sandra gave a humorless laugh.
“Oh, please.”
She pointed toward the floor.
“The executive toilets were disgusting yesterday. I don't care what contractor sent you here. You're going to clean them properly.”
Victoria said nothing.
“And hurry up,” Sandra continued. “The new CEO is arriving today. Everything needs to be perfect.”
That sentence almost made Victoria smile.
Almost.
Because the woman standing in front of Sandra was the new CEO.
Victoria Matthews.
Forty-five years old.
Founder of Matthews Strategic Capital.
Former technology executive.
Investor.
Board adviser.
And, as of 9:00 that morning, the controlling owner and incoming Chief Executive Officer of Pinnacle Solutions.
She had purchased the company after six months of negotiations.
The acquisition had closed at 8:15 a.m.
Her name was already on the final corporate documents.
Her photograph was scheduled to be released to the employees that afternoon.
But Victoria had deliberately chosen not to announce herself immediately.
She wanted to see Pinnacle Solutions before anyone had time to prepare.
She wanted to know what people said when they believed no one important was listening.
So she had dressed simply.
Dark slacks.
A plain blazer.
Low heels.
No jewelry except a watch.
Her CEO identification badge was hidden inside her leather portfolio.
And for the first hour, the experiment had worked perfectly.
Until Sandra had walked into the restroom.
Victoria looked down at the cleaning supplies.
Then back at Sandra.
“All right.”
Sandra smiled.
“Good.”
She turned toward the door.
“And make sure the corners are done.”
Victoria waited until the door closed.
Then she slowly placed the supplies on the counter.
She reached into her portfolio.
Pulled out her phone.
Dialed a number.
“Mark.”
Her chief of staff answered immediately.
“Victoria?”
“It’s me.”
“Where are you?”
“Executive restroom.”
A pause.
“What?”
Victoria looked at the cleaning supplies.
“I need you to move the board meeting.”
“To when?”
“Four o'clock.”
“That's going to cause problems.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
Victoria lowered her voice.
“Because I need to handle something personal first.”
Mark hesitated.
“Is everything okay?”
Victoria looked at herself in the mirror.
“Yes.”
She paused.
“Actually, no.”
“What happened?”
“I'll explain later.”
She ended the call.
Then she reached into her portfolio again.
This time she removed the badge.
A black card with silver lettering.
VICTORIA MATTHEWS
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
She placed it on the marble counter beside the cleaning supplies.
Then she stared at it.
She had spent six months negotiating to buy this company.
But she had not purchased a building.
She had not purchased a logo.
She had not purchased a balance sheet.
She had purchased responsibility for nearly eight hundred employees.
And she had just been ordered onto her knees by the head of Human Resources.
Victoria picked up the badge.
Not yet.
She slipped it back into her portfolio.
Then she looked toward the closed door.
“Let's see what kind of company I just bought.”
And she walked out.
The Woman in the Lobby
Pinnacle Solutions occupied twenty-three floors of a glass-and-steel tower in downtown Chicago.
The company developed enterprise software, cybersecurity systems, and cloud infrastructure for major corporations.
Its annual revenue exceeded a billion dollars.
Its website described the culture as:
INNOVATION. INCLUSION. EXCELLENCE.
Victoria had read those words before buying the company.
Now she wanted to know whether they meant anything.
She stepped through the revolving doors at 9:07 that morning.
Nobody recognized her.
Exactly as planned.
Employees hurried through the lobby carrying coffee.
Some talked loudly into phones.
Others walked in groups.
Victoria watched.
She noticed who greeted the security guards.
Who didn't.
Who held doors.
Who expected doors to be held.
She watched employees cluster around the coffee machines.
One group was almost entirely white.
Another group was primarily Black and Hispanic.
Another consisted mostly of younger Asian employees.
The groups rarely mixed.
That didn't prove discrimination.
But it told her something about the culture.
Then she noticed Richard Keller.
He stood behind the security desk.
Fifty-two years old.
Operations Director.
Expensive suit.
Gold watch.
Permanent expression of irritation.
He was lecturing a security guard about an access badge.
“You don't let anyone through without verification.”
The guard nodded.
“I understand.”
“Then act like it.”
Richard turned.
His eyes landed on Victoria.
He studied her.
Her blazer.
Her portfolio.
Her shoes.
His expression changed.
Not curiosity.
Classification.
Victoria recognized it immediately.
He had already decided what she was.
Maintenance staff.
Richard walked toward her.
“You must be with the new cleaning service.”
Victoria smiled politely.
“I suppose I am.”
“Maintenance office is sublevel two.”
“I was hoping to familiarize myself with the building.”
“That isn't protocol.”