Inside was a preliminary restructuring document.
Two production lines scheduled for closure.
Maintenance reduced.
Headcount reduced.
Estimated annual savings:
$11.8 million.
Ethan looked at the date.
“Next quarter?”
Martin nodded.
“When?”
“Board meeting Monday.”
Ethan closed the folder.
“How certain?”
“Very.”
“Can we stop it?”
Martin looked at him.
“I don't know.”
Ethan opened his own folder.
“We have the numbers.”
Martin flipped through the documents.
His expression changed.
“Where did you get this?”
“Maintenance records.”
“Did Priya help?”
“Yes.”
Martin sat down.
“These numbers are accurate?”
“Yes.”
Martin read for several minutes.
Then he whispered:
“This could change the entire presentation.”
“That’s the point.”
Martin looked at Ethan.
“Do you understand what you're doing?”
“Yes.”
“If this fails…”
“I know.”
“You could lose your job.”
Ethan nodded.
“I know.”
Martin looked at him for a long time.
Then he said something Ethan didn't expect.
“Give me a copy.”
The Four Pennies
Monday morning, the factory was unusually quiet.
Rumors spread faster than machines.
People knew something was happening.
They didn't know what.
At 8:30, Ethan was called to the administrative wing.
This time, there were six people in the conference room.
Rebecca Sloan.
Martin Voss.
Richard Bell.
Two corporate executives.
And a woman Ethan had never met.
She introduced herself as Helen Ward, chief operating officer of Briar Ridge's parent company.
Helen was sixty-one.
Calm.
Direct.
She had spent thirty-five years in manufacturing.
She didn't waste time.
“I've read the analysis.”
Ethan sat across from her.
“What did you think?”
Helen smiled slightly.
“Most people in your position would have brought me complaints.”
“I brought data.”
“I noticed.”
She slid a document across the table.
It was Ethan's modernization proposal.
“You wrote this?”
“Yes.”
“Two years ago?”
“Yes.”
“Why wasn't it implemented?”
“Budget.”
Helen looked toward Richard.
Richard said nothing.
Helen returned her attention to Ethan.
“Your model shows $3.4 million annual savings.”
“If properly implemented.”
“And the restructuring plan estimates $11.8 million in savings by reducing the plant.”
“Yes.”
“Which means?”
Ethan took a breath.