“Yes.”
“Timing?”
Nathan stopped.
Simone leaned back.
“What would make you conclude retaliation occurred?”
He looked confused.
“What?”
“Answer.”
“If schedule change directly followed reporting without legitimate operational reason.”
“It did.”
“If management communications linked report to reliability.”
“Did they?”
Nathan’s face tightened.
David looked at email search.
Then:
“There’s one.”
Simone turned.
David read.
Tasha continues to escalate client issue beyond what service recovery requires. Consider whether she remains suited for high-discretion owner assignments.
Sender:
Nathan Geller.
Simone looked back at screen.
Nathan’s face had gone blank.
“That sounds bad.”
“It is bad.”
“I meant she was not suited to that specific owner.”
“You wrote high-discretion owner assignments plural.”
He looked away.
Simone continued.
“Did she lose work because she reported unwanted touching?”
Nathan said:
“No.”
Simone waited.
He looked back.
“I don’t know.”
“Better.”
He swallowed.
Simone said:
“Effective immediately, you are placed on paid leave pending review.”
His eyes widened.
“Simone.”
“No argument tonight.”
“You may provide full statement tomorrow with counsel.”
“This company cannot function if every management judgment becomes retaliation.”
“I agree.”
“That is why we investigate before calling it retaliation.”
“You just suspended me.”
“Paid leave to preserve process.”
He looked furious.
“You already decided.”
“No.”
Simone’s voice stayed flat.
“If I had decided, you would not be on paid leave.”
She ended call.
David sat quietly.
Simone rubbed temples.
“You okay?”
“No.”
He waited.
She looked at him.
“This is what I bought.”
“You bought twenty-three aircraft, eight hangars, maintenance facilities, routing contracts—”
“I know what balance sheet says.”
She looked at complaint.
“I bought culture too.”
That was harder.
At 2:07 a.m., Adrian entered carrying two coffees.
He placed one beside Simone.
She stared.
“Do I look like I need caffeine?”
“Yes.”
“Rude.”
“You hired me for candor.”
“I regret.”
He sat.
“What have we got?”
David summarized.
Adrian listened.
Then:
“Do not overcorrect.”
Simone looked.
“Meaning?”
“We’re walking into acquired company with fear everywhere.”
“If you fire broad group immediately, people learn new owner punishes before process.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
She looked sharply.
Adrian held gaze.
Good.