Not because title mattered.
Because Linda had not earned intimacy.
Linda swallowed.
“Ms. Carter, may we speak privately?”
“Yes.”
“After I sign emergency payroll authorization.”
She looked at Malcolm.
“Is payroll accurate?”
His face told answer.
“Not fully.”
Naomi’s stomach sank.
“What do we know?”
“Preliminary reconstruction shows underpayments.”
“How many?”
“Still calculating.”
“Can we safely release base scheduled wages without disputed negative adjustments?”
“Yes.”
“Do it.”
“Overtime?”
“Known verified overtime included.”
“Disputed corrections?”
“We can pay higher original punch amount now, reconcile only upward until audit complete.”
Naomi nodded.
“No employee gets shorted because we need more time.”
“Agreed.”
Malcolm opened folder.
Naomi signed emergency authorization.
The pen moved across bottom.
The same supervisor who had said I decide who gets paid here stood ten feet away watching the woman she had ordered into the restroom sign the document that released payroll for the entire plant.
Naomi felt no satisfaction.
Only weight.
She handed folder back.
“Process immediately.”
Malcolm left to call treasury.
Then Naomi looked at Linda.
“Office.”
Linda followed.
Douglas Trent, the plant manager, arrived halfway there.
“What is going on?”
Naomi stopped.
He recognized her instantly.
Unlike Linda.
His face drained.
“Ms. Carter.”
“Mr. Trent.”
He looked at Linda.
Then apron.
Then yellow gloves on cart.
Naomi saw calculation.
Not confusion.
Calculation.
“What happened?”
She asked:
“Do you know your supervisors assign restroom cleaning as punishment?”
Douglas blinked.
“What?”
Wrong answer.
Too fast.
Naomi watched.
Linda looked at him.
That glance mattered.
Naomi asked again.
“Do you know?”
Douglas said carefully:
“I’ve heard joking references to cleanup duty.”
“Joking?”
“Yes.”
“Have you investigated?”
“I didn’t understand it as formal discipline.”
“It isn’t formal.”
“That is why I’m asking.”
Douglas looked toward Linda.
“Linda?”
She said:
“It’s not what it sounds like.”
Naomi almost laughed.
“What does it sound like?”
No answer.
She said:
“Both of you are relieved of supervisory authority pending investigation.”
Douglas’s eyes widened.
“Both?”
“Yes.”
“You’re suspending me?”
“I said relieved of supervisory authority.”
“HR will determine interim status.”