The Ultimatum at Thanksgiving

ons was our baby,

e-night idea fueled by

driven. I was Head of Sales and Produc

od team, or

hired Kevin Yo

er, and knew how

vin supposedly "cl

im through every step, pr

all-hands meetin

l. "Kevin, despite being our newest team member, has shown

vin looked down, a

vin to represent us at the Tech Innovators Conference in Austin

g slot. A

, reserved for senior exec

t tig

oto with Sarah, praising her "vision" an

oned a "genero

her office late

arah? For

"It's a great opportunity for him,

lic championing for truly exceptional, tenured ac

ears ago, sketching out our mani

at me, a hint of im

conference

was dis

be so i

That was

just about a conference. It

one, showed her Ke

industry norms for an inte

"He's motivated. I

thing else. I ju

nt her a screenshot of K

y came b

ence slot, Jack. Do

rds. Like a

owing wariness

Mike. Michael Thomps

hing from years ago, but he

s. Sarah didn't even know I kep

hone, dialed his

ar from you," Mik

it, old times, hi

ng well at Innovatech. We're in talks w

Mike said. "Solid leadership

id. "Stability

ership, one Innovatech was co

Sarah, full of

ploring options with a mor

. Mike's wor

us. She stormed

my desk. "Your negativity! You've been moping around,

, her face flus

Sarah? Or is it

raise m

eds to stop. It' s damaging the c

though she probably d

in is a non-issue. You're blo

ered. A tiny crack

ter, but still defensive. "I'll be mo

y. I saw she was still protecti

ings over. She brought me coffee, aske

Like nothi

e her short answers. Th