The Sick Mother Couldn’t Come — So Her 13-Year-Old Daughter Went Instead, and the CEO’s Next Move Stunned Everyone
Chapter 2
The ballroom was larger than anything Lily had ever seen.
Crystal lights hung from the ceiling.
Round tables covered in white cloth filled the room.
A massive screen displayed photographs of employees who had spent years working for Halston Industries.
Lily stood near the entrance, overwhelmed.
She felt as though everyone could see that she didn’t belong.
Ethan noticed.
“You okay?”
She nodded.
“Yes.”
“You don’t look okay.”
Lily smiled nervously.
“I’m just not used to places like this.”
Ethan looked around the room.
“Neither was I.”
She looked at him.
“You own this place.”
He smiled faintly.
“That doesn’t mean I know what to do at parties.”
Lily laughed.
It was the first time Ethan had seen her relax.
He pointed toward a table near the stage.
“Sit there.”
“Really?”
“That’s where Sarah would have sat.”
Lily sat.
Within minutes, the ceremony began.
Employees received awards for dedication, innovation, teamwork, and service.
Then came the final award.
The host stepped onto the stage.
“Our final recipient has been with Halston Industries for twelve years.”
Lily’s heart began beating faster.
“She has never missed a deadline.”
A photograph of Sarah appeared on the screen.
Lily smiled.
“She has volunteered for countless projects, trained new employees, and repeatedly stepped forward when her department needed someone to carry the extra load.”
The room applauded.
“And tonight, we recognize Sarah Carter for twelve years of extraordinary service.”
Everyone looked toward the seat where Sarah should have been.
Instead, they saw Lily.
The host paused.
“Unfortunately, Sarah couldn’t be here tonight.”
Lily stood.
Her hands trembled.
She walked toward the stage.
When she reached the microphone, she looked at the audience.
“My mom wanted to come.”
Her voice cracked.
“But she’s sick.”
The room became completely silent.
Lily looked down at the award.
“She told me I had to come because she didn’t want people to think she didn’t care.”
She swallowed.
“She cares a lot.”
Several employees looked emotional.
Lily continued.
“She talks about this company all the time.”
A few people smiled.
“She says the people here are like family.”
Lily looked toward Ethan.
Then back at the audience.
“But she doesn’t like being sick.”
Nobody moved.
Lily held the award.
“So I’m going to take this home to her.”
The applause began slowly.
Then everyone stood.
Ethan watched from the side of the stage.
He had heard hundreds of speeches.
None had affected him like this one.
When Lily returned to her seat, Ethan approached her.
“You did well.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you know what your mother does here?”
“She works in accounts.”
Ethan frowned.
“Accounts?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Twelve years.”
Ethan looked toward his CFO.
“Get me Sarah’s employment record.”
The CFO nodded.
Ethan sat beside Lily.
“Do you know how long she’s been sick?”
Lily hesitated.
“About eight months.”
“And she’s still working?”
“She says she has to.”
“Why?”
Lily looked down.
“Because she can’t afford to stop.”
Ethan’s expression hardened.
“Does she have medical insurance?”
“Yes.”
“Then why can’t she stop?”
Lily didn’t answer immediately.
Finally she said:
“Because she says if she misses work too much, they might replace her.”
Ethan looked toward the executives.
“Who told her that?”
“I don’t know.”
He stood.
“Stay here.”
“Where are you going?”
“To find out.”
Ethan walked backstage.
The CFO handed him Sarah’s employment file.
He opened it.
Twelve years.
Excellent performance.
No disciplinary actions.
Consistently high reviews.
But then Ethan noticed something strange.
Sarah’s salary had barely changed in seven years.
Her position hadn’t changed either.
She had been recommended for promotion three times.
All three recommendations had been denied.
“Who rejected these?”
The CFO checked.
“Her department director.”
“Name?”
“Martin Blake.”
Ethan looked up.
“Bring him to me.”
Ten minutes later, Martin entered the room.
He looked irritated.
“What’s this about?”
Ethan placed the file on the desk.
“Sarah Carter.”
Martin’s expression changed.
“What about her?”
“Why hasn’t she been promoted?”
Martin shrugged.
“She’s not leadership material.”
“Her evaluations say otherwise.”
“She’s reliable.”
“Reliable isn’t leadership.”
Ethan leaned back.
“She trained seventeen employees.”
Martin said nothing.
“She handled the Carter account during the merger.”
“Yes.”
“She saved the company nearly four hundred thousand dollars.”
Martin remained silent.
Ethan pointed at the file.
“Then why did you reject her?”
Martin looked uncomfortable.
“She has attendance issues.”
“Because she’s sick?”
Martin didn’t answer.
Ethan understood.
He closed the file.
“Leave.”
Martin walked out.
Ethan stared at the paperwork.
Something was wrong.
And now he intended to find out how deep it went.
