The Sick Mother Couldn’t Come — So Her 13-Year-Old Daughter Went Instead, and the CEO’s Next Move Stunned Everyone
Chapter 3
The next morning, Ethan arrived at work before anyone else.
He had barely slept.
Sarah Carter’s file remained on his desk.
He kept returning to one question.
How could an employee with twelve years of excellent performance remain in the same position for seven years?
He called the human resources director.
“Bring me every promotion recommendation involving Sarah Carter.”
The HR director arrived with a folder.
“There are three.”
“Why were they denied?”
“Her department director cited performance concerns.”
“Show me.”
Ethan read the reports.
The first said Sarah lacked leadership experience.
The second said she needed to improve communication.
The third said she wasn’t flexible enough.
Ethan frowned.
None of those reasons matched her actual evaluations.
He called the internal audit department.
“I want a review of Martin Blake’s promotion decisions over the last five years.”
The auditor looked surprised.
“Just his?”
“For now.”
The results came two days later.
Twenty-three employees had been denied promotions under Martin.
Seventeen were women.
Fourteen had been with the company more than five years.
Eight had later left.
Ethan stared at the report.
“Why?”
The auditor pointed to a pattern.
“Most were replaced by people Martin personally recommended.”
“Where did those people come from?”
“Outside the company.”
“Salary?”
“On average, twenty-two percent higher.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened.
“So he denied internal candidates and hired his friends.”
“That’s what it appears.”
“How many?”
“At least nine.”
Ethan stood.
“Terminate him.”
The HR director hesitated.
“Immediately?”
“Yes.”
“And his team?”
“Investigate them.”
That afternoon, Ethan visited Sarah’s home.
Lily opened the door.
She looked surprised.
“Mr. Halston?”
“Hi, Lily.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to check on your mother.”
Lily looked toward the bedroom.
“She’s asleep.”
“Can I come in?”
Lily nodded.
Sarah woke when Ethan entered.
She tried to sit up.
“Mr. Halston?”
“Please don’t get up.”
She looked embarrassed.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t attend.”
“You don’t need to apologize.”
Ethan placed something on the table.
Sarah stared.
It was her award.
Lily had apparently left it there.
“You gave it to your daughter.”
Sarah smiled.
“She did a good job.”
“She did.”
Ethan sat.
“I looked at your employment record.”
Sarah’s smile disappeared.
“Why?”
“Because I wanted to understand something.”
“What?”
“Why you’ve been in the same position for seven years.”
Sarah looked away.
“I guess I’m not ambitious enough.”
“That’s not what your reviews say.”
She remained silent.
Ethan continued.
“Who told you that?”
“Nobody.”
“Sarah.”
She finally looked at him.
“I needed the job.”
“What does that mean?”
She took a breath.
“When I got sick, I started missing days.”
Ethan listened.
“My supervisor told me that if my attendance continued, they would have to reconsider my position.”
“Who?”
“Martin.”
Ethan nodded.
“I’ve terminated him.”
Sarah looked shocked.
“What?”
“He won’t be your supervisor anymore.”
She shook her head.
“You can’t fire someone because of me.”
“I didn’t.”
He handed her the audit report.
“I fired him because he abused his position.”
Sarah read it.
Tears filled her eyes.
“I didn’t know.”
“You shouldn’t have had to.”
She looked at him.
“What happens now?”
Ethan answered without hesitation.
“You get better.”
Sarah laughed weakly.
“That’s not how life works.”
“It is going to work that way here.”
He stood.
“I’ve arranged medical leave.”
Sarah stared.
“Paid?”
“Fully paid.”
“For how long?”
“As long as your doctor recommends.”
She couldn’t speak.
Ethan continued.
“And your medical treatment will be covered.”
Sarah’s eyes widened.
“I already have insurance.”
“Not enough.”
He paused.
“Halston Industries will cover the remainder.”
Sarah began crying.
Ethan looked uncomfortable.
He wasn’t used to emotional conversations.
But he knew one thing.
No employee who had given twelve years of her life to the company should have to choose between treatment and a paycheck.
Before leaving, he looked at Lily.
“Take care of your mother.”
Lily nodded.
Then she asked:
“Why are you doing all this?”
Ethan paused at the door.
“Because someone should have done it sooner.”
But that wasn’t the only reason.
There was another truth Ethan hadn’t told anyone.
Years earlier, his own mother had been sick.
And he had watched his father choose work over her.
He had promised himself he would never build a company that forced someone else to make the same choice.
