Severe silence enveloped the whole room. On the big screen, the CEO’s face remained cool, like a statue devoid of emotion. No one said a word. Even Sofia couldn’t hide the slightest nervousness that peeked through her eyes. He looked straight into the camera. — I’ll just ask one more question.
— Who made unauthorized changes to this department’s data system?
The wind is getting heavier. I stand in silence. Sofia is also quiet. Then suddenly he steps forward. — It’s me.
Everything was stopped. Even the employee who had just come in to give the news was stunned in shock. But Sofia isn’t done yet.
— But I’m not the only one guilty.
I closed my eyes slightly. He switched his gaze at the screen.
— For many years, the way this department runs has been outdated. All decisions need to go through Isabella. There is no freedom. No chance for others to decide for themselves.
There are some team leaders in the back who nodded slowly. Then I realized they had been preparing for this for a long time. Sofia has moved on.
— The changes I made are to prove that we can run the department without relying on just one person.
Her voice is full of confidence. It’s like a speech that he’s rehearsed several times. But no emotion on the CEO’s face. He only asked one question.
— Did you know it is against the policy to change data in contracts?
Sofia got a little stiff.
— I just adjusted some information to better fit the real situation.
— Do you have permission? — Nothing.
— Do you have a report submitted to the management? — Nothing.
— Any document to prove approval? — Nothing.
Each question is like a hammer that gradually crushes his confidence. But the following question completely silenced her.
— Then, why do you think you have the right to do that?
For the first time, he didn’t answer anything. Suddenly the screen split in two. Another person has surfaced. The Director of Internal Audit. He opened an electronic file.
— Over the past three days, we reviewed the system’s full access history.
People looked at each other in the room.
— We have identified all unauthorized changes.
Sofia’s hands were shaking. — Nevertheless…
He paused for a moment.
— Surprisingly, money is not the main target of these changes.
Everyone was shocked. — What does that mean?
Question from a team leader. The auditor moves to the next page.
— Most of the modified data is related to performance evaluations of employees.
Suddenly my heartbeat skipped faster. Sofia has turned brown. For the first time, I saw true fear on his face.
— Since last month, more than 120 KPI records have been changed.
Various charts and reports appeared on the screen.
— There are some employees whose performance ratings have increased abnormally.
— While others suddenly went down.
The room is in a mess. One team leader stood up immediately.
— You mean someone manipulated KPI scores? — Yes.
— Do you have evidence? — There are.
The auditor pressed a button. Access logs appeared immediately. The creator’s name is clearly written.
SOFIA REYES.
Not even once. Not twice. But dozens of times. – Impossible!
shout of one.
— My team’s performance was at 96% last month! — When the report arrived, it became 71% only!
— I thought there was a system error! — Me too! — Our team lost their bonus because KPI went down!
Complaints are coming in one after another. Little by little everyone’s views changed. For the first time since I’ve been back in the company, I’m no longer the one they see as guilty. It’s Sofia now. He has completely lost control.
— You don’t understand! — You shut up!
The CEO screams loudly.
Instantly the whole room went silent. Sofia took a deep breath. — Yes, I changed the data.
— But if I didn’t do that, no one would see that this department needs a change.
— Isabella had everything under control for too long.
— I’m just helping them see the truth.
I have finally spoken.
— By destroying their own results?
She turned her back on me. Her eyes were filled with rage. — You’ve always been like that.
— You always think that you’re the right one. — You always wanted to be a savior.
I looked straight at him. — Do you know why Miguel’s KPI went down?
She got pulled over. I pointed at the screen. — Because you changed it. — Do you know why the customer service team lost their bonus? — Because you changed it.
— Do you know why our three biggest clients left?
— Because you allowed those who are not yet ready to hold important accounts.
With every word I let go, he becomes poorer. I came closer to the screen.
— You think everyone wants freedom. — But what they need is responsibility.
— Freedom doesn’t mean you can do anything.
— Being independent doesn’t mean you break the whole system.
— And a leader doesn’t have to be the most popular person in the room.
— I’m here to protect the total outcome.
The silence has struck once again. No one objected. Because the truth is right in front of them. Profit went down. Clients are gone. The bonuses are gone. And all of that is true. Suddenly the CEO spoke.
— Isabella. — Yes. — I want to know something.
All eyes on me. — If you knew this before, why didn’t you stop him immediately?
I took a deep breath. — That’s also the easiest thing to do. — I can fire him immediately when I see the group chat. — I can revoke all her access. — I can go straight to management. — But if I did that, no one would see the real problem.
I stopped.
— They need to see the results of the decisions they supported.
Everything is quiet. The CEO gave a nod. Then he looked at Sofia.
— Sofia Reyes.
Suddenly his voice became colder.
— Based on the result of the preliminary audit, you are suspended as of today.
Sofia’s face looks like she’s losing color. — Nope…
— And your case will be transferred to the legal department for deeper investigation. — Nope!
But it’s too late. Everyone thought the meeting was over. Yet the Director of Internal Audit speaks again. — Momentarily.
Everything turned around. — We’ve discovered another one.
I suddenly felt a strange feeling of nervousness. He looked at his report.
— In our investigation, we discovered that Sofia is not the only one with unauthorized access to the system.
Suddenly the whole room got stiff. Sofia got a quick look at the auditor. And that time, I saw a strange smile on her lips again. It’s like he knows something we don’t. The auditor has resumed.
— There is another high-level account that has been repeatedly logged in from outside the company for the past two months.
The CEO is so wrinkled. — Whose account is that?
The auditor quietly looked at the screen. Then he read the name. And that name shook the whole room.
— The owner of that account… — is the company’s Executive Vice President.
At the same time, Sofia suddenly smiled. That is no longer the smile of fear. Except for someone who knows the real struggle… is just getting started.