My Brother Became My New Boss After Dad's Stroke, His First Decision Was Cutting My Salary In Half скачать в хорошем качестве

My Brother Became My New Boss After Dad's Stroke, His First Decision Was Cutting My Salary In Half

The hospital smell still clung to my clothes when I walked into Dad's office that Tuesday morning. Three days. That's how long it had been since Robert Thompson, the man who built this company from nothing, suffered a massive stroke while reviewing our quarterly reports. Three days since our world turned upside down. And now Dylan was sitting behind Dad's mahogany desk like he'd been there his whole life, his fingers drummed against the leather desktop as he watched me approach. No greeting, no concern about how Dad was doing, just those cold gray eyes that had always carried a hint of resentment. On the desk between us lay a single manila folder with my name typed across the tab. Marcus Thompson. Personnel Review. Immediate Action Required. Before we jump back in, tell us where you're tuning in from, and if this story touches you, make sure you're subscribed—because tomorrow, I've saved something extra special for you! I should have seen it coming. The signs were all there, scattered like breadcrumbs through the past six months. Dylan's late-night meetings with the accountant. His sudden interest in reviewing employee contracts. The way he'd started questioning my decisions in front of the crew, undermining twenty years of trust I'd built with every craftsman on that floor. But I was too focused on the business, too concerned with keeping Thompson's Custom Furniture running while Dad's health deteriorated, to notice that my own brother was sharpening his knife. My name is Marcus Thompson. I'm thirty-two years old, and until this moment, I was the lead designer and operations director at Thompson's Custom Furniture & Design. For the past eight years, I'd poured every ounce of my soul into this company. While Dylan was off getting his business degree and playing fraternity games, I was learning the difference between quarter-sawn oak and plain-sawn, mastering dovetail joints that would last a century, understanding that furniture isn't just about function, it's about legacy. Dad always said I had the vision and the hands to carry on what he started. Apparently, my brother had different plans. Dylan cleared his throat and slid the folder across the polished surface. His voice carried that practiced corporate tone he'd developed since graduating, the one that made every conversation feel like a board meeting. "Marcus, we need to discuss some immediate operational changes. With Dad's situation, the company needs new leadership structure. I've been appointed interim CEO by the board of directors. " The board of directors. Three people. Mom, who was spending every waking hour at Dad's bedside. Jake Morrison, our operations manager who'd been with us for fifteen years. And Dylan himself. I wondered how that vote had gone. I didn't reach for the folder immediately. Something in his posture, the way he avoided my eyes, told me that whatever was inside would change everything. Dylan continued, his words measured and rehearsed. "We've conducted a comprehensive review of all salaries and responsibilities. Given the current financial pressures and the need to streamline operations, your position is being restructured. Effective immediately, you'll be transitioning from operations director to senior craftsman. Your new salary reflects market rates for that position. " The words hit me like a physical blow. Senior craftsman. A fifty percent pay cut. From running the entire operation to being just another employee on the floor. I finally opened the folder, scanning the official letterhead and corporate language that reduced twenty years of my life to a few paragraphs. "Due to operational restructuring requirements and budgetary constraints, Marcus Thompson's role will transition from Operations Director to Senior Craftsman, Level 3. Compensation adjustment: Annual salary reduced from $89,000 to $44,500, effective immediately. Benefits package revised accordingly. This decision reflects current market conditions and operational efficiency requirements. " The language was cold, impersonal, designed to make it sound like a business decision rather than what it really was. A betrayal.