Chapter 35 - The Market Turned Against Them
Six months later, the real estate market weakened.
Commercial property values dropped.
Two major Sterling projects slowed.
Investors became nervous.
The same people who had praised Clara's reforms now questioned them.
The board wanted immediate cost reductions.
One director suggested selling several properties.
Another suggested layoffs.
Clara refused to panic.
“We don't make permanent decisions because of temporary fear.”
Marcus reminded her:
“Some of these conditions may last longer than expected.”
“I know.”
“What if the company loses money this year?”
“Then we report the loss.”
“What if shareholders become angry?”
“Then they become angry.”
She looked at the financial report.
The numbers were bad.
Not catastrophic.
But painful.
For the first time since taking control, Clara couldn't solve a problem simply by writing a check.
She would have to choose.
People or margins.
Expansion or stability.
Speed or patience.
And unlike Ethan, she knew exactly what happened when people chose numbers over human beings.
The next morning, she froze executive bonuses.
But she protected the lowest-paid employees.
The board questioned the decision.
Clara stood firm.
“We can survive a difficult year.”
She looked around the room.
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“We shouldn't make the people who built this company pay for it first.”
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