Chapter 1205 Two People (XIV)

• Then Madison Sawyer slowly laid out the plan: compensation in exchange for early retirement. That was what they’d agreed on—good cop, bad cop. First, set the tone. On the business consultant issue, there was zero wiggle room. It had to be done. After that, Madison would handle the early-retirement talks, mixing soft and hard, and with Malcom Sawyer’s final nod, the subsidy tied to their retirement terms was already sky-high. If they stayed and kept muddling along, it wouldn’t get any better. Let them do the math themselves.
• Everyone knew, deep down, that Madison’s new rules for business consultants were basically a declaration of war. And these folks, whether by sentiment or by logic, had no advantage to claim. They also knew throwing a tantrum wouldn’t change the outcome. Back when they pushed Malcom off the board, that knot got tied, and anyone in his shoes would remember. Choosing Lauren Wen as their point man to talk one-on-one was already a sign they’d backed down. From here on out, it was just haggling for a sweeter price.
• When Madison finished, Lauren Wen let out a long sigh and said, unwillingly, “Miss Sawyer, is there really no way to change this? Do we have to drive all us old-timers out? Old Mr. Sawyer is living out his days now—are we just getting shoved aside like that?”