Olivia can track his discovery in real time. The frantic search for Olivia Johnson, the dawning horror as results populate his screen. Founder and CEO of Johnson Capital Partners, one of the most powerful black owned investment firms in the country.
Over $50 billion in managed assets, known for pulling investments from companies with toxic cultures. Harrison ends his call abruptly and stands, his entire demeanor transformed. The arrogance vanishes, replaced by naked panic.
He hurries around his desk toward Olivia. Ms. Johnson, he begins, voice suddenly obsequious. I believe there’s been a terrible misunderstanding.
If I’d known who you were. No misunderstanding, Olivia interrupts, standing to match his height. You were perfectly clear about who you thought I was and how you felt that person should be treated.
She moves toward the door. Harrison physically blocks her path. Please, let’s discuss this in private, he pleads, desperation evident.
I’m sure we can come to an arrangement that benefits us both. The commotion draws attention. Employees in the hallway stop, watching.
Some discreetly lift phones, recording. The security guards, who had barely acknowledged Olivia’s entrance hours earlier, now stand at rigid attention, uncertain whether to intervene as their CEO grows increasingly agitated. The time for that conversation was when you thought I was nobody, Olivia says, her composure unshaken despite Harrison’s looming presence.
He reaches for her arm but stops himself, awareness of witnesses dawning on him. You can’t just, I can, Olivia states simply, and I am. She steps around him with practiced grace, the movement of someone who has navigated obstacles her entire career.
As Olivia walks toward the exit, Terranova’s stock price flashes red on lobby monitors, the decline accelerating to 7%. Whispers ripple through Terranova’s headquarters like electricity. Employees huddle around computer screens, frantically searching Olivia Johnson and Johnson Capital Partners.
Articles appear on screens throughout the building. Johnson Capital’s history of ethical investment withdrawal. How Olivia Johnson built a $50 billion empire by demanding corporate accountability.
Companies that lost billions after Johnson Capital pulled support. In the executive boardroom, Harrison paces frantically. How did no one know who she was? How did this happen? The meeting was just listed as O Johnson Potential Investor, his assistant explains, voice trembling.
There was no detailed briefing because you said it was just a diversity obligation meeting. We need damage control now, Harrison snaps. The executive team, so relaxed and jovial earlier, now sits rigid with tension.
James Stewart, who had whispered about the diversity quota, offers his solution. We need to find dirt on Johnson. Everyone has skeletons.
We find hers, threatened to go public unless she backs off. Harrison considers this, desperation clouding his judgment. Meanwhile, Olivia returns to her car where David and her executive team await.
On tablets and laptops, they monitor Terra Nova’s market position in real time. Just our initial signals caused this drop, David explains, showing her the analytics. No public announcement, just strategic calls expressing concerns to key analysts.
Imagine what happens when we go public with our decision. Another team member presents Olivia with a leather bound portfolio. Full documentation of today’s discrimination, professionally transcribed with time stamps.
We’ve included contextual industry statistics on executive diversity for comparison. Olivia reviews it meticulously. This isn’t just about one company or one man, she says.
This is about changing patterns. Back in Terra Nova’s boardroom, Harrison’s phone rings constantly. Board members demand explanations.
The PR team drafts a statement focusing on miscommunications and Terra Nova’s commitment to diversity without acknowledging any specific wrongdoing. Harrison attempts to call Olivia directly. A smooth professional voice answers, Johnson Capital Partners.
This is Leonard Harrison, I need to speak with Olivia immediately. I’m sorry, Mr. Harrison, the executive assistant replies coolly. Ms. Johnson only takes calls from respectful potential business partners, not staff, as you put it.
Would you like to leave a message? Before Harrison can respond, breaking news alerts appear on every screen in the boardroom. Johnson Capital Partners has released a statement. We are reconsidering all potential investments in companies without demonstrable inclusive cultures.
Terra Nova isn’t named specifically, but the timing leaves no doubt about the target. Harrison’s phone chimes with a calendar invitation. Final investment decision meeting, Johnson Capital Partners, tomorrow 9 AM, with a note.
You may bring one attorney. Morning financial shows buzz with speculation. Terra Nova Technologies experienced an unexplained 12% stock drop yesterday, reports a CNBC anchor.
Sources suggest a major potential investor witnessed concerning behavior from CEO Leonard Harrison, though details remain unconfirmed. Harrison arrives at his office to find the company in crisis. Through the glass walls of the main conference room, he sees his board of directors already assembled, without inviting him.
Their animated gestures and grim expressions tell him everything. His assistant approaches cautiously, arms laden with papers. These just came in, sir.
Emails from major shareholders demanding explanations about yesterday’s stock movement and rumors about Johnson Capital. Harrison grabs the stack, flipping through messages with increasing alarm. Words jump out, deeply concerned.
Fiduciary responsibility. Potential leadership change. Emergency shareholder meeting.
Across town at Johnson Capital’s downtown headquarters, Olivia conducts her own strategy meeting. Her team reviews documentation and prepares for the upcoming confrontation. Are we being too harsh? Asks a junior team member.
Terra Nova employs thousands of people. This could affect more than just Harrison. Olivia considers the question carefully.
Systemic change requires consequences, she explains. Companies understand one language fluently, money. The employees deserve better leadership, and the market deserves transparency about what kind of culture their investment supports.
Her mind flashes through her career journey. Graduating top of her class only to be offered assistant positions, while male classmates received associate titles. Working nights and weekends to prove her worth.
Being mistaken for administrative staff at every firm she worked for. Building her own investment company from nothing, while potential clients questioned her credentials at every turn. Back at Terra Nova, Harrison huddles with his legal team, preparing for the meeting with Olivia.
We need to save the stock price, he insists, revealing his priorities. Promise whatever diversity initiatives they want. Just make this go away, his attorney looks skeptical.
My advice is to appear contrite without admitting specific fault. Any explicit admission could trigger shareholder lawsuits. On social media, hashtag TerraNovaToxic begins trending.
Anonymous employees share stories. I was told to straighten my hair if I wanted client facing roles. My accent was mocked in executive meetings.
HR buried three discrimination complaints last year alone. In his private bathroom, Harrison practices apologies in the mirror. Ms. Johnson, I sincerely regret if anything I said was misinterpreted.
His phone interrupts the rehearsal, the board chair calling. Leonard, we’ve discovered previous discrimination complaints against you that were hidden from the board. Why are we just learning about these now? As Harrison prepares to leave for the meeting with Olivia, security arrives at his office with a board directive.