A wave of reaction moved through the audience.
Then came the second vote.
The proposal for an independent review of customer service practices passed as well.
The final vote was the most important.
A change in board composition.
The screen updated slowly.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then the numbers appeared.
The proposal passed.
Three board members aligned with Fleming would be replaced by independent directors.
The room erupted.
Some applauded.
Some remained silent.
Richard Fleming sat frozen.
The man who had spent months protecting his position suddenly realized the shareholders had chosen a different direction.
The chairman thanked everyone for participating.
But before Eleanor could fully process the moment, she felt something change.
The room became distant.
The voices around her faded.
Her chest tightened.
She reached for the table.
“Mom?”
Simone’s voice sounded far away.
Eleanor tried to answer, but the words would not come.
Michael immediately moved toward her.
“Call emergency services.”
The room that had just celebrated victory suddenly became filled with urgency.
Eleanor was helped into a chair as medical personnel rushed in.
Her final clear thought before losing consciousness was simple.
They had won.
But she wondered if she would be there to see what came next.
The hospital room was quiet.
Only the steady sound of the monitor filled the space.
Simone sat beside her mother’s bed, holding her hand.
Michael stood nearby speaking with the cardiologist.
“The good news is she did not suffer a major heart attack,” the doctor explained.
“But the stress triggered a condition called stress cardiomyopathy.”
Simone looked confused.
“What does that mean?”
“The heart muscle temporarily weakens after extreme emotional or physical stress. With proper care, recovery is usually possible.”
“But she needs rest.”
Michael nodded slowly.
“She has been pushing herself beyond what anyone should.”
A few minutes later, Eleanor opened her eyes.
The first thing she asked was not where she was.
It was:
“The vote?”
Simone smiled through tears.
“We won, Mom.”
A small smile appeared on Eleanor’s face.
“The board?”
“Changed.”
“The company?”
“Still standing.”
Eleanor closed her eyes for a moment.
Relief finally reached her.
But then she opened them again.
“What happens now?”
Jordan, who had been waiting quietly near the window, stepped forward.
“Now we rebuild.”
Three days later, Sky America’s new board held its first emergency meeting.
Eleanor could not attend in person.
But through a secure video connection, she watched.
Simone sat as her representative.
Jordan and Aisha provided updates.
The board members discussed the immediate priorities.
First, restoring employee trust.
Second, reviewing customer service policies.
Third, selecting new leadership.
Richard Fleming had stopped appearing publicly.
His merger proposal had collapsed after further review showed major concerns.
The board voted to place him on administrative leave while they evaluated the company’s future.
The next major decision was the appointment of an interim CEO.
Jordan presented several candidates.
One name immediately stood out.
William Turner.
A former airline executive known for improving both operations and workplace culture.
“He understands airlines,” Jordan explained.