"Because the safety device doesn't know whether the client is important," Marcus said. "It was installed for a reason. If we think it's wrong, we prove it with the approved process. We don't teach the machine to ignore a warning so someone in a conference room can stay comfortable." Peter glanced at Leila, recognizing the same thinking that had kept the December incident from becoming something worse.
The panel's final recommendation was positive but not extravagant. Marcus was ready for a permanent maintenance-technician role with clearly defined equipment authorizations, continued mentorship, and funded training toward the certifications he did not yet hold. The report noted that he contributed unusually strong diagnostic reasoning and helped colleagues question unsupported assumptions. It also noted that he needed further experience with several networked control systems and should not be expected to perform duties reserved for licensed specialists.
Marcus read the summary in Olivia's office and felt a quiet satisfaction that surprised him. No one had called him a genius or an exception to every rule. They had measured his work, described what he could do, and identified how he could improve. For a man who had spent years being judged primarily by the uniform he wore, a fair limitation felt more respectful than an exaggerated compliment.
The recommendation, however, still required budget approval. Adrian argued that adding a permanent position after one trial would set a precedent and encourage employees in other departments to request similar arrangements. Ruth Bennett from finance asked how many emergency vendor calls Marcus's work had helped prevent, but Peter refused to assign all the savings to one person. The improvements were the result of team effort, better procedures, and more careful diagnosis, and pretending otherwise would undermine the very case they were making.
Natalie supported Peter's position. "If the role is justified, justify it with the work it actually performs," she said. "Don't sell me a legend about a man who fixes everything by listening through a wall. Give me a job description, a staffing need, and an evaluation that would stand up even if I had never met him." The committee approved an additional position in principle, pending final compensation review and completion of the trial period. Marcus heard the news from Olivia rather than from the CEO, exactly as Natalie had wanted.
At home, he marked the projected decision date on the refrigerator calendar. Emma had become an expert at finding important squares on that calendar, and she placed a tiny silver star sticker next to the date. "Does that mean you're going to get the job?" she asked. Marcus explained the difference between being recommended and being officially hired. She listened impatiently, then decided the distinction mattered less than the fact that he was trying.