Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 61939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
“I’ve already done that.”
“My pilot needs an updated schedule for my media tour.”
“I sent it to him last night.”
“Well, since you’re three days ahead—”
“I’m seven days ahead,” she said, her eyes meeting mine. “Hoping that means I’ll earn some ‘free time’ soon.”
“It means you should add comedy to your list of talents.” I stole a long look at her lips. “Send in my first interviewee for the morning.”
“Please?” she asked, as if she were waiting for me to say it.
I kept her waiting.
She rolled her eyes and slipped out of the room, and I made a mental note to give her tasks that would keep her out of my sight for as long as possible.
As I smeared cream cheese on my bagel, Employee #547—Natalie Jones—walked into my office.
She was listed as an “aesthetic specialist” according to Human Resources, and the first person I’d ever met with that title.
I waited for her to take the seat across from me before clearing my throat.
“Would you like a bagel while we speak, Miss Jones?” I asked.
“No, sir.” She smiled. “I already ate this morning, and it’s my pleasure to just watch you devour in front of me.”
“Okay.” I pretended not to hear that last part. “What exactly do you do here?”
“I’m an aesthetic specialist.”
“I know what your job title is,” I said. “What does it mean?”
“I make things more aesthetic and special.”
I gave her a blank stare.
“I’m very fulfilled here.” She smiled. “I do great work.”
“How about you walk me through your typical day here,” I said. “Let’s try this question that way.”
“Oh! Well, after clocking in, I redeem my punch card for my free daily latte, and I start with the hardest thing first: the lobby’s grand fountain.”
“Since tourists throw new coins in there every day, I make sure to take my time spreading them around so they shine well under the lights.”
I set down my knife.
“The water is freezing cold, so I have to make sure I wear weather-resistant gloves,” she said. “I try my best to make sure all the silver coins are on top within four hours.”
“You’ve been getting an actual paycheck for this?”
“After that, I commit to the new Cross mantra and eat my lunch while walking to my next task,” she said. “That’s where the aesthetic part of my job really kicks in.”
It better…
“I go from floor to floor, department to department, and make sure that each receptionist and waiting area has freshly trimmed flowers, clean windows, and that everything looks social media-ready.”
“And this takes four hours as well?”
“No, this takes six.” She shook her head. “By the time I reach the fiftieth floor, I’m technically ‘off,’ but I go the extra mile and finish the final floors before leaving for the day. I take my job here very seriously, and I hope you can see that, sir.”
I was speechless.
“Do you want me to explain why I shouldn’t be fired now?”
You’re already at the top of the list…
“No, that’s okay,” I said. “I think I understand your job perfectly.”
“I also brought my ideas like you asked.” She pulled a sheet of paper from her purse. “I used to work at our competition, so I can totally tell you the ins and outs, and where we can crush them long-term.”
I took the paper from her, bracing myself for more disappointment, but on it was a list of QR codes. Above each one was a category—loyalty program, customer service, barista benefits, marketing, and sales.
“I drafted a ten-page plan for each,” she said. “I figured it would be easier for you to read it this way, but um…I’ve already lost fifteen minutes of my fountain time today, so do you mind if I get to it?”
“Go ahead, Miss Jones,” I said. “Enjoy that job while you can….”
“Thanks!” She didn’t catch my tone.
When she was out of my office, I scanned her work to my cloud and texted Ciara.
I just gave you access to something I want you to look into by the end of the day. Get Miss Stone to help you with it.
Ciara
I’m heading back from Miami… been stalking other cafes for YOU, remember?”
It’s a DIGITAL assignment. You can call Miss Stone on the flight back…
“Harrison?” Aaron rushed to my desk. “We have a problem.”
“Just one?”
“I’m not kidding.” His terse tone caught me off guard. “We’re in deep shit.”
“Have a seat.”
“I can’t.” He shook his head. “Ciara and I have consistently run the numbers with every member of the accounting team, and unless we’re all dumb, this company is missing a boatload of money.”
“How much?”
“Five hundred million.”
I blinked, waiting for him to correct ‘million’ with ‘thousand,’ but he didn’t.
“Million, Harrison.” He read my mind. “Five hundred million.”
“How is that even possible?” I asked. “That’s more than half of what I paid for this place.”
“I can have an independent auditing team here in an hour, but…”