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He’s a busy man and I get how businesses work. When things aren’t being done properly and deadlines are being missed, you have to start eliminating the dead wood. Unfortunately, sacrifices have to be made. From what I gathered yesterday, Doris is worried about this meeting and more or less said Khristian is unpredictable and it could go one way or the other.
“So, Xander,” he starts, his eyes settling on one of the guys from the marketing team. “How are we going with the advertising write-up with the Seattle post? I’ve had no notes. While you’re thinking of your answer, I’d also like to touch base with the blunder relating to the TV spot that I approved weeks ago that still hasn’t graced the screens of Seattle’s citizens, assuming we have a contingency plan?”
Xander looks like he wants to curl up into a ball and die. He blinks, then offers a tight smile. I can tell his brain is doing overtime. “The Seattle post was unfortunately delayed, Mr. Petrov…”
“Delayed how?”
“We didn’t realize that the server had failed and the email didn’t get sent in time.”
“We?”
He’s about to throw someone under the bus.
Looking awkwardly to the person next to him — Jenny, I think — their eyes meet and an awkward stand-off ensues. I think Xander is going to do whatever it takes to try and save his own ass.
“I’m sorry, sir, I should’ve checked and made a follow up reminder,” Jenny puts in, her voice shaking.
“But you didn’t?”
“No, I…”
“So you dropped the ball?”
Her mouth opens and closes like a goldfish.
Yikes. Mr. Petrov seems like he’s just getting warmed up.
The next words out of his mouth shock me. “Jenny. You’re fired.”
Her eyes go wide. “Wait, what?”
Khristian motions toward the door where a security guard appears, ready to escort her from the building. He’s a six-foot giant who looks like he spends his days wrestling tigers. I’m sure he’s got a great personality, but he’s intimidating as hell.
Her bottom lip trembles. I sit rigid in my seat.
“I can’t have incompetent staff. That article was fundamental in introducing Tre’sor to not just the neighborhood, but the entire state of Washington.”
“Mr. Petrov, I implore you,” Xander starts. Maybe he has some redeeming qualities after all. “It wasn’t all Jenny’s fault.” Maybe not. “I… we should have had a contingency plan in place…”
“Like you did with the TV spot? By the way, how is all of that coming along?” He doesn’t let Xander answer, and Jenny is still sitting there in shock. “While we’re on the subject, I haven't seen any billboards around the city. I’m sure I’ve paid for three around Seattle all the way to Tacoma and King County, yet all I hear are crickets…”
“We had one scheduled for Pike Place Market,” another guy, Jamie, pipes up. Oh no, why is he talking? If I were any of these people, I’d be averting my gaze and not making myself stand out. Don’t speak unless spoken to, but that’s just me.
“Perfect.” Khristian claps his hands together, making us all jump. “Let’s put a high-end jewelry store billboard campaign smack bang in the middle of a tourist marketplace that sells fruit and vegetables along with artisan crafts and hand-made ceramic bowls. You don’t have to be a genius to work out that isn’t the clientele we’re reaching for.” He takes a long moment, then shakes his head. “Doris, am I really paying these people for these ideas? Am I really shelling out thousands of dollars for this incompetence?”
Doris pushes her glasses up her nose and keeps her lips tightly zipped. That seems like a good plan.
“Meanwhile, Doris, my PA who doesn’t even work in the marketing department, organized a digital bullet last week on the I-5. You’re all Seattleites, you should know that long north-south stretch of highway that runs through the University District, along with Maple Leaf and North Gate and Lumen Field stadium, right? The busiest highway in Seattle where there’s constant traffic of around two hundred and seventy five thousand cars every day going downtown…”
Silence fills the room as Khristian stares at them.
“Sir, we can explain…” Xander starts.
“I’m bored. Xander, Jamie, the rest of whoever you had on your marketing team, you’re fired.”
Holy shit.
“You can’t do this!” Jamie stands.
