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‘Thank you.’
Christopher is waiting in the large conference room reserved for client meetings.
‘Hi, Ariella. How are things going down there?’ Christopher always gets straight to the point.
‘Smoothly. Client feedback scores are still in the ninety-fifth percentile for the last quarter. Operationally, I’m putting together the training updates for our global compliance officers, and looking into introducing webinars to cut costs and increase our touch schedules with them. Due diligence is in place for the markets we have gaps in, and we’ve cut our speed of delivery by seventeen per cent. I think we should grow our network of local partners, to leave positive footprints and continue to speed up delivery deadlines…’
‘Ariella? Breathe. You’re doing an awesome job. Water?’
Christopher doesn’t wait for a response before he grabs a bottle for me.
‘You should reconsider moving up here. You’re pretty much our number two, and it makes it easier for us to pop into your office. Everyone down there still thinks you’re just an event manager.’
It’s not the first time we have had this conversation.
‘I’m happy downstairs. I still have a lot to learn and I’m only going to learn it in the thick of things.’
‘Is that why you haven’t changed the job title on your email footer since you started?’ Christopher teases gently.
‘My job title isn’t important to me.’
‘Or are you scared of responsibility, Ariella?’ Harrison asks with a smile playing on his lips.
‘No. Of course not.’
‘Good. Because we have a job for you.’ Christopher pulls a chair out for me to sit on. ‘We’ve inherited a project in Zambia, and things aren’t looking good.’
‘There’s barely any budget,’ Harrison adds.
‘Okay. We can deploy health, safety and due diligence from South Africa and, depending on how that goes, I can get this delivered remotely.’
‘I’m going to need you to look after this one personally and on location. You can use the South African resources, but I need you there.’
‘Why?’
‘They’ve sent invitations out to their clients already. I can send you the brief?’ Harrison suggests sheepishly.
‘Is that it?’ I point at a folder in the middle of the table, and they both nod. ‘I’d rather see it now, if that’s okay?’
Christopher reaches out and slides it over. It is a self-rated, five-star boutique hotel with thirty bedrooms overlooking Victoria Falls. It is to be a four-day and three-night ‘trip of a lifetime’ experience with Michelin-star dining every night, European continental breakfasts, and picnic or barbecue lunches. Alarm bells go off in my head.
‘Is there a site visit report?’ I ask, looking through the folder.
‘No,’ Harrison responds.
‘No one has seen this place?’ I catch Christopher rubbing his fingers across his forehead out of the corner of my eye.
‘No.’
‘Is this the budget?’ I ask, pointing to the figure on the front page.
‘Yes. It’s been approved.’
‘You’re going to have to get some more, Harrison, or they’re going to have to cancel.’
‘How much more do you reckon?’
‘Double, if they’re lucky. Triple, if there’s a problem. We also need to prioritise a site visit.’
