AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It is your father's desire for the merger to proceed. We do not perceive these proposals as a good fit for our company, and the costs associated with implementing them would be too high,” the board president responds.
“You fail to see the long-term benefits. Once these changes are in place, they will pay for themselves within the first five years,” I assert. All eyes shift to the board president.
“We need better numbers. Come back when you have them,” the president retorts.
“Fine,” I snap, frustration boiling within me. I seize my briefcase, yank the door open, and storm back to my office. These people are driving me to the edge. I stomp through the reception area and slam the door shut behind me, throwing my briefcase on the sofa. I gaze out of the window of my high-rise office, allowing the view to sink in and soothe me.
Everything looks insignificant from the ninety-ninth floor.
I wish the board could recognize my dedication to this company. It's not for personal gain, but for my father's sake. After Mom passed away, this business became his sole focus, and despite his advancing age, he dedicated himself to it day and night. As his memory started to falter, he appointed a chief executive officer and formed a board to assist him in decision-making. I'm certain he never intended for them to seize control of the company, but that is exactly how they are behaving.
I was busy with my own projects when he approached me and asked me to step in. That's when I realized he wanted to leave me a legacy. How could I refuse? If I had known the headaches it would bring, perhaps I would have made a different choice.
Lost in my thoughts, I'm startled by a knock on the door. “Come in,” I reply, my voice sounding harsh. The door opens, and Ana cautiously peeks her head inside.
“Is it safe to come in?” Her voice is soft, yet there's a hint of determination behind it.
“Yes, of course. Please have a seat,” I gesture toward the couch and walk over to retrieve my briefcase. Despite my outward attempt at hospitality, seeing her only intensifies the inner turmoil raging within me.
I take a seat across from her and cross my legs, striving to appear composed.
“What can I do for you?” Our eyes meet, and she hesitates, seemingly unsure if she should proceed. After a few moments of watching her contemplate her words, she blurts out.
“How did the meeting go?”
She looks me directly in the eye, and I look away, concerned that she will divine my thoughts.
I let out a sigh. “Not good. I'm frustrated with the board and my father because they won't approve any of my proposals to expand the business, nor any of the reforms necessary to modernize our internal business processes. It's my responsibility to lead this company, yet they reject every idea I put forth.”
She nods empathetically.
“My father established a board of directors near the end of his tenure to assist him in making decisions. But now, that same board is actively working against me, and my father is supporting their stance. I presented several advancements, and the board dismissed them outright, citing excessive costs and too small return on investment,” I say, using air quotes. “I don't know how to make them understand that these changes can contribute to our business's growth and continued viability. They'd rather cling to outdated models that drain us.” I pause, realizing that I just shared my innermost frustrations with my new assistant.
“Can I ask you a question?” Ana pushes her hair back behind her ears.
“Shoot,” I say casually, trying to maintain a nonchalant demeanor.
“Why do you care so much about this business?” Her question feels like a punch to the gut, and I find myself staring at her, silently pondering the same.
“I suppose I care because my father does. This business was his creation from the ground up. He used to bring me to the office, and as I grew older, I started working here during school breaks and summers. I witnessed how much this place meant to him, the effort he poured into it, often at the expense of spending time with me as I was growing up. I also want to accomplish things that make my father proud of me and contribute to the success of this business. Unfortunately, as it stands now, I don't even think he likes me. The board certainly doesn't.”
Ana's voice carries kindness as she responds, “Breaking through that kind of old-school mentality can be challenging.” I nod in agreement, knowing all too well the difficulty of the task at hand.
“I need to confess something. I made a copy of the file you gave me. Based on what I've read, I have an idea I think you might like,” Ana says, surprising me with her admission. There's a hint of sympathy on her face, softening her expression and evoking an unfamiliar feeling.
“It's only your first week. How can you possibly help me?” I try to maintain a collected facade, refusing to let her presence affect me.
Fake it till you make it, right?
“Well,” she reaches over and hands me a folder, “you are intent on shifting your business model toward green energy, right? And the board wants immediate profits. How about implementing blockchain technology to allow people to trade excess energy from their solar panels with their neighbors? A similar project implemented in Australia was profitable from the get-go.”
She hands me a folder, and my mouth drops open.
I must be looking at her as if she hung the moon.
“Participants would be able to buy and sell energy through smart contracts. This will promote local renewable energy generation and reduce dependance on central grids. Take a look at this and see what you think.”
I take the folder from her, our hands grazing and sending a jolt of electricity to my groin. Flipping through the pages, I make a mental calculation. The board would probably oppose it, but the Australian case study shows great return on investment even before any government subsidies are taken into account.
