Page 206 of His Flash Mate
“This is even better than the purse,” I said, sitting in the chair across from him.“I need to know that you were impartial about giving me this chance, though.”
“Not even a little.I’d give you the world if you let me.But that doesn’t mean you’re not ready or able to do this.You’ve already demonstrated your ability to find design improvements is better than Lianna's.She signed off on every design you modified.”
I almost pointed out that there’d been plenty of designs where I hadn’t found room for improvement, but I was too petty to defend her like that.
“Fine.Does this mean I get to sit in her office?”
He shook his head.“You stay where I can see you.”
His computer pinged with a notification.He glanced at it.
“The meeting is in an hour.Make a list of projects you modified last week with summaries of the changes and client responses.”
“On it.”
I popped out of my chair and got to work on an SOA that showcased my impressiveness.Finishing with five minutes to spare, I forwarded it to Konni then joined him.
He quietly looked it over, asked Edi to print off seven copies, and indicated we should move to his seating area.
I was glad he was keeping the meeting casual.Hopefully, it would make my involvement in the project managers’ process feel more like help and less like a hostile takeover.I could only handle ruffling one person’s feathers at a time.That was a lie…I was an excellent multitasker.
They arrived together, filing in one after another and exchanging nervous glances as they uncomfortably took a seat.Their reactions were understandable.How often did a CEO call an employee into his office for a good conversation?
“Thank you for making time on short notice,” Konni said.“I know you’re all busy, so I’ll keep it brief.
“Ms.Stonestock’s sudden resignation put everyone in a tough spot last week.You’ve all stepped up, and I want you to know that I see your efforts.If any project owners are still raising concerns, please bring them to me so we can address them quickly.
“To help strengthen our client relationships, Ms.Elmantas will be reviewing projects.The goal is for her to identify opportunities for improvement and familiarize herself with departmental workflows.Which projects pose the biggest concerns around our credibility right now?”
No one looked my way, but they shared plenty of side glances as the silence grew.
Finally, one cleared his throat.
“I agree that we need to strengthen client relations, but is Ms.Elmantas the best choice?Given her limited time here, I’m not confident she has the experience needed to make insightful contributions.We’re spending all our time putting out fires.We don’t have time to try to train someone with no background.”
“She has a background and experience.”Konni nodded to me, and I handed out the SOA.
Konni gave them a minute to skim over it, then said, “As you can see, she has a keen eye for details.Every project she revised last week received immediate client approval and gratitude.That level of client satisfaction is exactly what we need right now.Wouldn’t you agree?”
The man who’d spoken up nodded without meeting Konni’s gaze.
“I’m confident that Ms.Elmantas will need minimal guidance to contribute meaningfully.Rather than time, I’m asking for your support in ensuring only the strongest work reaches our clients.Her fresh perspective and limited experience allow her to spot improvements others might overlook.”
“Does this mean she’s stepping into Ms.Stonestock's role for approving design plans?”another manager asked.
“No.I wouldn’t hand over that level of responsibility to someone with limited experience.HR is actively recruiting Ms.Stonestock’s replacement, but it may take some time.”
“It wasn’t on the internal job posting,” the first man said, looking up from my SOA.
“Correct.We’ve decided it would be more beneficial for Steele Corp to recruit talent externally.”
He didn’t look happy about that answer.
“For now, all projects will go through me for approval after they’ve been reviewed by Ms.Elmantas, which is why she’ll remain in my secretariat.”
I mentally snorted at how smoothly Konni spun my reason for staying where I was.
“Does anyone have any other questions?”
