Isaac
Did you see his new memo about Saturdays being mandatory? W.T.F.
I just read it. Sigh…
Lilly
Um, why the hell is ANDREA still in this group chat? She needs to be removed ASAP.
Summer
I agree. She DEFINITELY knew about this B.S. How much do y’all think Mr. Lewis paid her to stay quiet?
Guys, I swear, I did NOT know. I’m suffering just as much as you are. Mr. Cross just made me clean the meeting room floor from top to bottom. (He forced the janitors to sit there and watch.)
Error Alert
You’ve been removed from the chat.
NINE (B)
ANDREA
The Following Morning
“As you can all see, this is a much-needed change for this company.” Mr. Cross stood atop the lobby’s desk, addressing us poor souls who had no other options.
“Starting next week, I’ll be calling you in one by one for a private interview,” he said. “Be ready to explain exactly what you do here, why I should continue paying you the same rate, and why I shouldn’t fire you on the spot.”
“During that meeting, you’ll need to tell me your favorite Sweet Seasons drink and three ideas to make us stand apart from Starbucks.”
I snorted.You’re beyond obsessed with them…
“Something funny, Miss Stone?” Mr. Cross called out to me, and suddenly everyone was staring in my direction.
“No—no, not at all.” I put my phone away. “I was just…”
I looked around, hoping for some sympathetic glances, but there were none.
“You were just—” Mr. Cross’s voice was terse. “—not paying attention to me?”
“I—You have my full attention, Mr. Cross.”
“You’ll be one of mylastinterviews,” he said. “Perhaps the time you’ll spend waiting will inspire you to not draw attention to yourself during my meetings.”
It took everything in me not to roll my eyes, but I managed.
“Anyway, back to what I was saying, Team Sweet Seasons—” He looked away from me. “This takeover will require a complete overhaul of everything you used to know and everything you used to be.”
“We have a goal of becoming number one, and anyone who doesn’t live, breathe, or eat this goal is no longer welcome here,” he said, veering into more unhinged territory.
I focused on the clock behind him as he spoke, deeply missing the days when I was still in bed at this hour.
By the time his speech ended, twenty minutes had passed and the crowd had long since scattered.
Not wanting to be the last person present, I walked down the hallway.
“Miss Stone?” Mr. Cross’s voice caught me the moment I rounded the corner.
