“I’ll do my best to remember,” Lizzie winked. “Good night,boss.”
As she got to her car, her phone buzzed, a text from George.
I’m sure you’re killing it. Drinks tonight?
Lizzie stared at the message a second longer, thumb hovering. Then locked the screen and shoved the phone deep into her bag, as if it might burn her.
She couldn’t afford to get distracted by George Wick right now.
Chapter 6- La Vida es un Carnaval
The week flew. The software install went smoothly, and Lizzie trained the operators with Ignacio at her side—collaboration, even if her procedures ultimately prevailed.
Will had been locked in “important meetings.” Lizzie felt light—no clenching jaw, no frown, no shadow on the mezzanine.Freedom.
Charles stopped by midweek, all golden retriever energy.
“Lizzie! Will finally came to his senses I heard, and hired you.”
“I’ll make himgladhe did.”
“No doubts!” Charles beamed, then spilled on the product expansion.Perfect timing,Lizzie thought.
Lizzie really liked Charles. He was hard not to like. He was always really enthused about everything you said, and no matter the topic, he spoke about it with such vigor that you couldn’t help but share in his excitement. He laughed at every joke she made, and was always very complimentary of her work. But Lizzie had heard now several times that Charles and Will were best friends, and that she struggled with. Charles was all fun, light, and silliness. In contrast, Will was dark, brooding, and serious. It was a mystery.
Maybe, Lizzie thought, not for the first time.Maybe they were both into the same really niche hobby like Frisbee golf or Magic the Gathering. One of life’s great mysteries.
Friday morning, Lizzie rolled in with her boombox—a teen relic,vintage. Will’s office was dark.Perfect.
She gathered the crew.
“Today we have our dry run. New procedures, new flow. Ask questions—it gets easier.”
Some faces were still skeptical.
“But first—energía!”
She hit the button on the boombox, andDanza Kuduroblasted. The group responded with whoops and claps to the beat.
Lizzie led the charge—hips, hands,tasks. Music had turned labor into rhythm.
Everyone moved in pace on their tasks just as they moved in rhythm to the music. Lizzie smiled and went to grab her notebook when she saw a figure in the shadows on the mezzanine looking down on them. Will, and he wasn’t even tapping his foot.Oh well,Lizzie thought.Let him stew up there on his own.
Eventually, Will came down. Lizzie was happily taking measurements and taking notes, the results speaking even louder than the music. The song playing now,La Vida Es Un Carnaval, was one of her favorites, and she was singing along unabashedly.
“Is the soundtrack included in your contract, or do I have to buy the music separately?”
“I’ll make you a copy. But this boombox is vintage and invaluable. I’ve owned this since high school. I probably should even risk bringing it out with me, but I swear music sounds better on it than my phone,” Lizzie patted it affectionately.
“You definitely have unconventional methods,” Will said, looking around at the merrily working operation.
“Yeah, but you can’t argue with results.” Lizzie angled the notebook toward him so he could see her notes.
“40%?!You improved the DC efficiency by40%?” Will looked unbelieving.
It was exactly the reaction Lizzie was hoping for. “Yup—and that’s just the beginning. There’s a learning curve, so I’ll measure again in a few weeks.” Lizzie’s eyes were dazzling as she talked about it. This was her zone.
“Am I to expect results like this every week?” Will asked.
