Page 83 of Chaos Theory
I sneak a look around to see the blank faces of my co-workers.
‘Allow me to use layman’s language, if you will. Productivity goes off a cliff on Friday afternoons. Forgive my crudeness. However, there is a way to increase productivity.’
I hear growing sounds of unrest. I look at Shane. He shakes his head at me in what I hope is sympathy.
‘Let’s hear him out,’ says JP. ‘Settle down now, please.’
‘Thank you, JP. In conclusion, by my calculations, productivity would increase twenty per cent if Friday afternoons were simply removed from the equation.’
‘What does that mean?’ says JP. ‘Removed from the equation? You mean, no work gets done on a Friday afternoon?’
‘Not exactly,’ says Kobi. ‘Taking into account the consequential potential boost in morale, I am ninety-seven per cent certain that productivity would increase, across the week, if Friday afternoons were removed from the working week.’
Shane speaks up. ‘Are you saying what I think you’re saying? Are you saying that weshouldn’tbe working on Friday afternoons?’
‘Not exactly,’ repeats Kobi. ‘My official recommendation is that staff would be more productive if only rostered for four-point-five days of work a week. Further analysis would be required to observe if all work could in fact be condensed to four days a week.’
‘Four days a week?’ Dave calls out.
‘Yes,’ Kobi replies.
‘Four days a week!’ Julia’s voice comes in at a high pitch.
‘Yes.’
‘Wait,’ says Dave. ‘For the same pay?’
‘Of course,’ says Kobi.
What follows can only be described as a kind of glorious chaos.
FORTY-FIVE
11am
We await our fate in the gleaming RoboTron reception area. The foyer is spacious and calm, full of natural light. Just one receptionist behind the desk, although two security guards made their presence felt as we checked in. They eyed Kobi without reaction. They probably see robots like this every day of the week.
JP and I sit quietly on a multicoloured fabric couch. Kobi is by our side, alert but silent. After the roller coaster thrill ride that was this morning’s team meeting, the mood has shifted. The compliance report was completely overshadowed, thankfully, by Kobi’s productivity report. Because Kobi insisted on crediting me for the report, people swarmed around me after the meeting with a warmth and enthusiasm not seen since that Friday in August when JP let us all knock off early because it was exceptionally sunny outside. On the way over here, I told Kobi that it was me who should be giving him a gift, not the other way around.
I’m unsure of JP’s feelings about the productivity report, and I’m afraid to ask. I can sense he’s nervous about seeing Ron. I texted Josh this morning with an estimated time of our arrival. He texted back a thumbs-up, and nothing more.
I still have so many unanswered questions about Josh. How did he manage to manipulate so many people? Why did he do it? How could he betray me when I’d trusted him? I’m not even sure I want to know the answers. But I do want to know what will happen to Kobi now.
A distant bell chimes. I look up to see Josh’s blond head emerging from the elevator. My nerve endings jangle. I remind myself to be professional, for Kobi’s sake at least. Also alighting from the elevator is none other than Ron Tron himself.
‘Welcome to RoboTron,’ Ron booms as he crosses the floor to us. ‘And welcome home, Kobi. Good to have you back where you belong.’
He seems to be in good form, in spite of that passive-aggressive remark.Passive aggression is better than active aggression, I tell myself.
He shakes JP’s hand vigorously. ‘JP, my man! How the hell are ya?’
If JP were a dog, his tail would be wagging right now. I recall the Halloween costume with an involuntary shudder.
‘Great, not a bother, thanks. Haven’t seen you at the club for a while though.’
‘You know how it goes.’ Ron holds up his hands like Christ on the cross. ‘They won’t let me out of here!’
JP laughs. ‘Oh, my lot are the same. I believe you’ve already met Maeve here. One of our best and brightest.’ This is news to me.
