Page 11 of Atlas
Awkward silence filled the room as they both stared at me so I hurried to explain, “No, not like that. I just meant that it would be difficult for your students to concentrate because you’re very… ehm… attractive.”
When Mr. Robertson shifted his eyes to the papers in front of him and shuffled them around, I knew I’d messed it up.
“I didn’t mean to offend you. It was a compliment, really.”
“Thank you for coming, Ms. Fisher.” Pushing his chair back, Mr. Robertson stood up. “The recruiters already provided results from the tests that you took, and Diane and I looked over the long interview you gave. We just wanted a chance to meet you.” He reached out his hand, but instead of taking it, I held up both my palms.
“Look, I’m very sorry for coming across all quirky and weird. I don’t normally embarrass myself like this in front of people the first time I meet them. My people skills are usually solid, but the truth is that I’m kind of desperate. I really want this job, so could you give me another chance? Please.”
Mr. Robertson lowered his hand. “We don’t mind quirky people, or we would have never hired Brian. What we can’t accommodate are uptight, rule followers.”
“Great! In that case, I’m your person for the job. I break the rules all the time. Once I even parked in a handicap spot.” I squared my shoulders but quickly added. “But only because there were ten others available, and I was just dropping off a letter for the mailbox.”
Mr. Robertson lifted his hand again, and this time I took it.
“I believe you’ll do fine here. Diane will go over the practical details with you, and then I’ll see you on your first day of work.”
I smiled from ear to ear and shook his hand with both of mine. “Thank you so much, Mr. Robertson, you won’t regret hiring me.”
“Call me Atlas. We’re all on a first-name basis here.”
“Okay.” I stood with a goofy grin on my face. “Then, you can all just call me Jo.”
CHAPTER 3
Balance
Atlas
“When can you have the numbers ready?” My sister Lumi had her CFO face on as she sat at the end of the long table that was so polished, that the light reflected off the dark surface.
I was the only one in this room who knew a different side of her. To the twelve high-ranking executives in the room, Lumi was the savage businesswoman everyone respected.
Both she and I had joined Solver Industries right after college. Charles, our adoptive father, was the chairman of the board, and it hadn’t been hard for him to recruit us. We owed him after everything he’d done for us, and helping him run one of the largest companies in the world had offered a chance to put our academic knowledge to the test.
Lumi’s gift for numbers had helped increase profit seventeen percent within the first three years she worked in finance. It had earned her the nickname the Golden Goose, but there was no magic involved. With the backing of Charles, she had cut all pre-payment plans. Suppliers had protested that they needed money before they could deliver, but Solver Industries was too big of a client to lose, and in the end, the suppliers had no choice but to go along with Lumi’s new sixty-day payment rules. Her strict approach hadn’t been popular with the Solver staff, but from a finance perspective, it was brilliant.
She and I had both been with Solver Industries for almost seven years, and during that time we’d risen through the ranks with Lumi now the CFO of Solver Industries in Europe and Asia, and me working at the headquarters in Chicago as Director of Research and Development.
“When did I say that?” Lumi’s sharp tone made me refocus on the conversation around the table.
John White, the CEO, pulled back in his chair. His suit jacket was open, revealing his paunch of a belly that stretched the white fabric of his shirt. I was impressed that the buttons hadn’t popped off yet. With his usual arrogance, he rocked in his chair and crossed his arms. “You said that we could expect Asia to catch up to Europe, and that’s not what I see on this report,” he said in his distinctive New Yorker accent.
Lumi arched a single eyebrow. “You didn’t answer my question. I asked you,whendid I say Asia would catch up to Europe?”
He scoffed. “I can’t remember the date and time of the conversation, but it was in the spring. I’m sure others heard it too.” He looked around, but no one met his eyes except me, and I sure as hell hadn’t heard Lumi make such crazy promises.
My sister addressed him in a matter-of-fact tone, but I could tell she was more than a little annoyed. “Solver Industries made a profit of twelve point seven billion dollars last year. Forty-one percent came from North America, nineteen percent from Europe, and Asia delivered thirteen percent. For Asia to catch up to the European division, they would have to grow more than forty-seven percent in one year. I guarantee that I never said that was a possibility, nor did I expect that to happen. In fact, we’re expecting a decline this year due to the new tariffs, which we’ve already discussed several times.”
John rubbed his forehead. “That might be, but I discussed it with the board, and the Asian market is ripe for our type of machinery. We should be selling the hell out of them.”
Lumi gathered her papers in front of her. “If you want to talk sales strategies in Asia, I suggest you talk to Haru Kishino. I’m here for the numbers, and I’m sorry to disappoint you, but Asia will not be catching up to Europe any time soon.”
John’s eyes swung to Sally Wilkins, Director of Sales. “Do you agree with Miss Robertson?”
Sally nodded. “Yes. I spoke to Haru this morning, and the Chinese lost the Hangzhou deal this week.”
John scrunched up his face and crossed his arms.
