Vincent Moran flashed a quick smile before changing topics.
"A major mover today, although in the wrong direction, was NanoLance Incorporated. NNLC dropped 8.89 percent on the markets, trading at the closing bell for only $113.89 per share. This stock has constantly declined since the friendly fire incident in Kandahar, on April 20 of this year.
"Despite the strong reputation held by this corporation, and its intense focus on quality, NanoLance struggles to overcome the public perception regarding the safety of its drones. Since NNLC has been around for more than twenty years, and our analysts still give it their vote of confidence, we are expecting a strong comeback soon from this innovative defense contractor. Until then, unfortunately, the sustained drop in stock price that we have experienced in the past few weeks will continue to drive jittery investors to cash out.
"From Money Markets Review, this is Vincent Moran, wishing you a fortunate day."
…35
"How much longer do I have to sit and wait for you to honor me with your presence?" Sheppard's unexpected presence in her doorway startled Alex.
"We were scheduled for 9:00AM, and it's 8:35. I'm not sure how—"
"I said first thing in the morning," Sheppard hissed in an angry, almost grinding tone.
"I'm sorry, sir," Alex offered, "that usually means 9:00AM in typical office environments. My misunderstanding."
"Do you expect to be working 9 to 5 here? Do you think you're a clerk or something?" He paused, rolling his eyes in contempt. "Next thing you'll do is want to get unionized, maybe? Or be paid overtime? You are an executive, Miss Hoffmann, although I cannot fathom why. Your duties never cease as an executive in an information technology department. Your day never starts at 9 and never ends at 5."
"Understood." Alex was trotting behind Sheppard, as he was going toward his office, where they were supposed to have their meeting. "What time would you like me to come in then?"
"Jesus! I cannot believe this." Sheppard laughed in derision. "If you have to ask, then you need to seriously reexamine your attitude, because this is not going to work." He sat at his desk, leaving Alex to stand in silence for a long minute. "Sit down."
Alex sat in the chair he indicated and opened her portfolio, ready to take notes.
"You're the director of infrastructure and support," he said, and then exhaled slowly. "Did you know that?"
"Yes, sir, I do." What kind of question was that? Alex braced herself.
"Pay attention to what I am about to say, because I have no interest in saying it twice."
She nodded.
"As director of infrastructure and support, you support all operations, regardless of physical location. That means the corporate offices and the manufacturing plant." He paused.
Alex nodded again.
"All infrastructure must work. Period. At all times. Downtime is not acceptable. Uptime performance of 99.998 percent is of no interest to me. It has to be 100 percent. Understood?"
"Yes, sir."
"I am also expecting you to upgrade the infrastructure, on a continuing basis. The work is never done, and the systems are never down. That should be simple enough even for you to understand."
Alex nodded again.
"Your department has a budget of seventy-three million dollars a year. This includes your overhead, maintenance, and infrastructure costs. By the end of this year, I expect to see that cut by 10 percent." He looked her in the eyes.
"I'll see what I can do."
"What?" He spat the word.
"I mean, yes, sir, I'll get it done. I'm sorry."
"I am expecting you to increase the productivity of your team. Do not ask me any questions," he stopped her, as she was about to say something. "I'm not doing your work for you. You figure it out."
"Understood."
"I expect the productivity improvement in your team to be significant and measurable. That is all."
"What do you consider to be the highest priority?"
"Everything is a priority!" Sheppard paced the syllables of his words as if he were pounding at her. He had the amazing ability to yell while whispering, conveying so much hatred, contempt, and venom, it was almost unbearable. "Everything must be done perfectly, or else. Do you think I want to hear excuses? Do you think I will ever accept to hear a server was down because you were prioritizing this, that, or the other?"
Alex took a deep breath. Remember why you're here, she thought, giving herself the needed strength to continue.
"The first thing I will do is set goals for my team," she started.
"I don't care what you do, or how you do it. Just get the job done."
"Yes, I get it, but I need last year's performance numbers, so I can put these goals into perspective and challenge my team."
"Previous performance numbers?" He scoffed. "These aren't any of your concern. Previous performance will not be used as an excuse for future lameness. Previous performance, if I can call it that, has been achieved under the mediocre leadership of the former director of infrastructure, and he's no longer here, now, is he?"
"I see," Alex said, carefully backing away from the hot topic.
"Before you waste any more of my time with your infinite supply of stupid questions, I will ask you if you know what employment-at-will is. Any idea?"
"Yes, sir, I know what that is."
"Good. Finally, we're making some progress. Please, do keep that notion in mind before asking any more questions."
She nodded, painfully aware she was blushing under the threat.
"Until you can convince me you know what you're doing and that you can deliver results, we will meet here once a week. First thing in the morning every Friday, and do not ask what time that is. Come prepared to show me progress. These meetings are not for your questions, they are for mine. Dismissed," he said, and turned his back to her, looking out the window.
Alex stood and quietly left Sheppard's office, closing the door behind her. She didn't have to take more than two or three steps to realize how badly her knees were shaking. She felt the urge to sit down.
"Glad to see you're still here." Louie's cheerful voice grabbed her attention. "You look like you need a smoke."
"I'm sorry, I don't smoke, or at least I am trying not to," she said.
"Maybe," he said undisturbed, "but you still look like you could use a smoke, so why don't you come with me?"
He led her outside in the back of the building, where numerous benches were scattered on the lawn for the use of the company's smoking personnel. She happily sat down, letting the morning sunshine dissipate her gloomy mood.
"Hey," Louie started, after lighting up. "Don't let him get to you. Every time you do, he wins."
"He is a bit intense, I'll give you that," she said, allowing herself to relax a notch.
"He's more than that. He's one of the few true-blooded, hard-core assholes still living on this planet," Louie said, and they both laughed. "But you learn to live with it. You do the best you can, and you live through another day."
"Speaking of living through another day, what time does he expect us to come in?"
"Oh, before he does, and we do not leave before he does. But we have that figured out down to an art. We've watched his car pull in and out of the parking lot for many days and compiled a behavioral profile, based on the observed times pf arrival and departure, by day of week and by season. We have the data available for you," he said, winking. "So far, we haven't been wrong once. We come in fifteen minutes earlier than he does, and, if one of us runs late, another one of us — we draw straws — goes in there with an issue and keeps him busy until the lost sheep makes it to the flock."