For the next thirty minutes I explained departmental structures, executive scheduling systems, project communication procedures, and approximately sixteen ways employees accidentally angered upper management.
Daniel listened carefully the entire time.
Actually listened.
Most new hires pretended to listen while internally buffering.
This one asked smart questions.
Took notes.
Learned quickly.
Annoyingly competent.
“Honestly,” I admitted eventually, “you’re making this suspiciously easy.”
“I could pretend to struggle if that helps.”
“Please don’t. I barely survived training the last assistant manager.”
“What happened?”
“He sent an empty email to the entire company.”
Daniel winced.
“Oh no.”
“Oh yes.”
“That’s rough.”
“He also somehow deleted a conference presentation fifteen m
