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798 Words
Arya nodded. "Send him in, please."
Elara acknowledged with a brief nod and closed the door softly behind her. A few moments later, Mr. Harry entered, his posture unusually rigid, and stopped at the front of Arya's desk.
"Good morning, Miss Brown," he greeted.
"Good morning, Mr. Harry," Arya responded, her gaze direct. She set her coffee mug down, her posture inviting him to speak.
Without being prompted, Mr. Harry launched into his report. "The company slated to provide the funding for our cosmetics branch is called The Confident. They specialize in electronics. You'll recall they approached us several months ago, expressing interest in becoming a major investor. After VERITAS's due diligence confirmed their strategic value, we reached out to them for this project's financing, which they seemed happy to provide."
He paused, visibly gathering himself. "However, when I arrived at their offices yesterday, Miss Brown, I was met only by a secretary. She informed me, apologetically, that their president was 'unavailable to receive them at the moment.' I could only wait until this morning to report back."
Arya placed her hand over her coffee mug, her expression unreadable as she processed the information. After a moment, she looked up. "Very well. Mr. Harry, please instruct the CFO office to put the cosmetics branch project on hold for the moment and to find an alternative investor."
Mr. Harry hesitated, the words clearly catching in his throat. "Miss Brown," he began, "this project was specifically designed to recoup the losses from our last season. Putting it on hold now would mean a significant deficiency in company funds. Furthermore," he continued, his voice gaining urgency, "while we have compensated the victims of the recent workplace casualties, the escalating issue of the workers' threatened protest remains a critical concern."
Arya remained quiet for a few seconds, her gaze fixed on the cityscape outside her window, clearly weighing her options. Finally, she turned back, a subtle nod acknowledging his points. "Thank you, Mr. Harry. You've done well. I'll get back to you regarding the project."
Mr. Harry bowed slightly and exited, closing the door softly behind him.
As soon as the door clicked shut, Arya pressed a button on her intercom. "Elara, please get me Mr. David Cohen."
A short while later, Mr. David Cohen, VERITAS's General Counsel, entered Arya's office. He was a man with a sharp, analytical mind, his presence usually a calm reassurance in times of corporate complexity. Arya rose from her desk.
"Mr Cohen," she said, gesturing to the seating area. "Please, sit on the couch."
Mr. Cohen took a seat on the plush leather couch, his expression one of professional inquiry. Arya moved to sit in an armchair directly opposite him.
"Mr Cohen," Arya began, her voice steady, "I'm sure you're fully aware of the financial and operational challenges we're currently facing."
Mr. Cohen nodded slowly. "Indeed, Miss Brown. The situation with 'The Confident' and the cosmetics project is, shall we say, 'fluid,' and the labor unrest is certainly a pressing concern." He paused, then continued, his tone calm and reassuring. "Actually, Miss Brown, the solutions are not as complicated as they might appear."
He leaned forward, adopting a confidential air. "Regarding the casualties, a formal public apology from a prominent figure, such as yourself, would go a long way. While some public anger is inevitable, seeing our CEO personally address the issue tends to pacify the masses effectively."
"As for the potential worker protests," he continued, "my advice would be to announce an immediate wage increase—say, 20% for the next six months. We can present it as a performance incentive, with the promise to make it permanent if productivity targets are met. It addresses their core demand without a permanent commitment."
Arya’s brow furrowed. "But, the company is already facing a significant financial shortfall with the project on hold. A 20% wage increase for a large workforce would strain our budget even further."
Mr. Cohen held her gaze, his expression almost paternal. "Miss Brown, what is a temporary sacrifice for a greater good? If VERITAS cannot absorb a calculated loss now, how can we expect to achieve better progress, or maintain our reputation, in the future?" His words carried the weight of seasoned business logic.
Arya considered his points for a long moment, the dilemma clear in her mind: immediate financial strain versus public relations and employee loyalty. Finally, she gave a slow nod.
"Very well, Please prepare a proposal for these measures. Bring them up for discussion at the next executive meeting."
"Consider it done, Miss Brown," Mr. Cohen replied, his smile brief and professional.
"Thank you, David."
Mr. Cohen rose, gathered his thoughts, and exited the office, leaving Arya alone once more in the quiet of her impressive but increasingly troubled domain
- Writer
