Chapter 16 - The new CEO

Assistant Wen and all the employers ran down the stairs to the main entrance when a woman named Lisa called him. They all stood outside and waited for their new CEO to arrive. A red Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4 and a black Mercedes C class was parked in front of the Shen corporation. A beautiful lady wearing a black suit came out of the red Lamborghini, and everyone greeted her. She took off her sunglasses and smiled politely to everyone and went inside with another lady and two big bodyguards right behind her.

Everyone followed them inside and saw her going up to the mini stage which was ready set up for her. Assistant Wen tested the microphone before he handed it over to her.

Francesca cleared her throat before she started to speak. "Hello my name is Francesca Shen, and I will be the CEO of this company. I'm not an expert in many of the aspects of the business, so I hope you will be open to me when I ask questions. I'm not probing to look for weaknesses in you or your colleagues but to see how we are doing things now and how we might look for improvements. My interest is in processes, not personalities. I'm not here to hurt anyone, just to see that we all work together to further the corporate fortunes."

"I have a few expectations. I'd like to share them with you guys.

"The first is safety. Whether you work with machines or in the office, I'd like to promote a culture that ensures that we all go home safely at the end of the workday. I will be asking specific questions on this aspect. Not for money reasons or for insurance, but because we are all in this together, and we can't promote that feeling if someone is risking his or her hands in the factory or a sore back in the filing room. Please be open as to how this concern might be addressed."

"The second expectation is respect. This expectation is one you can aim at me. You should expect that I treat you with respect at all times. This means no shouting, yelling, or baiting. And I will expect that same treatment in return, and that the same courtesies will be extended to others in the company, at all levels. That doesn't mean we can't be human - as a matter of fact, I do like to hear laughter and chatter - but it must be kept on a basic, respectful level.

"The third is integrity. That means we tell the truth. You can expect to tell the truth, and I will expect the same. Telling the truth is very freeing. The truth has no politics and no taboo subjects. If it will make the company do better, it should be spoken about candidly. By the way, when I ask questions of people who work here, I keep their impressions to myself. It doesn't do anyone any good for me to say, 'Lisa thinks our marketing is a disaster.' However, after speaking to Lisa, I might talk to the people in marketing and say, 'When was the last time you gave a presentation on the latest campaign?'"

"Oh, and a commitment to telling the truth is not the same as giving out all information. You do not have the right to know everyone's salary information or when the big merger is going to be announced. Some information is kept appropriately hidden when it needs to be.

"The last expectation has to do with teamwork. If you need help, you should ask for it. No one should feel that his or her position is in danger when he or she feels a better job can be done with a little help. You should also provide help when you can and when it would help others do a better job. No doubt this means that you will be making extra efforts and personal sacrifices. Those efforts will be recognized by the people around you and may eventually even lead to material improvements in your situation. But at a minimum, you will realize that some days you, too, need help. Having provided it, you will be gratified when your colleagues step up to do the same."

"Those are my expectations, and before I end my speech, I will give every employee in this company a $500 gift card as my gift to you."

"If you have any questions don't hesitate to come to me. My door is always opened. Thank you for listening!"

Francesca went down once everyone was done clapping. The woman who came along with her, assistant Wen and the two bodyguards started to hand the gift cards over to everyone. While she took the elevator up to her new office. Flashbacks of when she was young suddenly played like a short movie in her head. She used to come right after her class to her father's office to do her homework because her parents didn't come home before 8-9 pm and she felt sometimes lonely.

She opened the door to the office and saw the same old black L-shaped office desk along with the office chair, and the beautiful view behind the desk. Francesca picked up a picture frame of her father from the desk and walked over to the wall on the left who had pictures of all the former CEOs who were her ancestors and placed her father's picture right next to her grandfather's picture.

A knock could be heard and both assistant Wen and the woman she came with earlier came in.

"Ah, you guys came at the right time. Assistant Wen can you please send me all the files to the upcoming projects to my email? " asked Francesca and sat down on the office chair.

"Yes CEO Shen, I will send you that before I leave," said assistant Wen.

"Leave?" asked Francesca and was looking confusingly at assistant Wen and the woman next to him.

"Yes, Miss Lisa is gonna take over my job isn't it? asked assistant Wen.

"No, who told you that? You are still my assistant, Lisa is my personal assistant," said Francesca.

"Oh," said assistant Wen awkwardly while scratching his head.

"You can go and send me all the files, assistant Wen," said Francesca.

Assistant Wen nodded and left the office.

"Lisa, could you please buy me two sunflower bouquets?" asked Francesca.

"Yes, CEO Shen," said Lisa.

Francesca was about to read the files for the upcoming project when the door to her office opened. She looked up and saw her grandpa holding big bouquets of roses.

"I'm sorry little flower pa had to have this stupid meeting and missed little flower's speech, but pa made Lisa film little flower's speech." said elder Shen and handed her the rose.

"Aww, pa is so sweet," said Francesca and stood up and hugged him.

"Wow this is your first day and little flower is already working hard. I'm so proud of you! Just remember not to overwork yourself, don't be like pa and your father. Your father used to take my bad habits and your lao lao (grandma) would always scold me." said elder Shen and chuckled when he remembered those old days.

"Hehe I won't, I have plans afterward," said Francesca and smiled.

"Oh okie! Just remember not to drink too much today because you have work tomorrow. Pa is gonna play golf with chairman Lee and chairman Song." said elder Shen and kissed her on her forehead before he left.

Francesca went back to her work and read those last files she had left. She was so focused on her work that she almost forgot the time when someone knocked on the door and Lisa came in with two bouquets of beautiful sunflowers.

Francesca smiled happily and turned off her IMac before she took her black coat with her and picked the sunflowers bouquets and told Lisa to go home. They went outside and saw assistant Wen still on his desk.

"CEO Shen!" said assistant Wen surprisingly and stood up.

"Oh yeah, I have to visit someone so I won't join you guys, here take this card to pay for the food," said Francesca and handed one of her many credit cards.