Heavy drinking last night at Klub K make me muddle headed this morning. It's fun once in awhile but Steven has conveniently left out the fact that the operation meeting has been reschedule to this morning. He can drank me down the table, I gave that to him. Growing up together make us competitive even we are born a year apart, most of the time on stupid things.
Normally Chris; Steven older brother by 4 years, will be our red light, pulling the brakes on us but he became docile after his recent marriage with Angela. That or he is too busy making out with his wife and didn't care what mischief we might got ourselves into. He became less fun when he took over T Comm and Security and even worst the last two years. Marriage suited him well, he has other things to look forward to.
All those lecture about our family reputation and public image, people who relied on us, the responsibilities of business management, business affiliates and stock prices etc... no longer rang in our ears. He is totally besotted with his wife and daughter. Steven and I are betting on how long he is going to act like that, 6 months has passed and there are no signs he is coming out of it.
My name is Xavier Lee, CEO to the Lee Group of Investment, the most eligible bachelor on Forbes. I am the only child to Albert Lee and Christine Tan. Yep, Chris and Steven are my maternal cousins. The Tans owns T Comm and Security; the biggest telecommunication and security company ever and it is not just about phones and internet, they owns satellites. How can anything be more accurate and secure when you have satellites giving you locations, images and high technology sensors to pair with, not to mentioned tracking through mobile phones and remote control automated machines. Sounds cool until you knew why your mum knew where you were and what you did at anytime she chose to.
The surveillance job was passed down to Chris when he shows sign of aging, that's what Steven and I said when we make fun of him but we know he is getting bored. We are very happy for him when he finally met and married Angela; well, that is another story.
I never have much to complained about since I practically get what I want all the time and my parents never have anything to complained about since their child is always at the top of the class, clubs, honors roll with distinction surpassing even Chris in the university as we are both in business major. Steven choose Computer Programming instead to evade the competition plus he is more interesting in how things work than how to manage things. Ironically he choose to work for me as my Operation Director to escape his dad and brother who would like him to take up more responsibility in the company.
Going back to our reschedule meeting, we need to sober up. I texted him to meet me for a quick briefing at the cafe downstairs while I get a quick caffeine kick. It's one of my great ideas to have this award winning cafe bistro on the ground floor of the office building. Our cafeteria on the 15th floor is for staff only but this cafe is open to public. Most of our employees socialise here, be it business related or not, which also means our employees spend less time out of the office and more productive time for the company. Also means less time spend travelling on the road, less chances of tardiness and accidents.
Little did I know, accident was called accident because it happens when you least expect it.
Mid-way through Lee Group operational meeting.....
"You called this a thorough research,"Xavier questioned emitting a piercing cold atmosphere. "Have you check with the housing and development ministry and the government urban projects for future expansion?"
The directors in the meeting room hold their breath and could almost hear their own heartbeat while praying that the Research Director who was presenting the acquisition of their latest project; Emperor Empire, has sufficient data at hand to answer Xavier.
Silence ensued before Xavier continued in an icy voice,"I think we should change somebody more competent if you can't even do a proper job. Does the Investment and Purchasing Director has no insight on this matter?" What about Asset Management department?
Some start shaking as if they are walking on thin ice waiting for the death sentence from the king upon hearing question after question from Xavier. They knew they must have missed something important for the development of the project . Xavier Lee is as efficient as his father before him but less tolerance. He fired the Investment Director who has been with the company for 20 years, three months after being appointed CEO stating that the director is too conservative and old-fashioned when investment is all about taking risk.
Ever since, the others didn't dare to slack off and the elite remained elite. This is the main reason Lee Group has been expanding uncontrollably for the last 3 generations.
"How do we maintain our efficiency throughout our widespread investment if there are no inter-department communication? Perhaps there is an operation glitch somewhere?" Xavier prodded.
Steven knew it was coming, Xavier will find something to disturb his peaceful office life. All the director will call him for a meeting after this to cross checked and revised department work flow and communication flow. This has nothing to do with the top confidential information they have received from Chris that the government is planning to refurbish the old airport. Nobody knew about it yet and Xavier is suppose to pass on this information to the Research team who in turn will give a heads up to the Investment and Purchase Planning team at the same time as the PR department to be connected to the ministry and government fundings. It has everything to do with the little interlude at the cafe 30 minutes ago!
Although Xavier is thrashing every single department present, Steven didn't missed the smirk thrown his way. He really need to check out that Africa branch to run away from Xavier authority like how he managed to escape from his family clutches up to date.