The four department heads wore serious expressions as they knew that what the newcomer who had as much power as their unsmiling president, if not more, could say might determine the fate of the enterprise, their own, and the prospect of a whole lot of people.
"No need to be tense. I won't fire anyone," he observed the relief in their features and continued with an unchanged smile, "not yet at least."
The tension came back as they got acquainted with the smiling tiger that was their new boss.
"The ones around the world observing us might not know that I'm back, and I don't care if they know, even if I don't want to contact them yet. I just wonder when and how they will know about the interesting souvenirs I brought back."
