"I have no idea what to do, we'll just take it one step at a time," Carter sighed wistfully. He felt that economics, for all its seemingly simple logic, was actually quite straightforward when you got down to it. Yet, not everyone could become an economic expert, probably due to its complex and ever-changing nature.
It wasn't just that a small change could affect the entire system; sometimes the market's reactions defied logical models altogether. But that's a discussion for another time.
Feeling a bit agitated, Carter scratched his head and decided to set aside these troubling thoughts for now.
"By the way, Jim, why did you suddenly come over?"
"Do you seriously have to ask? You guys have been on break since early June. Look at the calendar—it's almost July! Don't you want to go to Hawaii?"
Jim's blood pressure rose as Carter's lack of urgency rekindled his irritation. Yes, compared to future worries, the two days of waiting were what truly got on Jim's nerves.
"At the end of July, when Quantum's term ends, you might have to go to New York. If you don't start moving now, what vacation are you talking about? Do you call rushing through things a vacation?"
"My bad, my bad. I've had too much on my plate lately. How about another day—just one more day! We'll leave the day after tomorrow. I need some time to wrap things up," Carter quickly corrected himself seeing Jim about to blow up.
Thinking it over, Carter realized he could afford to take a break now. Most of the major tasks were under control, though there were still plenty of smaller issues.
"Goodman, haven't we found a suitable candidate for DOG Realty yet?" Carter asked after seeing Jim off. His main concern was the real estate project, which needed a competent manager. This project was crucial for stability and revenue.
If they didn't capitalize on this opportunity, there would be future troubles. But if they failed now, he'd have immediate problems. Thus, the construction of the neighborhood had to be quick and of high quality to satisfy their clients.
"How about Stephen Kane? Finding someone who has managed medium to large construction companies is tough. These people are usually settled in big cities and don't want to come to our small town."
"The head of Construction Team Two?"
Carter vaguely remembered this person. Goodman had previously suggested promoting him, but Carter had been able to manage back then, so it was put off.
"I think he... used to run a poultry farm, right?"
"What? You think poultry farmers can't be talented? There are smart people in every field," Goodman quickly shut up, realizing his comparison might offend some.
"Alright, let's give him a shot. A three-month trial period. If he performs well by the time I get back, he might get a permanent position."
Carter raised an eyebrow, evidently realizing who Goodman was referring to.
"And starting September, let's increase the salary by 100."
"Per person?"
"Yes, per person."
...
After roughly sorting out work matters, Carter planned to spend a day with his family. The house was much livelier now.
Levin, who had completed his police training in Atlanta, and Jenny's cousin Bradley had both reported to Carlos. The local police station wouldn't provide accommodations for them, so they stayed at Carter's house.
Standing at the door, Carter listened to the laughter inside, reflecting on these family matters while taking out his key to open the door.
"Hey, everyone! Nicole, you're here too?"
"Carter! Talk properly! Your own girlfriend can't visit?"
Jenny teased Carter, then her eyes sparkled with an idea.
"Perfect timing, come over here. We need to discuss something."
"What's up?"
Slipping off his shoes and greeting the two burly men, Carter squeezed into the group.
"What else? Look! Nicole has graduated and is a grown woman now. You're turning 18 next year. Have you both thought about your future? And what about Nicole's job? You're busy every day; wouldn't it be helpful to have a secretary? She studied secretarial work."
Hearing this, Carter's gaze fell on Nicole. He did feel he needed an assistant. Goodman was overworked managing both the bank and other ventures, especially with all the new regulations and startup tasks.
However, such a position wasn't easy to fill. Carter didn't know if Jenny was voicing her own ideas or if Nicole had put her up to it. Either way, he wasn't thrilled.
"An assistant is indeed necessary, but it's not an easy job. Handling the interests of three to four thousand people across multiple businesses requires experience."
Carter spoke as tactfully as possible, but Jenny misinterpreted it as Carter being concerned about Nicole's capability and workload.
"No problem! She can learn. Everyone starts somewhere. With her helping you, I'll be at ease."
You're at ease, but I'm not!
Seeing Jenny's smile, Carter hesitated before finally conceding.
"Alright, Nicole. Tomorrow, go see Goodman. I'll have him train you. I'll be away for a while, but when I return, I'll assess your progress. If you meet my expectations, the job is yours."