As the conversation shifted, Leo Donovan's interest was instantly piqued.
"Really? Godfather! Please accept my bow as your godson," Leo joked, leaning forward with mock seriousness.
"Truer than titanium, my godson," Zach Evans replied with an exaggerated, dramatic tone.
"Can I leave now? I seriously can't stand you two," Lily Quinn interjected, rolling her eyes.
The moment Leo heard the mention of buying a car, his eyes lit up. His previously relaxed posture stiffened immediately, and he straightened up, looking as if someone had just injected him with pure adrenaline.
"Zach, did I hear that right? Are we really getting company cars? For real?" Leo's voice was full of disbelief and excitement, his tone rising with each word.
Zach grinned and nodded, "Of course it's true. Why would I lie to you? The company's got the cash now, and it's time we improve our transportation situation."
"That's amazing! I've been saying we needed a company car forever! It'll make it so much easier to handle business meetings, and it'll give us a more professional image," Leo gushed, barely able to contain his enthusiasm.
To express his excitement, Leo suddenly recalled a comedy sketch he had watched recently. Clearing his throat theatrically, he mimicked the act, dropping to one knee and declaring, "Godfather, please accept this humble bow from your devoted godson!" as if he were part of some epic, dramatic scene.
Caught off guard, Zach nearly choked on his own laughter. "Alright, alright, cut it out. Stand up, my beloved godson!" he replied, shaking his head.
Watching the two of them playing out this father-son charade, Lily couldn't help but roll her eyes again, an expression of utter disdain on her face. "Can I go now? I seriously can't take this anymore."
The office erupted into a chorus of laughter, Zach, Leo, and Lily exchanging amused glances. The camaraderie between them was evident, the lighthearted "family" drama still lingering in the air.
"I have to get a G-Class Mercedes. It's the ultimate symbol of masculinity, and it just looks badass. Plus, it'll turn heads everywhere I go!" Leo began gesturing wildly with his hands, trying to outline the boxy shape of the car, his entire body animated with excitement.
Zach clapped him on the back, nodding approvingly, "Absolutely. It's got to be high-end, something that matches the stature of our company!"
Lily looked at the two of them, exasperation written all over her face. "You two are just living in a fantasy world. Have you even thought this through? We're just getting started. The company needs every penny right now. How can you even consider splurging on luxury cars?"
She crossed her arms, her expression serious. "Does research not cost money? Don't employees need salaries? How about expanding into new markets? Everything takes capital!"
Leo's face, which had been glowing with excitement, now drooped like a withered flower. Zach felt a pang of sympathy and patted his friend's shoulder. "Don't worry, Leo. Your dream will come true soon. Trust me, in no time, we'll be making big bucks. When that happens, we can get not just one G-Wagon, but ten if you want!"
Leo looked up at Zach with hopeful eyes, then turned to Lily, pouting like a child denied his favorite toy. "You promise, right? You're not going to back out on me, Zach? A gentleman's word is as good as gold."
"Of course. When have I ever gone back on my word?" Zach chuckled before turning to Lily. "What do you think would be a good fit for us right now? But we need three cars—one for each of us. Let's not skimp on this. Some expenses are worth it."
Lily considered for a moment, then spoke thoughtfully, "I think we should keep things low-key for now. Going overboard could attract unwanted attention, and besides, we need something practical. I suggest we go with something like a Tesla. High quality, sustainable, and it still looks classy without breaking the bank."
"A Tesla, huh? That does sound good." Zach nodded in agreement. He then looked back at Lily and said, "Alright, let's go with that. Lily, I'll leave the car purchasing to you. Try to get it sorted quickly. Hailing rides every day is getting really inconvenient."
Standing up, Zach walked over to Leo and patted his back. "Leo, I want you to take the new tech recruits from the university over to our one-acre test plot and show them around."
He paused as if recalling something, then added, "Oh, and by the way, I've already secured an additional ten acres of land, right next to our original plot."
Leo's eyes widened in surprise. "Ten acres? Zach, you move fast! When did this happen? How come I didn't know?"
Zach laughed. "Yesterday. I was thinking about how we need more room to grow, so I went ahead and leased it. Better to have the space now than scramble for it later."
"Man, you're always a step ahead. I'm seriously impressed!" Leo gave a thumbs-up, admiration evident on his face.
"Our goal isn't just those ten acres," Zach's eyes shone with determination. "With this extra land, we'll be able to collect more data, which will be crucial for our next phase of expansion. Last time, with just one acre, the data was too limited. It wasn't enough to make accurate decisions."
"Exactly, we need to think big and plan ahead," Leo agreed wholeheartedly.
"So, once the new techs are settled in, go ahead and assign tasks as you see fit. I trust you to handle it."
"Got it, no problem! Leave it to me!" Leo said confidently, pounding his chest.
"Oh, one more thing," Zach suddenly remembered, "I've already lined up a seed supplier and an irrigation system vendor. They'll be delivering everything to the test plot tomorrow morning. Make sure you're there to receive it."
"Understood, Zach." Leo nodded seriously, then hurried off to get started.
With Leo's tasks assigned, Zach turned back to his desk and picked up the phone, dialing the extension for the marketing department.
"Nina, do you have a moment to stop by? I'd like to discuss the upcoming work plan."
"Of course, Mr. Evans. I'll be right there." Nina's response was prompt and professional.
After hanging up, Zach made another call to the HR department.
"Jessica, are you free to come by? I need to go over some staffing plans."
"Right away, Mr. Evans." Jessica replied.
He put down the receiver and waited patiently. About ten minutes later, a knock sounded at the door. Zach called out, "Come in," and Nina and Jessica entered one after the other.
"Nina, Jessica, have a seat." Zach gestured to the chairs opposite his desk, then picked up his phone, pulling up a short video the company had made recently and handed it to Nina. "Take a look at this."
Nina watched intently. The video was lighthearted and fun, cleverly weaving in the company's products. It left a strong impression while also eliciting a few chuckles.
"What do you think? How's the style?" Zach asked.
"I think it's very creative and engaging. It'll definitely catch people's attention," Nina answered enthusiastically.
"Good. I want you to continue with this approach. Make more short videos like this and get them out on various platforms to build up our brand's visibility."
Then Zach added encouragingly, "This is your first project with us, and I want you to make the most of it. Show us what you've got."
"Absolutely, Mr. Evans. I'll give it my all," Nina replied with determination.
"Jessica, the company's at a critical growth stage, and several departments are understaffed," Zach turned to her. "I need you to expedite the recruitment process and bring in some new talent."
He paused before continuing, "Take this recruitment seriously and focus on finding the right people to round out our team."
Finally, Zach concluded, "If the candidates you select for the initial screening make it through the second round and I'm impressed, I'll make sure there's a bonus or promotion in it for you. Right now, none of the departments have high-level managers."
Jessica's eyes lit up at the prospect. "Got it, Mr. Evans. I'll make sure to find the best candidates."
With both Nina and Jessica motivated and clear on their tasks, Zach leaned back, feeling a surge of confidence. The company's future was bright, and the foundation was stronger than ever.