Amelia was working frenetically in her office, with documents and charts spread out on her desk. The midday sunlight streamed intensely into the room, casting sharp shadows through the windows. Her mind was focused on finding the best work distribution and optimizing financial resources for "Energreen Solutions." The ticking of the wall clock was the only sound accompanying her concentration.
Suddenly, three firm knocks resonated on the door. Amelia turned just in time to see it open, and Jason entered, accompanied by a woman she immediately recognized from photos on the internet: Nuria Narbona, the scientist who had been nominated three times for the Nobel Prize.
"Jason! Dr. Narbona!" Amelia said, quickly standing up from her chair. "Please, come in and take a seat. I'd love to explain my project for 'Energreen Solutions.'"
Jason looked at her with a serious expression, something Amelia hadn't expected. "I'm sorry, Amelia, but you're not in charge," he said, his words piercing her heart like a dagger. Amelia's face reflected surprise and confusion.
"You're the director, but you'll follow Nuria's orders. You must fulfill all her requests and not overspend," Jason added firmly.
Amelia felt a knot in her stomach, but before she could respond, Nuria intervened.
"Excuse me, Mr. Xiting. I want to see Amelia's approach. She's young, and sometimes young people, aside from having naïve ideas, have fresh ones," Nuria said with an encouraging smile.
Amelia, though nervous about being in front of such a renowned scientist, felt slightly reassured by Nuria's words. She took a deep breath and began presenting her plan. Jason watched her closely, surprised to see that Amelia's approach was very similar to his own ideas for revitalizing "Energreen Solutions." Amelia had considered reducing costs in management and material resources by changing suppliers, which would allow them to manage the salaries of both Dr. Narbona and herself with the same budget.
"I like your approach, and some things could work very well, but I see the need to improve revenue for the things I'm going to ask of you. I don't want to strain 'Energreen Solutions' finances further," Nuria said with a smile.
"Thank you. In just a month, they want to put me to the test, and my plan needs at least a year to start getting out of the red," Amelia replied, her voice showing a mix of anxiety and determination.
"A year? That doesn't sound very optimistic on your part," Jason commented, analyzing the numbers in his mind. Although Amelia was realistic, he knew generating positive figures in such a short time would be extremely difficult.
Nuria observed Amelia with empathy as the young woman slumped in her chair at Jason's words. She had a clear vision of what she wanted to achieve at "Energreen Solutions," but she could postpone the development of her own project a bit to give this promising young woman a chance.
"In six months, we can develop several key patents and start making profits, but I need you to provide me with all the necessary resources, both personal and physical. Once the company is stabilized, we could have two teams: one for my hydrogen storage project and another for smaller-scale projects that could generate more patents to increase revenue," Nuria proposed in a determined tone.
"Patents? Wait, I saw something while studying 'Energreen Solutions.' The Grupo Xiting is using several of our patents at no cost. Their collaboration contract expires in a few days. Can we negotiate a charge for them? It wouldn't be higher than what we charge other companies," Amelia said, her mind working quickly.
Jason felt a surge of satisfaction. He knew that the Grupo Xiting had a project of enormous economic scale that couldn't proceed without several of those patents. Although he didn't know the collaboration contract was about to expire, the opportunity to strike a blow at his father and teach him a lesson was too good to pass up. "Demand ten percent more and stand firm. Say you're only offering that price because it's my family's company," Jason instructed, feeling things were going better than expected. The lesson he would give his father, who had called Amelia a whore, would be a strong one.
Amelia nodded, feeling a renewed sense of confidence. "Understood. I'll do my best to secure that deal."
Nuria looked at her approvingly. "You seem to have a lot of potential, Amelia. I'm looking forward to working with you and seeing how we can take 'Energreen Solutions' to the next level."
Jason observed the interaction between Amelia and Nuria with satisfaction. Despite the challenges they faced, there was a sense of hope and possibility in the air. He knew that with Amelia and Nuria working together, they could transform "Energreen Solutions" into a successful and profitable company.
"I think it's time to introduce you to your new subordinates," Jason suggested with a smile. "The 'Energreen Solutions' team is a few floors down. It'll be good to meet them and establish their roles."
Amelia nodded, regaining her composure. She stood up, smoothing her dress, while Jason held the door open for them.
"Let's go," Nuria said in an animated tone. "I'm excited to meet the team and see how we can start working together."
The trio left the office and headed towards the elevator. The walk to the elevator was silent, but filled with a sense of anticipation. Jason pressed the button to go down, and the elevator doors opened with a soft hum. They descended a few floors until they reached the floor where "Energreen Solutions" was located.
Upon exiting the elevator, they found themselves in a wide, well-lit hallway. The walls were adorned with photographs of past projects and company achievements. Jason led them to a large glass door with the "Energreen Solutions" logo etched on it. He opened it, and they entered a spacious and modern work center where several employees were busy at their stations.
"Attention, please," Jason announced, catching everyone's attention. "I'd like to introduce your new leaders. This is Amelia Antúnez, your new director, and Dr. Nuria Narbona, who will be joining us to lead the research and development projects."
The employees looked up from their screens, and in an instant, the atmosphere changed dramatically. The murmur of voices turned into an expectant silence, then into a buzz of excitement. Some employees exchanged looks of astonishment and admiration. Nuria Narbona was a legendary figure in her field, and having her there was an unexpected honor.
Immediately, several workers began to approach, forming a small group around Nuria. Some were trying to introduce themselves, while others simply wanted to shake her hand. Amelia, on the other hand, found herself a bit on the sidelines, watching as the attention centered on the renowned scientist. She felt a mix of pride in having someone so brilliant on her team and a slight twinge of insecurity at noticing the difference in reception.
"It's a pleasure to meet all of you," Amelia said, smiling. "I'm excited to work with you, and I know that together we can achieve great things."
Nuria, surrounded by the group of employees, raised a hand to calm the excitement. "I'm here to support Amelia and each of you. I bring with me a series of projects, and I hope that by working together, we can not only improve 'Energreen Solutions' efficiency but also take it to new heights."
The murmurs of approval grew, and some employees clapped. Jason watched the scene with satisfaction, seeing how Amelia and Nuria began to win over the team.
"We'll work side by side with all of you to ensure that 'Energreen Solutions' not only gets out of the red but also becomes a leader in the sector," Jason added, reinforcing the message of support and determination.
After the initial introductions, Jason began to present some of the key employees on the team.
"This is Miguel, our chief engineer, and Ana, our renewable energy specialist," he said, pointing to a middle-aged man and a young woman who approached to greet Amelia and Nuria.
"It's an honor to have you with us," Miguel said, shaking hands with Amelia and then with Nuria. "I'm sure that together we can overcome the challenges ahead."
Ana nodded with an enthusiastic smile. "Yes, I've heard so much about your work, Dr. Narbona. I'm eager to learn from you and collaborate on these new projects."
The visit continued with a tour of the facilities. As they walked, Jason noticed the tension and excitement in the air. Some employees followed Nuria with their eyes, as if they were in the presence of a celebrity, adding another layer of pressure on Amelia.
Finally, Jason led them to a conference room where they could discuss the next steps in a more private setting.
"Well, I think that concludes the introductions," Jason said. "Amelia, Nuria, I'll leave this space for you to start planning your strategies and coordinating with the team."
Amelia and Nuria sat down in the conference room, ready to begin their joint work. Jason observed them for a moment, feeling renewed confidence in the future of "Energreen Solutions."
"I was thinking," Jason said, checking his watch, "it's 12:45. How about we take a break and have lunch together at 2:00? I'll take care of booking the restaurant. I want to hear your thoughts after this first contact in a more relaxed environment."
Amelia and Nuria exchanged glances and then nodded.
"That sounds like an excellent idea," Nuria replied with a smile.
"Yes, I think it will do us good," Amelia added, grateful for the opportunity to discuss things more informally.
"Perfect, then. I'll book a table, and we'll meet in the lobby at 2:00," Jason said, bidding them goodbye with a smile before leaving the room.
As he headed to his office to make the reservation, Jason felt renewed hope. Nuria's addition and Amelia's determination gave him confidence that "Energreen Solutions" had a promising future.
Upon arriving at his office, Jason quickly made the lunch reservation and was about to work on other matters when his phone rang.
"Hello, Inmaculada."
"Has your father lost his mind? How could he replace you with that useless cousin of yours?" Inmaculada's voice sounded sincerely indignant. "Of course, we'll teach your arrogant father a lesson. Unfortunately, tomorrow I'm heading to Suryavanti to apologize to the master. You know how strained our relationship is."
Jason slammed his fist on the desk. He had conveyed the urgency of the master's demands to Inmaculada, but now this was a hindrance to his plans.
"Maybe it's even good. The master might want to get involved. He likely owns five percent of Grupo Xiting, like in other companies, and he loves having control over everything in Suryavanti."
"The Suryavanti branches always give me headaches with their maneuvers. Even though he's angry with me, as one of his disciples, he should be more lenient. In any case, once I resolve everything with the master, I'll contact you to refine the details of what you want to do. But I wanted to express my support directly. By the way, take care of my goddaughter. If you harm Amelia, I might reconsider my support. We'll talk in a few days."
"We'll talk," Jason replied, hanging up the phone with a mix of frustration and determination.
Meanwhile, a few floors below, Amelia and Nuria had called Ana and Miguel to the conference room. The room's atmosphere was professional and welcoming, designed to foster collaboration and innovation, equipped with a large round table and a presentation screen.
"Well, now that we're all here, I'd like you to update us on the current developments and challenges we face at 'Energreen Solutions,'" Amelia said, taking a seat next to Nuria.
Miguel stood up and walked to the screen. He connected his laptop and began projecting a series of charts and data.
"Currently, we're working on several key projects. The first is optimizing our solar panels. We've managed to increase efficiency by five percent over the last six months, but we're still lagging behind some of our competitors," Miguel explained, pointing to a performance comparison chart.
"Additionally, we're developing a new prototype wind turbine that promises to be more efficient in urban environments. However, we're facing stability and noise issues," Ana added, taking the lead. "We're also working on improving our energy storage batteries. Capacity has increased, but durability remains a challenge."
Nuria nodded and took notes as Miguel and Ana spoke. Amelia, for her part, followed the discussion with interest, reflecting on possible solutions to the issues raised, aware that her specialty was in numbers and that her ability to contribute in that area was limited.
"Thank you for the overview. It's clear that we have many challenges ahead, but also many opportunities. Miguel, Ana, could you tell us a bit more about the key members of the team and their roles?" Amelia asked.
Miguel nodded and began explaining the responsibilities and skills of each team member, while also fearing a new round of staff cuts.
"We have Laura in the research department, specializing in advanced materials. She's one of our best scientists and has been working on developing new materials for our solar panels. Then there's Roberto, our lead engineer on the wind turbine project. He's been with us for three years and has a lot of experience in the field," Miguel explained.
Ana continued the presentation, talking about other team members and their respective areas of expertise. Amelia and Nuria listened attentively, taking notes and asking questions when necessary.
"It seems we have a very competent and promising team. I'd like to meet everyone in person and hear their opinions on the ongoing projects," Nuria said with a smile.
"That would be excellent. We can organize a meeting with the whole team for tomorrow morning. It will be a good opportunity for everyone to introduce themselves and share their ideas," Ana suggested.
"That sounds appropriate; however, we'll start activities this afternoon after lunch," Nuria rephrased, "I want to evaluate the team members individually. Laura and Roberto will be the first to be assessed."
"Understood. We'll prepare a list from the most qualified to the least," Miguel responded nervously. "Will many be dismissed?"
"No, why? My plan, and I hope Nuria's as well, is to gradually strengthen the team. I'm already finding ways to fund this without affecting the staff," Amelia reassured.
"Almost every previous director has laid off between ten and twenty-five percent of the staff when they've taken over," Ana lamented.
Nuria and Amelia exchanged glances. "Amelia won't lay off a single employee unless I find them unfit. If she dares to fire someone without my authorization, I'll ask for her head," Nuria joked, knowing Amelia's plan was far from involving dismissals.
Amelia nodded, feeling more confident with each passing moment. She knew that, with Nuria's support and such a talented team, they could overcome the challenges they faced and lead "Energreen Solutions" to success.
"Perfect, then we'll reconvene after lunch. In the meantime, Miguel and Ana, please send us a detailed summary of each project, including the milestones achieved and the obstacles we're facing, as well as the staff assigned to each project along with their capabilities. I want to be fully up to speed," Amelia said, taking firm control of the meeting.
"Of course, Amelia. You'll have the reports in your inboxes by the end of the day," Miguel replied.
When the meeting finally concluded, Amelia checked her watch and saw that it was almost two in the afternoon. She stood up from her chair and smiled at everyone. "I think we should go eat. We'll continue this afternoon."