Luna

I was impressed with Colton's enthusiasm and helpfulness during the food and cake tasting. Not only did he enjoy the experience, but he also actively took part in selecting the food and sweets that would be served at our wedding. He was a total lifesaver - he shared his favorite dishes and helped me decide.

After indulging in a delicious feast, I returned to the office and immediately called a meeting. We used Colton's PDF presentation to implement a new system for the flow of transactions within our company. Colton had been eager for us to try out this system, and I believed it was the perfect opportunity to test it.

I also checked on the status of our non-moving stocks. To my delight, I discovered that the logistics team had successfully retrieved one-fourth of the stocks from the warehouse and had diligently organized them by sizes and colors. The designers also finished the logo for our animal-friendly clothing line and were eagerly waiting for my approval to make the hem tags.

"Tomorrow, we'll start adding the hem tags so we can promote the clothes on our website and social media. We'll send samples to stores, influencers, and our business partners." I turned to the production head and went on. "Anyone who wants to work overtime is welcome. We got to work non-stop until we sell all our non-moving stocks."

"But Miss Stavrakos, we'll have to pay more for the workers. We don't have the budget." Mr. Stiller, the finance head, pointed out. "Are you sure you discussed this with Mr. Cox? I know he wouldn't like the idea."

"He left this project up to me, Mr. Stiller." I answered firmly. "Everyone, we must trust Mr. Treble on this. He won't suggest anything if there's a chance we'll fail. If we can master the new system, our company will be up and running again in no time."

Everyone was on board and gave their support, except for Mr. Stiller.

***

At six in the evening, I found myself at home, enjoying the company of my poodle, Bonnie. Our go-to game was a tug of war, and to make it even more fun, we used her collection of stuffed toys as the "ropes" - and of course, I always let her win.

I had been patiently waiting for Barry to call me. He said he would once he arrived in Malaysia. I had so many things to tell him, particularly that we've nailed down the menu for the food and cake at our wedding. It's gonna be delicious and diverse for our guests.

At nine in the evening, he finally called.

"How was your flight?"

"Terrible. I've never experienced such intense turbulence on a flight before. I am happy that you decided not to come along with me, because you'll be traumatized."

"Seriously, that's how bad it is? Thank God, you're safe now. You weren't feeling sick, right?"

"Nope. I just went to sleep." He chuckled.

"How's Venus?"

"Venus?" He stopped laughing and got all defensive. His explanation was too long and unnecessary. "How will I know, sweetheart? I'm not her babysitter. Yeah, we were on the same flight, but I was in the business class section, and she was in the economy. I haven't seen her since we were at the office the other day. I arrived here in the hotel five hours ago and went straight to sleep."

"Wait, you both went your own ways at the hotel?"

"Yeah, of course." He replied. "Still haven't seen her. I'm expecting her to show up at the mall opening to jot things down for me."

I didn't like what Barry did. He had no heart, leaving Venus all by herself in a foreign country at 4am. But I didn't like to bring it up with him. He was probably cranky because he didn't get enough sleep. But for sure, this thing he did would definitely go on my list.

"Hey, how's the meeting? Did you get rid of the stocks?"

"Yeah, we did and started working on it." I told him about Colton's suggestions and how we implemented it using the new system.

"Just do what he says. We're shelling out a ton of money to get him to fix our company. I want it soaring again up to the number 1 spot. He better not mess up with me." His words were full of threats, and it made me uneasy. "So, how's the food tasting yesterday?"

"Excellent. The wedding reception is all taken care of. We don't have to worry about a thing, we just come to our wedding. Oh, just so you know, I was with..." but before I could mention Colton, he interrupted me.

"That's awesome, sweetie. I can't wait for our wedding and having you as my wife." He said in a very seductive voice. "I love you so much, babe. I'm missing you already."

"Oh, me too, Barry."

"I got to go, babe. The grand opening of the mall is at eleven. I need to shower and eat breakfast. I don't wanna be late. Mr. Oishi's not gonna be happy."

"Of course, I won't hold you long. Go take your shower. Tell me about the event later, okay?"

"Of course." He said, then hung up.

***

The next day, Colton was in the office. He was super helpful in making sure the new system worked. He helped us sell our non-moving stocks by using a strategic approach. He provided us with insights on how to market these products and advised us on the best course of action for our next steps.

Each department in our company was fully focused on their tasks. The production team diligently attached hem tags to the clothes, ensuring that they were ready for shipment. The logistics department worked tirelessly to pack and organize the products, while the marketing team was busy promoting our brand and generating awareness. The sales department was actively accepting and processing orders.

On Thursday, we received good news.

"The orders started pouring in like crazy! I can't believe it. Our stocks are selling like hotcakes and our latest products are gaining a lot of buzzes in the market." Our sales manager announced it when she came to my office.

"That's great news!" I exclaimed with happiness. "We have to pull out the remaining non-moving stocks."

The demand was insane, and we were over the moon to see our hard work paying off. This small taste of victory served as a catalyst, fueling my motivation and determination to achieve even greater success.

I couldn't help but feel grateful for Colton. He really knew what he was doing and got us on the right track. His ideas and plans really helped us succeed, and I was so excited to see what else he had in store.

At seven in the evening, I found myself still in the office, engrossed in work. Suddenly, Colton appeared, carrying a tray of tantalizing Japanese delicacies. The sight of the colorful sushi, crispy tempura, steaming ramen, and savory takoyaki made my mouth water. The aroma of the freshly prepared food filled the air, making my mouth water.

Colton's thoughtful gesture warmed my heart as he placed the tray on the desk for both of us to share. In that moment, I couldn't help but notice his genuine sweetness, care, and kindness shining through. It was impossible not to draw comparisons to Barry, but let's face it, Colton surpassed him in every way.

We were eating while having a conversation. I just kept going on about how great the feedback was from consumers and how easy the process seemed.

"That's how your transaction should go. If you've got a good system, things run smoothly. The staff and workers won't get confused with their tasks."

"Yup, you're right. I see why bigger companies can easily do large orders."

"Nah, that's not the actual thing yet. We've barely started. We've got a long list of things to apply for. Stuff like training workers, giving out tasks, changing schedules, using machines..."

He really knew his stuff when he talked about cutting costs. He gave me some real-life examples and case studies, showing me how to make our production more efficient and save money without compromising quality. Also, he really understood how the market moves. He dropped some cool marketing strategies that worked for other companies, telling us to think outside the box and come up with new ways to promote our products.

What really got me was how down-to-earth and humble he was. Even though he had amazing credentials, he treated everyone with respect and listened to their ideas and concerns. He made sure everyone felt valued and heard, no matter their position. His thoughtfulness was unexpected and meant a lot to us.

When I saw him with the workers, I noticed how patient and chill he was dealing with problems. He never held back, always explaining concepts, and answering questions. You could tell he genuinely wanted to empower the team and make them the best they could be.

His qualities, mind, and dedication to fixing our company were seriously impressive. I began to like him a lot more, on a personal level. I learned to have faith in his choices and to admire his leadership style. He had the best interests of the company and its employees at heart, and I felt fortunate to have him guiding our path to success.

Later that night, I went home, and video chatted with Barry. I eagerly shared our triumphant news with him. But he responded with a sneaky grin and a wicked laugh that filled the room.

"Treble better do his job well, or I'll kick his ass," he warned, and it hit me hard. The lack of appreciation for Colton's help was shocking.

Determined not to let it go unnoticed, I grabbed my pen and wrote on my list of his red flags, emphasizing the words in bold letters: RUDE AND UNGRATEFUL.

I sighed and thought of tomorrow. It would be an important day. Colton and I would meet Harvey Springsteen.

Yeah, I still couldn't believe Harvey accused Barry of embezzlement. But talking to him would give me answers.