Page 29 of Like a Boss

Ken was disappointed I had to raincheck on lunch, but I promised it wouldn’t happen again. I don’t see anything happening with him, but I’m not turning down the offer to get to know him as a friend because this is what moving on entails.

But it’s all business as usual as I’m sitting beside Mr. Fox, taking notes like he asked. I’m thankful I’m busy because the close proximity is killing me. But I focus on the task at hand because it distracts me from how good Mr. Fox smells.

The meeting is with an up-and-coming, kooky software developer who is trying to pitch his program which ingeniously detects and eradicates spyware before it has a chance to attack your computer. It’s different to any that are out in the market at the moment, and I think his approach is quite clever. However, I don’t think Mr. Fox agrees.

Fox Technologies is one of the biggest technology firms in the country. If there is a new craze in the latest apps, phones, operating systems, websites, software and hardware, you can bet someone from Fox Technologies designed it. Mr. Fox has truly seen it all, so as Marshall Powers is flipping through his eighth slide, I dare say Mr. Fox has seen enough.

As he glances down at his Rolex, he makes no secret that Mr. Powers is wasting his time. I can’t help but feel for the guy.

“As you can see,” Mr. Powers says, fumbling with the remote and skipping to the wrong slide. Mr. Fox sighs and leans back in his seat, twirling his gold pen between his fingers, unimpressed.

When he finds the correct slide, he continues. “As I was saying, this program is able to eradicate the spyware or adware ninety-eight point one percent faster than other security programs out there. Our impenetrable firewall and…”

But he’s not permitted to finish. “Ninety-eighty point one percent?”

Mr. Powers pauses, looking over at me for guidance. I wish I could help, as I know what it feels like to be under Mr. Fox’s microscope. “Y-yes,” he stammers, pushing his thick-framed glasses up his nose.

Mr. Fox rocks back in his leather seat, tapping his pen on the table. I know what he’s thinking even before he speaks. For someone who demands perfection one hundred percent of the time, ninety-eight point one percent isn’t going to cut it.

“Thank you for sharing your vision, but I’m afraid I’m not interested. I simply cannot work with ninety-eighty point one percent. I demand excellence, Mr. Powers. If you can guarantee one hundred percent, then come see me, but now, you’re simply wasting my time.”

Ouch.

Mr. Powers doesn’t hide his disappointment, but he smartly doesn’t argue. “Thank you for your time, Mr. Fox.” He acknowledges him with a brisk nod.

As I begin packing up, I feel his eagle eyes watching my every move. It appears Hannah’s plan has worked, not that it makes a difference. I was stupid to think things could ever eventuate between us. It was a one-time deal. A one-night only fling. Weare two very different people, and although our bodies think as one, our brains are certainly not on the same wavelength.

I think Mr. Powers’s presentation was well presented and his ideas were ones Mr. Fox could work with. His figures were good, so was his outcome. He is someone Fox Technologies should be snapping up before someone else does. But that’s not my call to make.

As I pack up my laptop, I sense Mr. Fox is still watching me closely. I’ve never had a good poker face, and now is no exception.

“Ms. Young.” His curt voice is an indication that whatever he’s about to say will probably piss me off. “Do you have something you’d like to add?”

Gathering my wits, I decide to express what I believe in as I feel Marshall Powers would be a very valuable addition to Fox Technologies.

“I don’t mean to step out of line, Mr. Fox, but I think Mr. Powers’s ideas are quite clever and advanced. The data which he presented is quite impressive and regardless of the percentage, I don’t believe there ever will be a a hundred percent foolproof product, seeing as new hackers are arising every day, finding new ways to penetrate internet security.”

When Mr. Fox shifts in his seat, I lower my eyes and bite my lip. I’ve overstepped a line. But the appreciation radiating from Mr. Powers makes it worthwhile.

“But that’s just my opinion. The decision is ultimately yours,” I conclude.

Mr. Fox silently mulls over what I’ve just said, steepling his long fingers underneath his chin. Mr. Powers looks over at me and gives me an indebted smile.The room is at Mr. Fox’s mercy, waiting for him to speak. I sit calmly, but inside, my stomach is in knots.

Finally, he breaks the silence. “Mr. Powers, are you able to compile all the important parts of your presentation and email them to me?”

He almost falls over his feet. “Y-yes, of course.”

“Good. I’ll take another look over it, seeing as Ms. Young seems to believe in you.”

My calm exterior almost slips, but I remain stone-faced, quietly packing up my notepad and supplies.

“Thank you so much, Mr. Fox. I really appreciate this opportunity. I will have the data in your inbox by tomorrow morning.” Mr. Powers races over and shakes Mr. Fox’s hand as he stands.

“You have Ms. Young to thank, Mr. Powers. She seems to see something in you that I cannot. Maybe she can see the perfection through the imperfection.”

This time, I can’t hold on to my composure and my pen skitters along the smooth, polished table. Mr. Powers saves it from tumbling to the floor, thankfully not paying too much attention to my clumsiness.

They bid each other farewell, while I try not to read too much into Mr. Fox’s statement. As the boardroom door closes and Mr. Fox stands guard in front of it, I know I’m in trouble. My heart is still racing from his earlier comment, as I can’t help but believe there is a double meaning behind it.

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