Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
To her right, there’s a shelf filled with coffee cups featuring the Community Bean logo and a small rack of syrup bottles. All the room needs is a bakery case, and it could be a pop-up coffee shop itself.
“This little beauty can make anything,” Jackie says, gesturing me closer for a demonstration. There’s a touchscreen menu with a dizzying number of options and settings. She selects an Americano, whatever that is, and sets a cup on the front tray. The machine whirs to life, grinding the beans, then dispensing the drink, filling the room with the fragrance of coffee.
“It can make all sorts of espresso drinks—macchiatos, cappuccinos, lattés, you name it.”
I did a lot of research on the company and its mission, but it looks like I’m going to have to continue my studies with a quick course on coffee drinks, so I don’t look clueless around here. Jackie is clearly so impressed with this machine that I don’t dare tell her that I never plan to use it.
“There’s an attachment for basic milk. We also have non-dairy alternatives in the refrigerator, and various sweeteners here.” She reaches for a smaller canister from another shelf and adds a spoonful of sugar to her cup. “Sure you don’t want one?”
“Not right now. It smells good, though,” I add to be polite.
“It’s heaven in a cup.” She holds the drink close to her mouth and breathes in the aroma.
I’ve had sex with the bosses, and I don’t like coffee. I feel like I’m two strikes down before the game has even started.
CHAPTER 13
JANSEN
“Would you like a cup of coffee, Jansen?” Gloria, the assistant Derek and I share, is in the doorway of my office.
I return my attention to the stack of papers on my desk, muttering, “No, thanks.” After I left the gym this morning, I stopped in to check on our uptown location and got a cup there.
There are three more pages of inventory reports to review, then I need to move on to financials. Things piled up while I was upstate overseeing a new location opening.
As I’m cross-checking some numbers, Derek appears. “Morning.”
I give him a nod.
“How’s the new shop looking?”
“Rocky.”
Derek leans against the doorframe. “What do they need?”
“Time. More staff.”
“Let’s meet before lunch.” He starts to leave, but then returns. “I’m going to the climbing gym tonight. Want to come?”
“Too much to do here.”
He lingers a moment longer. “Ana starts today.”
“I’m well aware.”
I return to my work, expecting him to leave, but instead, he steps inside, closing the door behind him. “She said no more hookups. Not while she’s working for us.”
“We’ll see about that.”
CHAPTER 14
ANA
As promised, Jackie takes me on an office tour and introduces me to everyone. She points out the closed doors to Derek’s and Jansen’s offices, but leads me away from them.
“Best not to poke the bears.” When I give her a questioning look, she adds, “I don’t mind them, but their moods can be unpredictable.” The emphasis in her words implies that most everyone else does mind them, and I can’t say that I’m surprised.
The office staff is smaller than I expected, a little over twenty people, and several of them seem frazzled from too much work, reluctant to spend much time talking. Jackie explains that there are several open positions, which I was expecting, but the situation is worse than I’d hoped.
The two people in accounting are in dire need of help after two others in their department quit in the last month. There are also openings in customer service, customer relations, and IT. Some of the vacancies are due to turnover, and others are because of the demands of rapid growth.
Too many of the existing staff are relatively new, which doesn’t help productivity. Overall, the employees seem pleasant, especially compared to their CEOs, but I don’t get a sense of “we’re in this together” type energy, which will be important to cultivate.
When I’m back in my office and alone for the first time all morning, I skim through the files and desk drawers, and unpack the few personal items I brought with me: a water bottle, a sweater, hand lotion, and two dolphin figurines for good luck.
From the large collection of dolphin figures I have at home, I chose to bring in one made of clear glass, and another bright blue in a glittery snowglobe. As I’m unwrapping them, there’s a knock on my door, and a handsome man with sandy brown hair, who appears to be in his early thirties, is standing there.
“Are you Ana?” he asks.
When I answer in the affirmative, he steps in, extending his hand. “Owen Reed. I heard you came around earlier. I was in an outside meeting.”
“Ana Flores. It’s nice to meet you.”
His handshake is warm, and his smile is friendly. “Very nice to meet you. I’m the marketing director. I just wanted to say hello.”