The CEO'S Regret

e delete button. The email from Vanessa Sharp was short a

ter of a competing company. Jason had literally called her a "viper" yesterday. G

information about Alex and Blackwood Industries that a new employee might want

ling me not to sell myself short. Maybe it was the lack of s

muttered to myself. "N

ed them to be bold and different. He wanted me to show the

d. My heart did that w

oo safe, just like he said. I n

blet, trying to mix the feeling of old

and the cold marble floors of Blackwood Tower. As my new ideas took shape, I f

cking and quiet talking. Jason walked in carrying coffee from down

?" he asked,

ly taking the coffee and croissant he

s drifted to my screen and spotted Vanessa'

e seemed honest, and he had warned me

With Vanessa? Olivia, be carefu

t answered yet. I don't even know w

e for a good reason. She always has an angle. Espec

corrected, maybe too quickly.

ce feel hot. "Sure. Just be careful, okay? If you go, don

g even more nervous. Even Jas

e good concept based on Alex's feedback, a bold design mixing ol

s Jason and I walked in together. Everyone looked tense because of t

ut slightly less scary than yesterday. "Let's rev

ood, solid work, the kind Blackwood Indust

ivia, Jason mentioned you had

eep breath and walked to the

"Alex, I mean, Mr. Blackwood gave me some feedback. He wants so

autiful Archer watch dial projected onto a screen showing c

t. People leaned forward with

rent," someone

symbol. We're selling it as something of lasting value in a throw-away world. A stateme

the watch with the temporary nature of digital code. I talked

ooked surprised but encouraging. Everyone else see

slowly. "It's... bold, Olivia. Definitely fits Mr. Blackwood's r

nd fresh. Others thought it was too abstract and different from Archer's

uld really stand out from the competition. He unde

sed but also energized. This was what it meant to share ideas a

od. It means Olivia's concept is making us think. We'll develop both approaches. Jason's traditio

ing. It wasn't a complete win, but it was a

er and gave me a high-five. "You ki

e being tired. "I couldn't have done it

feedback into THAT in just one night? That's r

think too much about what

lize something important; to succeed here, I needed to understand the game bein

breath, I cl

t: Re:

ne

happy to join you for lunch. Please l

e

via

e my mind. I immediately felt l

A text from the

you are focused solely o

watching me? Monitoring my computer? A cold shiver ran down my spine

n with an email noti

ct: P

d Cage? Tomorrow at 1 PM? It's very...

ne

nsive restaurants in the city. It was known for private booths where impo

nto knots. The spider had set her trap

t what I was doing. The air suddenly felt

ng for me at T