Chapter 6
I put my phone down and took a deep breath.
'Here goes step one,' I thought to myself.
I got up, freshened up, and put on my makeup.
I chose a tailored black suit dress and matched it with stiletto heels.
The woman in the mirror was still a bit pale, but her eyes were razor-sharp, her lips a striking red, and her whole presence radiated a cold, powerful aura that warned people to keep their distance.
The Gina who'd been forced to bark like a dog in that private room last night felt like nothing but a distant memory.
I wanted Harlan to recognize my value and determination, not just pity me for what I'd been through.
*****
At exactly nine o'clock, I showed up at the CEO's office of Aros Tech. Harlan personally brewed me some coffee, his manner welcoming yet respectful.
He didn't mention last night right away. Instead, he chatted for a bit before getting straight to the point.
"Ms. Poe, I'm really glad you reached out to me. I've already given you a general idea of Aros Tech's situation. We're running into a bottleneck with market expansion, and we really need a strong, capable leader like you," he said.
He looked me in the eye, totally sincere. "You already know the deal. Your salary gets a 50% bump from your last job. You'll be the sales director, reporting straight to me, with full say over hiring and project calls in your department. And..."
He paused, then hit me with an even juicier offer. "If you can bring your core team over, your whole team gets a 20% raise. And for you... this is your signing bonus."
He scribbled a number on a piece of paper.
It was way better than I'd imagined.
He was going all in; he wanted me, no question.
I didn't answer right away. Instead, I picked up my cup and took a slow sip.
"Mr. Todd, there's no doubt about my abilities or my team's. With the Vista project, Roger's side was about to drop out, but my team and I fought tooth and nail to make it happen," I said.
I set my cup down and looked at him, calm and steady.
"I'm not just here for the paycheck or the fancy title," I said.
Harlan leaned forward, interested. "I'm listening."
"I need absolute trust and full control. My team follows my lead, and my way of doing things might not fit the usual Aros Tech mold, but I need my decisions carried out, no questions asked."
"Second," my tone grew firm, "Aros Tech has to be able to handle the projects and clients I bring in, and deliver top-tier tech support and follow-through. No dropping the ball.
"And finally," I met his gaze, my voice quiet but firm. "I want this to be a true partnership, not just a job. If Aros Tech thrives, I expect my core team and I to get a piece of that success."
Harlan listened, paused for a moment, then his smile grew even warmer, full of respect.
"Ms. Poe—no, Gina, your requests make perfect sense. I promise you, once you join Aros Tech, sales is yours to run; you call the shots. I'll personally oversee tech and support to guarantee full cooperation. As for stock options, we'll write it into your contract and vest it as you hit your targets."
He reached out his hand. "Welcome to Aros Tech!"
I shook his hand, and for the first time today, a real, confident smile, one with a bit of an edge, finally showed on my face.
"Looking forward to working with you, Mr. Todd," I said.
Everything was settled. The outcome was in my hands.
By the time I walked out of Aros Tech, it was already noon.
The sunlight was a bit harsh, but inside, I was glowing.
Now came the hardest and most important step, the make-or-break moment: winning my team over.
I holed up in a quiet café booth and started dialing one number after another.
The first call I made was to Leland Smart, the tech backbone of our team and the guy who'd been with me the longest.
The call went through, and I could hear the sound of keys tapping in the background, along with Leland's slightly rough voice. "Hey, Gina, are you feeling any better? You didn't come in today, and Princess Rowena's been prowling around the office, acting all passive-aggressive."
I didn't waste any time. "Leland, can you step somewhere we can talk freely?"
He paused, the keyboard went quiet, and I heard footsteps—sounded like he'd ducked into the stairwell.
"Alright, Gina, I'm listening," he said.
"I'm heading to Aros Tech, and I want the whole team with me," I said, straight to the point. "Everyone gets a 20% raise, same roles, and the work environment will be way better. No more drama. Leland, are you with me?"