The Team-Building Disaster

On my first day back after Labor Day weekend, I'd barely walked through the front doors when I spotted a cluster of employees gathered in the lobby, deep in some kind of discussion.

Leading the pack was Brittany Tipton, the intern who was about to be brought on full-time.

"What? We seriously never do team-building? God, does Asher even know how to run a company? I can't believe I'm working under such a clueless boss. What a waste of my potential."

Carl Stewart, from the business department, chimed in loudly. "Tell me about it. I heard headquarters sends down a team-building budget for every branch office every single month. I bet Mr. Jordis has just been pocketing it."

Brittany pulled out her phone and scrolled through her social feed to show them.

"Look at my best friend's company. Before the holiday, they went to some upscale Italian place for their team dinner, and the time before that it was Mediterranean. Look at these photos; everybody looks thrilled.

"I make more than she does, sure, but she's a lot happier than I am."

I frowned faintly, cleared my throat twice, and walked in.

Everyone scattered back to their desks like startled birds.

Brittany's face instantly bloomed into a sweet smile, and she raised a hand in greeting. "Morning, Mr. Jordis."

I gave her a cold look. "I believe you owed me a report before the holiday. Care to hand it over now?"

She immediately put on a wounded expression. "Mr. Jordis, you're being harsh again. I'm just an intern."

Since I'd taken over this branch, I'd never once looked at an employee and felt real distaste. She was the first one to actually get under my skin.

Still, I wasn't the type to torch someone's future over a few smart remarks.

I let it go and instead called Nico Pyatt over from the corner desk where he'd been quietly working.

He was the youngest son of the group chairman, fresh out of college and placed here to get some real-world experience. I was the only one who knew who he actually was.

I waved him into my office and told him to sit.

"So, how's it been? Feels like you've picked up plenty these past few months. Any idea when you'll head back to headquarters?"

To my surprise, he crossed one leg over the other and let out a cold huff.

"Mr. Jordis, my father speaks highly of you. I never expected you to be this spineless, letting some junior intern talk trash about you behind your back without lifting a finger."

I smiled faintly, pulled out my phone, and opened an app to show him.

It was Brittany's freshly posted video.

"The boss yelled at me again. So unfair. It was just a report. I didn't turn it in before the holiday and nothing even got delayed."