Chapter 3

"Let's have a dinner party this weekend."

Peter announced in the team meeting.

It had been almost a month at work, time went so fast, even though what Lisa felt was just like more months passed. On Sunday Peter invited them all to go out in order to run up a nice tab and rest with relaxation.

Alex told Lisa that it had been a long time since they had dinner together, so Ella booked a well-known restaurant which was famous for its tasty cuisine for lunch online in the Centre of the city.

Lily was the third lady as another assistant manager in the office, she was a few years older than Lisa and Ella and she was happily married. However, like all the other working moms, achieving work life balance was the ultimate question for her.

William was a lot of fun to be around with, he took advantage of good opportunity to go on business trips with Peter and gained his favor. And his wife was in the Sales at the company.

The restaurant was decorated in an elegant and contemporary style which made the customers feeling warm and comfortable. They could appreciate everything surrounding by leisurely.

"Well, welcome our new member Lisa, it's the least I can do, I wish I can do more. I believe that everyone makes his or her own fortune with a good decision. I hope that working for Hixcth is more than a job, what we are in pursuit of setting up the company and everyone in it for life." Peter proposed a toast when the six of them sat at the table.

How diplomatic and sincere!

Peter was a non-smoking and non-drinking fitness, so his customary toasts would be cheered with soft drinks. But Lisa was asked to drink beer since she was playing an important role, Lisa's problem was that she couldn't hold her drink, two beers and she was under the table.

When she toasted to each one of them, she appeared intoxicated and not in control of her faculties.After having a good time at dinner, Ella volunteered to carry Lisa to her place to get some rest.

Ella lived in a suite with two bedrooms, and the living room, kitchen and bathroom were public areas. Once Lisa was putting onto the sofa, she was like a baby slipped unawares into sleep. How long she had been asleep was a moot point, when she sobered up, she saw that Ella was watching a movie on her laptop.

"It is getting dark. Can I use the bathroom?" Lisa went to wash up.

When Lisa got out from the bathroom, Ella was waiting for her with a cup of water.

"I am sorry to intrude on you like this. I suck at drinking, that's why I had to leave my last job. How about you?" Lisa drank some water and said.

"This is my first job after graduation from university, it had been three years. So far so good." Ella was sitting on the sofa.

"When I graduated from college, I did not know how I want to spend my working lives, I just hope that I can get a decent job with good salary. It's pretty silly." Lisa stood near the table, then she looked around and said: "Can I take a look?"

"Of course, my roommate Marry just moved out last week. She was one of our colleagues too, but she just resigned from her duty. Do you know her?"

The name was vaguely familiar, Lisa had no recollection of the lady she met several weeks ago at night.

"You must hear rumors about her, she was one of Joseph's exes." Ella continued.

"Wow, what a coincidence, you never mentioned it. Is it true that she had to leave the company because Joseph dumped her?" Lisa sat next to Ella.

"It's her private matter, I am not sure if I should say anything about it. But as a friend who has been there all the time, I think I should have a voice."

"Long before they started dating, Marry was aware that Joseph was not a keeper. Joseph Lee was the first-most gossiped figure of our company, there were some pretty girls involved. Therefore, any single ladies with sense of reason should stay away from him. I do not know how they hooked up, but Marry received some cheap gifts and the relationship lasted less than three months." Ella was judgmental when she talked about the story.

"Do you know why they break up? "Lisa just listened while holding non-judgmental compassion in her mind.

"Joseph promised her a gift for their Memorial Day, but the one Marry liked was a little out of price. As you know Joseph is rich but mean with money, then Joseph said to Marry that she was not worth it and decided to call it splits. Marry argued with him, both at home and at the company, and tried to stop him from work, of course it did not work."

Ella became upset or irritated and it was not always easy to find peace. Lisa started to visit the house, she was quite satisfied with the room and the rent was quite reasonable, so she made a decision to move in.

Everything was just right, her present lease on the flat expired next month and Ella was looking for a roommate. The discovery of her future apartment and best roommate was the result of a bit of good fortune.

It was tradition for Peter to call a top-level management regular meeting every month. On Monday morning, Lisa had her baptism of fire taking shorthand in the senior staff meeting.

There were twelve men around a long black conference table, it was told that only men in the boardroom or at the peak of their careers who seem to favor long sleeves. The conference room reeked of heat, perfume and sweat- a combination of odors that Lisa always associated with the bus station.

At first glance, Joseph stood out in the crowd for he was easy on the eye. This may sound like a lot of effort, he was the youngest among them, about thirty years old, he was laughing at some jokes with Henry who was sitting next to him. Her gaze met his for a split second, Lisa recognized a few of the others.

At ten o'clock, Peter came in and declared the meeting open.

"Are there any matters arising from the minutes of the last meeting? If not, let's move on to the financial statements for last month."

The directors were responsible for preparing the company's financial statements and the ones who were deciphering it and budgeting, they were talking more about the company's internal control over Financial Reporting.

Among them, Kevin was Financial Controller in overseeing and directing all aspects regarding the cost control of operational supplies cost. He had curly black hair and was medium build.

Peter build up a reputation for being a strict disciplinarian as a CEO, provided that no objection was raised, they proceeded with the marketing conditions. After some of them offered timely suggestions and advice on new product sales, Charles who was a senior manager of marketing and vice CEO said at length. 

"I have had direct communication with appropriate company staff about new product and service opportunities, special developments, information, or feedback gathered through field activity, it is better that during the testing phase, the company may even try out different prices by market to ensure a new launch is adding incremental sales rather than stealing share from an existing item."

He was known as his bad-temper, about late-fifty, small and wiry, with dark dancing eyes. Many literary academics simply parrot a set of impressive-sounding phrases, apparently Charles was one of them. Then a voice came out.

"Sticking to principles may be the last thing that the market needs at the moment, but I have faith in our products."

Everyone attending the board meeting was in a state of intense concentration, trying to look as intelligent as they could. But he looked quite relaxed, Lisa was impressed by the way he could formulate his ideas, True inner detachment manifests as the ability to think clearly and to be immune to what people think or say about you.

It was Raymond, the head of Customer service. He was the right age, huge and intimidating figure, well dressed with presence and gravitas.

"Joseph, how was the project going on?" Peter asked s sudden question while they were still wrangling over the marketing details.

"Subsequently, Christian was purportedly given another sample of their preferred choice. Henry will help to develop and set up product qualification test plans and quality plan, learn structure, parameter and function of new design, research more applications of the tools."

Joseph struggled for words, his face turned crimson in embarrassment. When Joseph looked at Lisa, Lisa changed her focus to other people who were not looking.

Henry was a senior engineer manager, he was a few inches shorter than Joseph, Lisa had heard his story as well since he was Joseph's best friend in the company. He was a mild, bespectacled man who was a living proof that engineers were boring, invisible in the crowd.

Lisa learned that Senior staff usually loved people who could self- sustain and enabled growth through taking initiative, who were strong at following through their work, and who brought ideas and solutions to the table.

Until the meeting ended, Lisa exchanged her contact details with all of them. She was a performer as the minutes served as a useful means of following up proposals and their implementation.

A good way to start a relationship was by talking to him and ask for his contact information.