Drizzle Chaos

The day of the presentations is finally here, and the office has never been so chaotic!

Naomi had resumed her new position, and luckily, she was able to come up with her team members, of course.

One could tell how happy the team members were that Naomi was now their team lead. She makes it so easy to want to follow her instructions, and most importantly, she makes them all feel heard and needed.

Naomi is in Tita's office, which is now her office, hands on the table as she stares blankly at the wall. The presentation will be happening in less than an hour, and she is a nervous wreck!

She really tried to give someone else the burden of presenting, but no one could stand the thought of having Damon’s stern eyes analyzing their every move.

She had to do it; no one else could.

“Hey, you've come this far! I'm sure the presentation is perfect!” Soonie said over the phone.

All morning, Naomi had been all over the place, and Soonie called in at the right time to talk her out of it.

“Yes, I know, but it's just ….I don't know. I really hope everything goes well.”

“Does the idea of seeing him make you nervous?” Soonie asked.

“What? No!”

“Then what is the problem?”

Naomi exhaled. She told Damon she would prove she was in fact deserving of that seat and bow, it's really time to prove that to him.

This presentation had to be flawless.

“A lot of people are counting on this, you know? So many jobs are attached to this, and I don't want to be the reason they get fired. It's a lot of pressure, you should understand what I'm driving at.”

Soonie exhaled. “You're right. It's a lot. I know you are questioning your qualifications, but trust me, nobody deserves this more than you do. You did what you could, and I'm sure it's good enough. Now, go there and show them that you know your job way too well! Challenge him if you must!” Sonnie offered.

Naomi nods. “You're right. I did all I could, and it's time to present this.”

A knock came on her door, and her teammates peeped in.

“Ms Naomi, we know you did your best, and although it's only been a day, you're a great team lead,” Rose said with a smile.

“ Yeah. It would be nice to keep our jobs, but we prepared the presentation to the best of our ability and…it's all up to Mr Damon now.” Didi said, smiling.

“I'm sure we're going to do great. I believe we will.” Paul offered with a smile.

Naomi stares at everyone who has a smile plastered on their face. She tried to hold back her emotions, trying to find the right answers to give.

“That means so much, guys. Thank you. And I promise I won't let you down.”

Paul shakes his head. “It doesn't matter. Give it your best, and we can only hope for the best.”

Naomi exhaled and nodded. “Thank you. All of you. It's been really amazing being your team lead for a day.”

“Same here.”

“Now go and crush that presentation, baby girl! You got this!” Soonie cheered, and everyone else followed.

♡♡

Naomi took a deep breath, ready to do her best one yet. She had everyone's eyes on her as she took to the front.

With slightly shaky hands but a cool, calm, and collected voice, she starts off her presentation, page after page.

Accompanying Damon were people Naomi had never seen before. They must be his official management team, and they were here to vet their progress.

There was a pin drop silence, no one had the gall to say a word as she pressed forward with her team's achievement and its impact.

“That would be all.”

The panel of judges stared at her in silence, and soon they were scribbling some things on paper, not a word spoken.

“Please excuse us while the next department goes on with their presentation.”

Naomi bows her head, ready to leave.

“Hold on.”

Naomi paused at the sound of Damon's voice, his eyes staring at her intensely.

“Yes, Mr Dam9n.”

“In your presentation, you didn't state any recent projects, works you've done in the last month. Is there a reason for this omission?”

Naomi exhales, her eyes fixed on Damon. Is that a smirk on his lips?

Hell, she was hoping he would have missed it! But sure, he's fascinated by the idea of screwing her over!

“There was no reason for an omission, there's no record for the month.”

“From your slides, you and your team seem effective, but it's almost the end of the month, yet, nothing to show for the month? It sounds rather suspicious, doesn't it?”

“Mr Damon, Miss Tita was the team lead for our department, and we can't do anything unless she gives us instructions to.”

“You're blaming your incompetence on your former team lead. That doesn't look so good on your end.” Mitch, a member of the panel, said.

Damon glanced at him, a death glare that sent shivers down the spines of everyone in the room.

Mitch swallowed. “I'm sorry, sir. I thought we…”

“We?” Damon asked, a hint of incredulousness in his tone.

“My apologies, sir.”

Damon turned to Naomi. “Answer the question.”

Naomi clears her throat. “I only occupied the seat of team lead yesterday and…”

“But you were her assistant.”

“Yes, I was.”

“Why didn't you inform her about the gaps?”

Naomi sighs. She sets her laptop down and turns on the projector once more, flipping open a slide she had prepared months ago.

“I did mention the gaps to Miss Tita, and that is proof that I did. This was supposed to be our project for the month, but she rejected it.”

“For what reason?” Damon asked.

“She claimed she had something in mind, and I didn't push it any further out of respect for the company policies.”

Damon leans towards. “I've seen those policies, and adjustments would be made. That doesn't mean this gap isn't a problem, Ms Naomi. I thought I made it clear that we are all about results today.”

Naomi swallowed; this was it. She and her teammates would be kicked out.

From the furthest end of the room, she made eye contact with her team, all staring at her intensely. Didi gave her a small smile, telling her she did great.

No. She can't let it go like this. They've all worked really hard to put this together, she had to fight for them.

“We can achieve two projects within a month!” Naomi blurted out.

“We can?” Paul asked out loud but clasped his hands over his mouth almost immediately.

“Yes, we can. We will be up for this month and the next in one month.”

Damon leans back. “Your teammates don't think it's possible.”

“We can pull it off, and I have a plan in mind. If you could just give us that grace, we won't disappoint you! Our team is made up of the best of the best, and we will put in everything to make this work.”

Damon chuckled. “I can have you all replaced within minutes. I don't have to give you that grace, do I?”

Naomi narrowed her eyes on Damon, goodness he's such a cocky asshole!

“It will take them at least a week to get accustomed to the way the company runs, and that's another month going down the drain.”

“I have a solution for that as well. They will be up to speed in less than two days.” Damon smirked.

“If they are so good, you will be spending more money to keep them hired. Maybe four times our salaries, I'm sure. I know you're a billionaire, sir, but for a company you just acquired, it's not a great move to spend more than what the company is worth to keep it running.”

Damon is quiet, his eyes fixed on her in silence. She's ...really smart. No wonder Aunt Clara wants to keep her out of her father’s business.

“One month. You better have some magic up your sleeves or you and your team will be replaced in the twinkle of an eye.”

Naomi exhaled. “ We won't disappoint you.”

“You will be reporting to me directly from now on. And I'm sure you know what that means, Ms Naomi.”

Naomi froze. Shit.