Chapter 144
Madison
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The room fell silent. I could feel the weight of their stares, a mixture of curiosity and what seemed
like disbelief.
“Ms. Harper,” Victor continued, his tone neutral but with an undercurrent, I couldn’t quite place,” perhaps you’d like to share your background in real estate development with the team?”
I took a deep breath. “Thank you, Mr. Harmon. While my direct experience in real estate development is limited, I bring strong organizational skills and a fresh perspective to the table. I have worked closely with Mr. Knight on various projects.”
“Organizational skills?” Lucas Garcia interrupted, not bothering to hide his skepticism. “Ms. Harper, with all due respect, this is a huge development project in one of the most competitive real estate markets in the world. We need more than organizational skills at the helm.”
The room tensed. I felt heat rise to my cheeks, but I forced myself to maintain eye contact with him.
“Mr. Garcia,” I began, keeping my voice steady, “I understand your concern. This project requires expertise across multiple disciplines, which is why each of you was selected. My role is to coordinate those efforts, facilitate communication, and ensure we meet our objectives on time and within budget.”
“But have you ever managed a real estate project before?” Olivia White asked, her tone more curious than confrontational. “The learning curve is steep, especially for Manhattan.”
Before I could answer, Thomas Moore jumped in. “I’ve been in this business for thirty years, and I’ve never seen a project manager appointed without relevant experience. It’s… unusual, to say the least.”
I felt the situation slipping away from me. The room was filling with murmurs, and I could see the doubt in their eyes.
“If I may,” Alexander’s voice cut through the chatter, commanding immediate silence. He hadn’t raised his volume, but his tone left no room for interruption.
“Knight Industries has a long history of identifying talent and potential, sometimes in unexpected places. Ms. Harper has demonstrated exceptional capability in her previous roles, including qualities that are essential for this position: attention to detail, problem–solving skills, and the ability to coordinate complex operations.”
He surveyed the room, making eye contact with each team member. “This meeting is an introduction, not the commencement of work. You’ll have two weeks to prepare before the project officially begins. During that time, your workspaces will be arranged, and Ms. Harper will be furthering her knowledge of real estate development specifics.”
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“With respect, Mr. Knight,” Lucas persisted, “learning on the job for a project of this magnitude seems risky.”
Alexander’s expression remained impassive. “Mr. Garcia, every person in this room had to start somewhere. Ms. Harper’s appointment is not up for debate. She has my full confidence, and more importantly, she has demonstrated the capacity to learn quickly and adapt to new challenges.”
He leaned forward slightly. “Knight Industries currently has eighteen active projects and ten in development. Each represents an opportunity for growth–both for the company and for the individuals involved. Those who excel here find themselves with expanding responsibilities and rewards to match.”
The implicit message was clear: perform well, and there would be more opportunities; continue to question his decisions, and those opportunities might go elsewhere.
“Now,” Alexander continued, “Mr. Harmon will outline the preliminary timeline and objectives. I expect everyone to come to the first working session prepared to contribute constructively. Ms. Harper will reach out to you individually before then.”
Victor smoothly took over, pulling up a presentation on the main screen. The tension in the room gradually dissipated as he walked through the project phases, but I could still feel occasional glances in my direction.
As the meeting progressed, I took detailed notes, already planning how I would approach each team member and what questions I needed to research before our individual meetings. Despite the rocky start, I was determined to prove Alexander’s confidence in me wasn’t misplaced.
When the presentation concluded, Alexander stood. “Thank you all for your time. Ms. Harper will coordinate the next steps. I look forward to seeing this project take shape under her guidance.”
As everyone gathered their materials, I noticed Sophia Rodriguez approach me.
“Ms. Harper,” she said quietly, “I have some resources that might help you get up to speed on the design approval process in Manhattan. It’s… complicated, to say the least.”
“That would be incredibly helpful, Ms. Rodriguez. Thank you.”
She smiled. “Call me Sophia. And don’t worry too much about Lucas. He’s like this with everyone new. He’ll come around once he sees you know what you’re doing.”
“I appreciate the advice,” I said, feeling a small wave of relief at having potentially found an ally.
As the room cleared, Alexander remained seated, reviewing something on his tablet. When we were alone, he looked up.
“Well handled, Ms. Harper.
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“Thank you, Mr. Knight. Although I’m not sure everyone shares your confidence.”
“They don’t need to share it. They need to respect it.” He closed his tablet. “You have two weeks to prepare. I suggest you make the most of them.”
I nodded, already mentally creating a study plan. “I will.”
“Good.” He stood, straightening his tie. “Because while I meant what I said about your capabilities, I don’t enjoy having my judgment questioned. Don’t make me regret this decision.”
“I won’t,” I promised, both to him and to myself.
As he left the conference room, I remained seated for a moment, taking in the enormity of the challenge ahead. I was in way over my head, but somehow, that felt exhilarating rather than terrifying. Alexander Knight had just put his reputation on the line for me in front of an entire project team.
Now, I just had to figure out how to be a real estate project manager in two weeks. No pressure.
I gathered my notes and tablet, taking a deep breath before heading out of the conference room. The hallway buzzed with the usual midday activity as employees hurried between meetings or headed to lunch. I checked my watch–1:45 PM. I’d missed my usual lunch hour, and my stomach reminded me with a quiet growl.
When I pushed through the double doors into the cafeteria, the usual hum of conversation and clinking silverware filled the air. The lunch rush had mostly passed, leaving scattered groups at tables throughout the space. I grabbed a tray and selected a chicken salad sandwich and sparkling water before scanning the room for an empty table.
That’s when I heard my name, barely disguised in a stage whisper from a table near the windows.
“Madison Harper? Please. We all know how she got that position.”
Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.
