To Color Your Life

"Hello. Miss Hayes, thank you for your presentation," Denver nodded slightly to Emily and turned to the audience, "You all know me well, so I won't give opening speeches and get straight to the point."

"Are you all right?" Emily heard Justin whisper from behind. The man took a chair and sat down behind her. He turned it sideways so that the backs of their chairs touched. His hand lay on them, touching the girl's back. This small contact immediately gave the girl a charge of energy, as if her dead internal battery was connected to the power supply.

"Yeah, I'm all right. Well, maybe a little nervous," Emily tilted her head to the side so the boss could hear her answer, but continued to follow the scene. "Is the broadcast going on?"

"Yes," Evans replied, "That will be fair to our viewers. We have a good project, Em, I see no reason to manipulate public opinion."

Emily nodded in agreement with the man. Their project inspired her from the first seconds they started the team discussion.

"The idea that the Pharaoh team presented to us is interesting and promising, and I love the excitement and creativity with which the staff of the department thirty approach their work," Denver continued his speech. "Miss Hayes, how many users are you going to attract?"

Oh, it seems that someone has decided to attack you with your own tactics, Hayes. Emily straightened up and answered clearly, "A million new users in the first six months and at least five million by the end of this year."

Christian nodded, satisfied with her response, "Thank you. From what sources do you plan to form an advertising budget and take funds for the development of the application?"

"We will launch a beta version, which our team of programmers is currently working on. Advertising funds will be allocated from the magazine's revenues."

"Do you think these funds will be enough to meet your planned timeline?"

Emily pressed her lips together. She hadn't expected Denver's first blow to hit their Achilles heel. She felt Justin lightly pat her on the back, giving her permission to voice the thought. "We are considering the option of attracting third-party investments."

Third-party investment. This combination was like a red rag to a bull for shareholders. The Pharaoh publishing house was unique in that it attracted third-party investments only once, at the very beginning of its existence.

The rejection of third-party investments was even spelled out in the protocol of the Pharaoh's rules. And breaking the rules of the protocol was tantamount to challenging the entire established system.

As if you allowed a stranger to live in your house, who would also begin to impose his habits on you. Such a move was unacceptable for the shareholders of the publishing house, and Emily could clearly see it from the reactions on their faces.

"This is an extreme option. I'm sure we can handle it without it. We have a very loyal audience that supports any of the magazine's initiatives, for what we are very grateful," added Emily, trying to relieve the tension in the room.

"Unfortunately, Miss Hayes, the audience loyalty in this case is impossible to calculate, these are just your assumptions and words that do not have any data underneath. Where are the guarantees that your innovation will be as popular as you expect? You will spend a significant portion of the budget on a project that may not even pay off," Denver continued to attack the girl with new arguments.

Emily turned her head and noticed that Justin was not there. Damn, she wasn't ready for such a debate!

"One… One person recently told me that a goal is worth it if you are ready to put everything you have on the line for it. Big changes always come with big risks. And we are ready to do it."

Emily didn't know if she did the right thing to say it. It was obvious to everyone present whose words the girl was quoting, but this did not mean that they would agree with her in this particular case.

"Ms. Hayes, as a potential manager and owner of a separate business unit, you must be able to assess risks not as an end-user or employee, but as someone on whom the lives of these employees depend. What will you do if your project turns out to be unprofitable and the people involved in it lose their jobs? Do not forget that behind each employee of the publishing house there are members of his family, for whom this employee is responsible."

Emily swallowed. She thought for a second that she had shouldered more than she could carry.

"Baby, it's okay. Don't worry, I'm here." Justin's voice rang in her ear. "Denver is a strong adversary, he will backhand, but don't give up. Nothing has been decided yet."

The girl exhaled and looked at Christian. Now was not the time to lose her temper.

"You're right, Mr. Denver. That is why the first phase of the new project will be launched within the framework of Pharaoh magazine. We will be able to analyze the response of the audience and get data that will allow us to predict further actions," Emily replied, voicing Justin's words that he prompted her.

"Hmm, do I understand correctly that the bulk of your department's work can be done online?"

What is this question? She didn't like the man's insinuating tone. It seemed that there was nothing unusual in his words, but Emily sensed some kind of catch.

"That's right," the girl confirmed, "Eighty percent of our sales go through the online app."

"I thought so," Christian switched the slide of his presentation and Emily understood the reason for this discomfort.

"Employees who can work online only need a good laptop. The place where they will work is of secondary importance. To maintain a large and spacious room for this is not rational and economically unprofitable." Denver paused briefly.

"I propose to liquidate the department thirty as a separate unit and leave Pharaoh magazine in the form of another project attached to one of the other departments.. We will transfer its employees to remote work as freelancers, and use the premises vacated after the department for a new business direction."