It was Monday morning, and Jessica and David were both puzzled. They had been trying to reach Ethan for hours, but there had been no response. Confused and concerned, they headed to NovaTech’s office to see if he had arrived.
Once inside the building, they approached a staff member at the front desk.
“Hey, have you seen Ethan?” Jessica asked.
The staff member nodded. “Oh, yeah. He arrived early this morning. Before anyone else, actually. He emailed the department heads asking them to gather the Developers, Marketers, and Customer Service teams for a meeting in the presentation room.”
David and Jessica glanced at each other in surprise. Without wasting any time, they headed straight for the presentation room. When they arrived, they saw Ethan standing confidently on the stage, addressing the employees.
Ethan’s presence commanded the room. Dressed in his usual sharp attire, he stood at the front of the stage with an air of calm authority, as if everything was already in his control. His voice was clear, and his focus unwavering.
“Good morning, everyone,” Ethan began, his voice resonating. “Thank you all for coming in early today. I wanted us to kick things off on the right foot. We’re about to begin working on NovaTech’s next big project, and I wanted to ensure each of you is involved.”
The employees sat up straighter, listening intently as Ethan continued.
“Our first project is a food delivery app for Novan City. Something to compete with the biggest names in the market. We’re calling it… well, actually, I don’t have a name for it yet. That’s where you all come in. I want to hear your ideas.”
He glanced around the room, smiling lightly. “This project belongs to all of us, and I believe the best ideas come from collaboration. So, I’d like to hear some suggestions for the app’s name.”
Hands started to rise, and the room began offering ideas individually.
“How about ‘QuickBite’?” one of the developers suggested. “It’s short, easy to remember.”
Another marketer chimed in. “I like ‘CityEats.’ It ties into the local community, which might attract more customers.”
While some nodded in agreement with the names, others hesitated, clearly not sold on the ideas. One person spoke up. “I don’t know… ‘QuickBite’ sounds too generic. And ‘CityEats’ might not stand out enough against competitors.”
The suggestions continued, and Ethan moderated the discussion skillfully, guiding the team toward a more refined direction.
“Let’s aim for something catchy but memorable,” Ethan encouraged. “It should resonate with both locals and newcomers. But I also want it to feel like something fresh that separates us.”
The room buzzed with energy as people threw out new suggestions, a few of which Ethan rejected. Others sparked brief debates among the group. Then, a junior marketer raised her hand tentatively. “What about ‘BiteWave’? It’s catchy and gives a sense of movement, like a wave of new food options coming through the city.”
The room quieted for a moment, and then several heads began nodding. The name seemed to hit the right chord with everyone.
“I like that,” Ethan said, smiling. “BiteWave. It’s unique and energetic and suggests something big is coming. What do the rest of you think?”
There were murmurs of agreement, and it was clear that ‘BiteWave’ had won over the room. Ethan took note of the collective decision and moved on.
“Great, BiteWave it is. Now, let’s talk about the features.”
He pulled up the interface design on the large screen behind him, revealing the app’s clean, modern look. “We want BiteWave to stand out from the competition, not just in name but in functionality. We’ll include the usual stuff—fast delivery, live tracking, secure payments—. Still, I’m looking for something extra that makes people choose us over everyone else.”
One of the senior marketers raised their hand. “What about a loyalty program? Something that rewards frequent users with discounts or free meals.”
Ethan nodded thoughtfully. “Good idea. A loyalty program could help build repeat customers.”
However, another voice from the customer service team added a different perspective. “That’s great, but we should be careful not to complicate things. Some users might find it overwhelming if there are too many features or it’s difficult to redeem their rewards.”
Ethan smiled, appreciating the balance of perspectives.
Another employee chimed in. “We could also allow users to customize their delivery—maybe eco-friendly packaging options or preferred delivery times.”
Some nodded in agreement, but a few others were skeptical. “We should be cautious with that,” one of the developers noted. “Custom options are great, but they could also slow the development process and confuse users if we offer too many choices.”
Ethan raised a hand to moderate the discussion. “These are great points, and I’ll consider them all. Our development team will test everything—whether it’s necessary or if it complicates things. We’ll make sure to find a balance.”
He turned to the developers and continued, “I want you all to develop the app’s logo, work on the website, and keep track of these feature requests. I’ll also need to update the legal team on this project. We’ll need them to handle the vendors’ and customers’ terms and conditions.”
Ethan’s focus shifted to the logistical aspects. “We’ll also need to expand our logistics team. The more delivery riders and drivers signed up with us, the better we can scale BiteWave and ensure fast deliveries across the city.”
Jessica and David observed quietly from the side, realizing what Ethan was doing. He used this first day as CEO to establish a culture of collaboration and open dialogue. Rather than dictating orders, he involved everyone, listening to their suggestions and creating a sense of ownership in the project.
Ethan’s attention then turned to the marketing team. “We’ll need a strategy for onboarding restaurants and vendors. Our app is only as good as our partnerships with local businesses. I want a plan for getting them on board—what kind of incentives can we offer, and how can we make BiteWave an attractive platform for them?”
The marketers nodded, already jotting down notes and preparing ideas. That was the first step. With plenty of vendors and restaurants on board, it would be easier for them to attract users.
As the meeting neared its end, Ethan closed with a confident tone. “This is our first major project as a team, and I want it to be something we’re all proud of. I’ll be working closely with each of you, but this app isn’t just mine—it’s ours. And together, we’re going to make BiteWave a success.”
The room buzzed with energy as the employees gathered their things, eager to start working on the project. Ethan remained on stage, watching as his team dispersed, feeling satisfied with the morning’s progress.
David and Jessica approached him once the room had cleared.
“Well,” David said with a grin, “it looks like you’re not just running the company—you’re building something bigger.”
Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. “Let’s just hope BiteWave lives up to the hype.”
Jessica added, “You’ve got the team energized. That’s a good start.”
Ethan nodded, his eyes wandering back to the empty presentation room. “It’s a good start, but we have a long way to go. There are many things I need to discuss with each team.”
David smiled, feeling proud that he made the right decision, even though Ethan had lied about the professor.
Ethan continued, “Besides, I’ve already planned a few more projects. We can’t rely on just one project and have the manpower to take on more. I need you guys to set up smaller teams to work on those.”
David and Jessica nodded in agreement.
Ethan noticed Lena approaching from the hallway as they were about to leave the room. Her presence, as always, commanded attention, and both David and Jessica seemed to tense slightly at the sight of her.
Lena was a member of NovaTech’s Development Team. But, she was more focused on business development.
David quickly excused himself, eager to avoid the growing tension. “I’ve got too many meetings with the other teams. I’ll catch up with you guys later.”
Though David’s departure was reasonable, Ethan and Jessica could tell he wasn’t comfortable around Lena. It wasn’t just her role—something about her presence made even the most confident people uneasy.
Sensing the shift in the room, Ethan decided to lighten the mood. “You know, Lena, with your background and capabilities, you should be one of the C-Executives around here.”
His attempt at humor didn’t land as he hoped. Lena remained stoic, and Jessica exchanged an uncertain glance with her.
For Jessica, Lena’s presence brought back memories of the unsettling conversation they’d had the previous week—about the Great Families, the Ascendants, and the hidden dangers lurking beneath the surface of their world.
Lena, for her part, remained unreadable. There was a flicker of curiosity in her eyes as she studied Ethan closely. Lena was trying to gauge his mindset. Was he brushing off her warnings, or was he actually coping with everything she had told him?
“I’m surprised you’re still making jokes,” Lena remarked, her voice cool and controlled. “Especially after everything I told you last week.”
Ethan’s smile faded slightly, replaced by a more serious tone. “I took what you said seriously, Lena. Believe me. But I can’t afford to let it stop me from moving forward. There’s too much at stake—NovaTech, my team, and the people who rely on me. I have to keep pushing ahead.”
Lena narrowed her eyes as if trying to peer deeper into Ethan’s thoughts. “You’re either handling this better than I expected,” she said softly, “or you’re very good at hiding your worry.”
Ethan shrugged lightly. “Maybe a bit of both. But either way, I can’t let fear dictate what I do. We’ve got a company to run, and my focus is on making it succeed.”
Lena nodded, though her gaze remained sharp. “That’s true. But don’t forget what I told you—the Great Families won’t stand by if they see NovaTech growing too quickly. You need to be prepared for when they decide to act.”
Ethan met her gaze without hesitation. He knew she was right, but fear wasn’t an option. “I’m preparing,” he said calmly. “But I won’t let them intimidate me into slowing down.”
A slight smirk crossed Lena’s face, a flicker of approval showing momentarily. “Good. Just make sure you’re ready when the time comes.”
With that, Lena turned and began to walk away, her steps measured and deliberate.
Once she was gone, Jessica released a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “About the safety, what should we do?” she asked in a low voice.
Ethan glanced at her before smiling. “She’ll be helping me.”
Jessica wondered if Ethan fully grasped the weight of what was happening around him or if he was just keeping a brave face. Either way, she knew things would only get more complicated from here.
