All the people I had seen on the pamphlet a few minutes ago were at the conference table. Will was sitting with them, shooting me a cold glare. An overhead projector projected on the white screen, and I was already panicking.
Three...two...one. Go.
"Good morning, everyone. I am thankful for everyone who has gathered here today despite all the busy duties we have on Saturday mornings."I begin, trying to plaster a smile on my stupid face.
Will looked at me closely, not uttering a word.
"Cut it short, kid."
One of the boomers interrupts. I don't want to give this stupid speech, but here I was, trying to kiss ass and impress these people.
"Creative Development has been the backbone of the modern trends in our traditional publishing methodologies. While this might be a start, to go through everything we have achieved the previous months is nothing short of mammoth success..."
All was good. All eyes were on me.
I have got this. I repeat it in my head.
"Can you give us an insight into what the milestones are?"
A bald man in a blue tux jacket interrupts me as I fumble on my words a little. He had a weird English accent, so I assumed he wasn't a native. I had read his name somewhere. Benedict, it was!
"We started with the eBook distribution way back in 2014. In the current year, due to the Ebook lending services we offer, we have earned an amount of 5000 million dollars with a readership of more than 10k readers across the globe."
By this time, I feel my throat run dry, more from the anxiety and less from the speaking.
"Impressive."
Another one remarked. That was my cue.
"Exactly my point! On behalf of our developing team, I propose we start with an e-library system that issues membership cards monthly, based on the number of books available for lending."
I proposed sternly.
Will's eyes glued to me, screaming 'I am watching you'.
The boomers are discussing the details. None of them asked me anything. I was only five minutes away from walking out, clenching my fists into balls with an 'I did it. That's when Amanda leaned near one of them and whispered something in his ears. The man was quite old. He had grey eyes. He nodded and then cleared his throat as he spoke.
"Miss Mellon, what you are proposing is a very expensive project. We had to invest a good part of our profits in cultivating a good database system to keep tabs on everything. Do you think the idea is commercially viable?" He asked.
Amanda, you bitch! How was I supposed to answer? Think of something.
"The project is expensive, but the investment is not a hoax. Ebooks have been in demand in the fast-paced society. People conveniently need books, and at Bexley's, we will give them just that in a very affordable way. It's a win-win situation." I said, reading out from what Will had handed me earlier.
"Why do you think people prefer eBooks over paperbacks?" He rebuked.
"You all are a bunch of phonies." I thought, not knowing I had actually said the words aloud. I could feel all the stares directed towards me, a particular pair of grey eyes burning a hole in me.
Termination letter. Fuck, I am screwed. Think, think, think.
"It's such an outdated phrase to tell someone they are lagging- 'You all are a bunch of phonies'. Of course, at a time when J.D Salinger wrote those words, the world was totally 'cool' with it, but now, times have changed. People change, words change, and so do preferences."
I said, turning breathless as I tried to keep up my composure.
"And you are proposing-" He interjected.
"I am proposing that times have changed. We are all quick-paced, no one wants to carry a paperback all the time, and God, do you know how it feels to be nagged at, caught with a book between Netflix binging people?"
I was speaking more from my experience. Things turned personal.
I could picture myself sitting in the corner of the football stadium, reading a paperback while all the hot girls made fun of me. Nerd is what they called me.
"We need books to reach people when they can turn on Netflix and decide not to read more. Ebooks do that easy. No reader has to worry about the judgment in people's eyes when one is staring at the screen. Ebooks offer the readers privacy, if not the feel of the crinkling, yellow paper. That's why eBooks are better."
By the end of the speech, I was way too nervous for anyone to speak another word. No one said anything. Then suddenly, the silence died. Claps. More claps. A minute passed when all I could hear was thunderous applause.
"Great work, Miss Mellon! I am quite impressed by the dedication and passion you have put into this. We will send the final word by Monday morning." The grey-eyed man said, and he stood up. Everyone stands up when he does. The meeting concluded.
The people started walking out of the meeting room. Amanda was no longer smirking. Josh looked more pleased, and Will Turner was walking toward me.
I know I crossed the line with The Catcher in the rye thing, but he wasn't going to fire me for that. Or was he? He stopped right in front of me.
"You are lucky to have managed that little stunt. I am watching you, Mellon!"He said and dismissed himself. What a load of bull!
Trust me, I was aware.
Very aware.
"You're welcome, boss," I said cheekily.
"If I could, I would have fired you before. Trust me I know when someone gets lucky," he looks into my eyes.
What an asshole!
The boomers applauded.
I couldn't wait to walk out and breathe normally. Another pile of manuscripts awaited me. I walked away from the meeting room triumphantly. What a close call. Phew.