Six - Rome
W hen the door opens, I see more than just a room full of people who will be working for me. I see opportunity. I see my vision for my future and the vision my father always had for me … before. My purchase of Sandcastle is about more than just owning the business. It’s about who I am as a person and who I want to become. It’s about being great and making my parents proud … and Natalia.
I spent the early part of my morning with Sierra Martinez, the vice president of Sandcastle. At Larry Thomas’s suggestion, she and I met up for coffee and talked about the ins and outs of the company. She did her best to break it all down for me, and also gave me the impression that she really knows her stuff. She will be someone I can rely on going forward. Seeing as how this is the first business I have ever owned, I’ll need someone like her to help me along the way. I’m ambitious but also inexperienced, so her expertise will certainly come in handy. However, her eyes have a habit of landing on me and staying there. Her gaze is strong and enticing to say the least. I can tell she has a Type A personality and is a control freak. Perfect. She’s the opposite of anything I’ll ever want, which means she won’t be a distraction.
I see the way they look at me when I walk into the building. They have probably been wondering about the man who swooped in and bought the company, stressing themselves out about the kind of boss I will be. They stare hard, their mouths agape as I walk past them on my way to the office, and I’m not the kind of person who wants to shout out some sort of cheerful greeting or motivational speech. I’m not in the mood to smile or act in a way that is different from who I really am. All of them should get used to seeing this face and the expression on it. It is the real Rome. I am steel—cold and hard at all times. I don't want to be friends or think of my new employees as my family. This is business, and business only.
“This is the bullpen,” Sierra says as I look out into the crowd of people in their cubicles.
Some of them stare at me in a way that lets me know exactly what they are thinking. No matter. Once they get to know me, they'll stop.
“Managers, individual contributors, and everyone who is entry-level works here. Directors of marketing, advertising, brands, social media, and products all have offices—as well as you and I, of course. I’ll introduce you to everyone soon, but let me show you to your office first.”
I nod at Sierra and she continues to guide me down a path of gray hardwood that leads to all of the offices on the perimeter of the bullpen. I follow her lead, doing my best not to make eye contact with anyone just yet. When I’m ready to address them I will, but until then, they can stay on pins and needles.
As we walk, the path takes us past the first office. Two people stand on my right, squishing themselves into the doorway as they gawk at me with unblinking eyes. One is a man who either needs to shave or learn how to care for his beard. He is wearing khaki pants and a glaringly fake smile, and the little nod he gives makes me want to frown in response. I don't know who he is here, but I hope he is not someone I have to work with regularly.
Next to him is a woman with mesmerizing brown skin and strawberry brown locs that hang down to her waist. Her almond-shaped eyes bore into me, and my gaze drops down to her seductively plump lips as she speaks.
“G … good morning, Sir.”
Now I’m the one who is staring, but I shouldn’t be. There is something about her, though. Something intriguing that threatens to make me stop walking and start saying things I shouldn't. Her eyes never move from mine, even when she takes a step back as though she’s afraid of being too close. I know she's waiting for a response, but the look on her face is like she's waiting for … a command.
No. I’m not here for that, and I refuse to let myself get sidetracked when this journey has just begun. So, I force myself to move on from her, pulling my eyes away without uttering a single word. When I reach the office, Sierra is already waiting for me. She steps aside so that I can move about the room where I will be spending most of my time as I try to take this business to heights it has never seen before. I want it all to be bigger and better than ever, and as I take inventory of everything in the office, noting the things I will want to change now that it is mine, I know that I’ll be successful. I will run this company the same way that I run my life.
I am dominant. I am in control at all times, and anything standing in my way will be pushed aside. This company will be the biggest ad agency in Philadelphia before I’m done with it. All I have to do is remain focused … and ignore the girl who called me Sir.