Totally fictional - all characters over 18. Big thanks to Spicy Cat for the help with editing.
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Lex's shoulders tightened. These slides were terrible. Where was the analysis, the insight? No one was going to put big money into this Company if this was presented.
She pressed the intercom button on her phone.
"Get the analyst team in here, now!" She ordered.
"Right away Miss Templeton!" Her executive assistant replied.
She looked at the clock, 7:07pm, on a Friday! Ugh! All she wanted was to get this slide deck done and get out of here. She tapped her fingers on the rich wood of her desk as she waited for her team.
Two minutes later all six analysts were gathered in her office. She looked them over. Tired eyes, bent shoulders, and defeat looked back at her.
"Okay team, what's happening? No one is going to make an investment based on this slide deck. Mark, where are the revenue projection graphs I asked for? Tom, I need more detail on the operating expenses. This presentation has to be crisp. Right now this looks like the pitch of a pre-revenue startup. Where is the data?"
Her team looked back and forth, hesitant to answer.
"The client just sent the data on Wednesday night." Mark, her senior analyst, answered. "We have been working non-stop, but there are only so many hours in the day. If the clients don't provide the data, we can't build an accurate model."
"Also, the data is a mess!" Tom complained. "The formatting isn't consistent, it's going to take hours of manual cleanup before we can really start working with it!"
"Okay, I understand." Lex said, "We got the data late and it's a mess. Let's talk timing first?"
The team nodded.
"I can push the presentation a week, max." She looked each of her analysts in the eye. "The market is hot right now, we need to make this pitch before it cools, otherwise we're dead in the water, right?"
"Yes ma'am." "Yes" the team muttered general agreement.
"Good. Now let's talk about the data. Can you find any consistency or is it totally fucked?"
"I think there is some consistency..." Tom hesitantly replied. "They had a legacy system and two ERP conversions in the last five years, so there are three main formats."
"Got it, look we have an offshore team, their job is to take care of details like this, you just need to give them instructions to follow," Lex coached. "Mark, your team will take the revenue and cost of sales data. Tom, your team is taking the operating expenses. Figure out a uniform formatting, then send the data sets to the offshore team and tell them to get started. I don't care if they have to work the weekend... we need clean data by Monday."
Mark and Tom nodded.
"I know it's late but you have to get the instructions and the data to the offshore team tonight. Otherwise there's no way we can get this done." She hardened her voice. "This is the type of assignment that makes or breaks careers, make it happen!"
"We'll get it done!" Mark said.
"Understood," Tom replied.
"Thank you, I appreciate how hard this is. I promise our effort will be worth it when it's time for bonus calculations. I have to go, I'll check in tomorrow morning with the offshore team to make sure they are on track. You all just focus on getting them the data set, TONIGHT!" Lex instructed.
Her team scattered into action. She took a deep breath, why had she decided to go into finance again? Packing her sleek metallic laptop, tablet, and phone into her leather work bag she headed out of the office. Late again, she thought.
She took an Uber to the restaurant. It was almost 7:30, she was supposed to have been here at 7! Ugh! Dinner service was in full swing. Waiters scurried to and fro. She paused at the entrance trying to spot Rob. Seeing him perched in a large comfy booth, she hurried over.
"So sorry babe!" She slid in next to him.
"Long day?" He asked.
"The worst. Our client is a mess. I had to crack the whip on my team to keep them moving."
"What did you do to them?!" Rob asked with a smirk.
"Ha, I didn't actually have to whip them."
"Too bad! I would have liked to see that!" He joked.
"They're capable, I just have to keep them pointed in the right direction. I feel like they would spend days working in circles if I didn't step in and push them forward."
"So, you got it handled?"
"Yeah, I'll have to check in tomorrow, but, I think they have it now," Lex said.
"Cool, look, I understand how important your job is. That place would fall apart without you." He smiled. "But... you made a commitment to me. You said you would be here at seven. Not a big deal, but I'll have to arrange a little punishment for you later." He winked.
"Ugh! Maybe..." She laughed back.
Lex sank into Rob's embrace and scanned the menu. She let her work day stress melt away over refreshing drinks and tasty tapas plates. Once they had finished dinner the pair caught an Uber home. Rob dealt with the app and the driver. Lex leaned into him during the ride. After her work week she was done thinking for the night.
They arrived home. Rob carried her leather work bag and unlocked the door. Lex sprawled on the couch.
"Okay missie. Do you want a little punishment or not?" Rob asked.
"I do, but... I am not totally sure about it," Lex replied. "The idea gets me hot, but I don't know about doing it for real."
"I understand what you're saying. Want to talk about it, or not tonight?"
"Sure, let's talk," Lex replied sheepishly.
"What makes it feel uncomfortable? I have slapped your ass when you ride me and I could tell you loved that!"