Page 107 of Second Chance Summer
Lando, deputy head of HR, brought out a tray of coffee and pastries. ‘We thought we’d make your first day back aspecial one. We’ve missed you too. It’s not the same here without you.’
There was a sincerity to his words that touched Lily deeply, yet also filled her with guilt about the decision she’d been wrestling with.
‘How’s it really been?’ she asked Richie on the quiet, while helping herself to a pastry. A London pastry, she thought, bought in from a nearby café, and not quite as nice as one baked fresh by Sam – yet served with kindness and that was what mattered.
‘We’ve survived. We’ve coped. We’ve not gone bust or caused any lawsuits or encountered any major PR issues.’
‘Apart from my obituary.’
Richie flapped his hands. ‘Thank God that wasn’t real.’
Once again, a wave of gratitude and melancholy threatened to overwhelm her. It had resurfaced the previous evening when she’d called her parents to arrange to visit them the following weekend. It had almost bubbled up when she’d phoned two old friends from her Pilates class and accepted an invitation to their joint birthday party.
She’d hoped it might subside once she was inside the office yet it was sticking around stubbornly.
‘Anyway,’ Richie was saying, oblivious to the crumbs stuck in his goatee, ‘we can run through our reports at the meeting. Shall I call everyone to order?’
‘Yes,’ Lily said. ‘And I’ll also have something to report.’
Richie’s lower lip wobbled. ‘That sounds ominous. Should we be worried?’
‘No.’ She smiled. ‘But wait until you hear.’
Lily sat through their reports. Digital, marketing, PR, sales, HR and finance all gave their updates, and then it was her turn to speak.
‘You’ve all managed very well. I should have stayed on retreat longer. Seriously, thank you for the way you all stepped in while I was away and during the period when reports of my – er –deathhad been greatly exaggerated.’
Everyone laughed. Lily hesitated for only a fraction of a second. She’d rehearsed this moment so many times.
‘Ultimately someone has to be in charge, but in trying to micromanage everything myself and assuming only I could possibly do everything, I’ve lost sight of all the amazing things my team – all of you – can bring to the business. That’s going to change.’
Richie’s mouth gaped and the others gawped at her, eyes wide in disbelief. Though saddened by the reaction, it wasn’t unexpected and she was resolute.
‘And in case you’re worried that this new Lily is a post-holiday version that won’t last beyond a week, I’m going to start the changes right now.’ She paused for breath. ‘What none of you know is that a month before I left for Stark, I received an approach from a large supermarket chain. They want to put the Lily Loves brand on a range of giftware to be sold in their stores.’
Gasps all around.
‘Wow,’ Richie muttered. ‘I’ll go to the foot of our stairs.’
‘Indeed.’
Amina, head of marketing, let out a whistle. ‘That sounds amazing.’
The others looked at each other, smiling and shaking their heads.
‘It is an amazing offer,’ Lily said, ‘but like all amazing offers, it comes with strings attached. While it would mean more revenue and growth for the brand and business, there’s a downside.’
All eyes were intent on her.
‘The retailer wants to put the Lily Loves brand on gifts that aren’t handmade. They would need to be mass produced. I – we – would be able to curate them to a degree but to sell in the volume they want, they would have to be factory-produced, mostly outside the UK.’
‘Oh …’ Murmurs of concern rippled through the team.
‘Yes, I’m afraid so. They need an answer very soon and I’ll have to reach a decision, but not without your input. I’ve borne the burden too long. I want to know how you feel about things. It’s time I ran the business more collaboratively and made more of the strengths and skills of my team.’
They exchanged glances. Lando and Richie mimed applause.
‘Thank you for being frank with us,’ Amina said.
