Beneath the Ice

Chapter 10

Lisa walked into the office with a spring in her step, fully prepared for a calm, disaster-free day. After weeks of chaotic presentations, near meltdowns, and accidental coffee floods, she had finally convinced herself that today—this day—would be different.

“No coffee spills, no tech failures, and definitely no cartoon monkeys,” she muttered to herself as she breezed through the office doors. She glanced around, noting the usual hustle and bustle of Kim Industries, where people moved with purpose and efficiency. It was almost intimidating how smooth things ran here. Almost.

As she approached her desk, she spotted a message from Jennie waiting in her inbox. Lisa clicked it open, expecting the usual bullet-pointed list of tasks. But instead, it was short and to the point: Ms. Manoban, I need you in my office at 9:30. Bring the marketing report.

Lisa glanced at the clock. 8:45. She had time to spare. No rushing, no panicking. Just a simple, straightforward task. She leaned back in her chair and smiled. “Alright, Lisa. You’ve got this.”

She spent the next half-hour reviewing the marketing report, double-checking every stat and making sure the charts were aligned (right-side up, this time). When the clock struck 9:25, she grabbed the report, squared her shoulders, and walked toward Jennie’s office.

Calm. Collected. Professional.

She knocked lightly before entering. “Good morning, Ms. Kim! I’ve got the marketing report right here.”

Jennie was, as usual, seated behind her desk, her posture perfect, her eyes glued to the screen. Without looking up, she gestured for Lisa to sit. “Thank you. Let’s go over the key points.”

Lisa handed over the report and took a seat across from Jennie, watching as her boss flipped through the pages with her usual laser focus. Jennie’s office, with its minimalist decor and perfectly organized desk, was like a sanctuary of order—something Lisa both admired and feared. She always felt a little out of place here, like a splash of colour in a black-and-white movie.

“The campaign has been performing better than expected,” Jennie said, finally looking up from the report. “Engagement is up by 12%, and we’ve seen a noticeable increase in brand recognition. However...” She paused, her gaze steady, “I’d like to see a stronger focus on targeting niche markets. We can’t afford to rest on broad appeal alone.”

Lisa nodded along, trying her best to look serious. “Right, niche markets. I totally agree. We can, uh, really drill down on that. Get super specific with our audience.”

Jennie raised an eyebrow, and Lisa internally cringed. Okay, Lisa, maybe don’t try to sound like a business genius.

“I’ll pass that along to the marketing team,” Lisa added quickly. “They’ll make it happen.”

Jennie gave a slight nod, then set the report down. “Good. I want to see a revised strategy by the end of the week.”

“End of the week. Got it.” Lisa scribbled the note down, her pen hovering over the page for a moment. She hesitated, then looked up, deciding to take a chance. “You know, Ms. Kim, I have to admit—I’m kind of impressed with how you handle all of this.”

Jennie’s eyes narrowed slightly, but she said nothing, clearly waiting for Lisa to explain.

“I mean, you’ve got a thousand things on your plate, and yet you never seem to miss a beat,” Lisa continued, feeling a little braver. “You make it look so easy. I’d be a mess if I had to juggle everything you do.”

Jennie’s expression remained unreadable, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes—something that wasn’t quite approval, but wasn’t the usual icy indifference either. “It’s a matter of discipline,” Jennie said, her voice calm. “And focus.”