"After the meeting about the last quarter, your marketing department confidently promised an 80% payment rate, but what happened? Do you know that if this continues, the company's cash flow will be tight and could easily break?"
"Ms Martinez, Ms Knight has only been with us for three days. She doesn't fully understand these matters yet. Can you..."
"It shouldn't be an excuse. If she sits in this position, she must take responsibility for it!" Isabella Martinez interrupted Ava Jones. "If we don't hold her accountable just because she's new here, then who will be responsible when your marketing department changes leaders every other day? Who will manage sales and payments for the company?"
"But..." Ava Jones tried to speak up again.
"Ms Martinez, hello!" Harleen interrupted Ava Jones and stood up. "I've looked at some reports over the past few days and I agree that our payment rate is a bit low. However, I promise you that starting this quarter our payment rate will rise above 80%."
"Anyone can talk big," Isabella Martinez sneered. "The previous three marketing managers all talked like you did."
Before Harleen could respond to her comment, Isabella continued speaking. "For now let's put aside future promises, on behalf of the company, I'm officially notifying you that all members of the marketing department are having their bonuses and commissions of the last quarter withheld in full! If we still can't achieve an 80% payment rate by end of this quarter then don't even think about getting any year-end bonuses!"
"Ms Martinez! This isn't fair!" Ava Jones protested loudly.
"The reason why we didn't reach our target was because a former manager signed a large order without collecting payments before being fired by the company, which brought down our overall percentage. But the marketing department has achieved the 80%, why shouldn't the other colleagues receive their bonuses and commissions?"
"Rude!" Isabella Martinez responded angrily. "What are you saying? Watch your tone and remember your position!"
"I'm just telling the truth. If the company thinks I'm a problem, they can fire me!" Ava Jones replied indignantly.
"You!" Isabella Martinez's face darkened. "Do you think the company won't dare to fire you?"
"Ava, calm down first," Harleen said, then turned to Isabella Martinez. "Ms Martinez, let me understand this situation before we discuss it further. Besides, even if the company does want to deduct our bonuses and commissions, shouldn't we have a meeting first and then have an official notice from the marketing department?"
"What do you mean? Are you saying I don't have the authority to issue this notice?" Isabella Martinez responded coldly.
"You're in charge of the finance department while we're in the marketing department. What do you think about that?" Harleen's tone also became colder.
"Very well!" Isabella Martinez snorted coldly. "You're quite tough for a new marketing manager! You want the company to issue an official notice? Good timing then! Mr Patton is back from his business trip and you'll be able to see it soon!"
After speaking, she looked at Ava Jones again and said, "Mr Patton asked me to inform you that he wants to see you in his office right away!"
After finishing her words with another cold snort, Isabella turned around and left.
"He... he came back so soon?" After Isabella Martinez left, Ava Jones shivered all over her body.
"Ava, what happened?" Harleen noticed something was wrong with her.
"Ms Knight, I... I don't want go into his office..." Ava Jones' face was slightly pale.
"Why not?" Harleen asked curiously.
"Just now I introduced the company's affairs to you. There is one thing that I haven't had a chance to tell you," Ava Jones took a deep breath and continued. "Our marketing department has already changed three managers this year, and the previous three were all ladies. Actually, their work abilities were quite good, but they were dismissed by the company due to special reasons."
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The War God's Homecoming