Chapter 52
No way. I’m done with PrimeStar forever!” Raleigh declared without a backward glance as he stormed off.
Charlene really appreciated talent. Her eyes flicked to Stewart, who shook his head at her, suggesting she keep cool. Raleigh was a diamond they couldn’t afford to let go, even with his temper tantrum.
From the get-go, it was clear Raleigh harbored feelings for Vesta, something Stewart noted but considered a personal matter that didn’t concern him. However, Raleigh’s emotional reaction to Charlene’s arrival, spurred by his feelings for Vesta, crossed a line. The core technology at CUAP was under a confidentiality agreement with the government, making Charlene’s role a secret. Raleigh’s impulsiveness and overestimation of Vesta meant that even if Charlene proved her worth, Raleigh might remain unconvinced, thinking Vesta could have done better. The scenario could lead to Raleigh feeling sidelined by Charlene, making him susceptible to manipulation and potentially causing significant damage to his career and the company.
Seeing Stewart’s confidence, Charlene felt reassured.
Stewart cleared his throat and addressed the room, “Okay, Charlene may not have a PhD, but trust me. Her know-how is more than enough for what we’re after.”
The room exchanged skeptical glances. They heard of Raleigh’s recent recommendation of a friend to Stewart. But the details were unclear, much like a similar incident the year before involving a supposedly top-tier university grad who turned out to be underqualified. Stewart’s choice to favor Charlene over a highly qualified candidate understandably angered Raleigh and raised questions about Stewart’s ability to separate personal biases from professional decisions.
Understanding the room’s mood, Stewart inquired about Raleigh’s current projects. Patton, who had been working closely with Raleigh, provided a brief overview.
Stewart suggested, “Charlene, how about you take over Raleigh’s remaining tasks?”
Charlene agreed, “Sure, happy to.”
She then addressed the team confidently, “I’m looking forward to working with all of you.”
The team responded with polite, if not entirely enthusiastic, smiles, silently hoping Charlene would prove capable and not leave them to pick up the slack.
“It’s all here. Tell me if you need anything.” Particularly concerned about the extra workload, Patton politely offered to help Charlene, who gratefully accepted.
least her attitude was positive. That was something.