022. United in adversity

Jason adjusted his watch and headed to the lobby to meet Nuria and Amelia. It was almost lunchtime, and he was eager to hear their plans for "Energreen Solutions." However, his mind kept drifting to the looming conflict with Grupo Xiting and the implications of his dismissal.

Upon reaching the lobby, he found Nuria and Amelia engaged in an animated conversation. As he approached, both smiled and came towards him.

"Jason, we've been discussing some ideas, and we're excited to share them with you," Nuria said, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

"Yes, I think we've identified some key areas where we can make great improvements," Amelia added, trying not to show her nervousness.

"Perfect, let's discuss it over lunch. I've reserved a table at a nearby restaurant," Jason replied, making an effort to stay focused on the conversation.

They left the building together and walked toward the restaurant. Despite the city's bustle, Jason couldn't shake the worries swirling in his mind. They reached the restaurant and settled at a quiet table, away from the noise.

"So, tell me more about your plans," Jason said as they took their seats.

Nuria was the first to speak, outlining her vision for "Energreen Solutions." She talked about the importance of developing new patents and improving existing technologies. Amelia added details on how she planned to optimize financial resources and find new suppliers to reduce costs.

Jason nodded and asked a few questions, but his responses were automatic. His mind kept drifting back to the meeting with his father, the dismissal, and the upcoming commercial war. He thought about how Inmaculada's trip to see the master might influence his plans. He knew the master held considerable sway, and his support or disapproval could turn the tide.

Nuria and Amelia continued discussing strategies and presenting the charts and diagrams they had prepared. Jason tried to concentrate, but his thoughts wandered.

"Jason, what do you think?" Amelia asked, noticing his distraction.

"Oh, yes. I think it's a solid approach. I like the idea of focusing on patents and operational efficiency," Jason replied, making an effort to stay in the present.

Nuria observed him with curiosity but chose not to press. "Thank you, Jason. With your support, I'm confident we can achieve this."

"Of course, you have my full support," Jason said, though his mind was far from there. He was thinking about how his father had underestimated his ability to fight back. Being dismissed had been a hard blow, but it was also an opportunity to prove his worth and regain control.

The lunch continued with Nuria and Amelia discussing more details about their plans. Jason listened, but his gaze occasionally drifted to the horizon, thinking of the chess pieces he needed to move to secure his victory against Grupo Xiting.

Finally, when they finished eating, Jason cleared his throat.

"Thank you for sharing your plans with me. I trust you'll do an excellent job with 'Energreen Solutions.' If you need anything, don't hesitate to let me know."

Nuria and Amelia nodded, grateful for his support.

"We'll make sure to keep you updated on our progress," Amelia said with a smile.

"Perfect. Now, let's head back to the office. I have some matters to attend to," Jason said, standing up and taking care of the bill.

They left the restaurant and walked back to the office. As they approached, Jason felt the weight of the decisions he had to make.

Upon reaching the building, Jason said goodbye to Amelia and Nuria in the lobby.

"Good luck with your work. I'll be in my office if you need anything," Jason said, heading to his office while Amelia and Nuria returned to the "Energreen Solutions" floor.

He sat in his leather chair and looked out the window. He knew the coming days would be decisive—not just for him, but also for Amelia, Nuria, and everyone who depended on him. The battle ahead wouldn't be easy, but he was determined to face it with all the strength and resolve he had.

A few floors below, at "Energreen Solutions," Nuria and Amelia continued interviewing their team members. The meeting room had been set up for these evaluations, with a central table and several chairs arranged around it. A projector was ready to display any presentations the employees wished to share.

Laura and Roberto, who had been introduced earlier in the day, were waiting their turn. The atmosphere was one of contained tension, as each employee knew that the arrival of new leaders could mean drastic changes.

Amelia watched the interactions closely. Despite her efforts to understand the complexities of each person's work, she realized that personnel matters should fall under Nuria's responsibility. She could handle economics, negotiations, and contracts, but when it came to scientific personnel, they all seemed the same to her. To Amelia, they were a group of brilliant minds, but Nuria had the ability to discern between them, identifying skills and potential.

The first to be interviewed was Laura, the advanced materials specialist. She entered the room with a folder of reports and a determined expression.

"Good afternoon, Laura," Nuria said with a smile. "Tell us about your current projects and the challenges you're facing."

Laura nodded and began explaining her work enthusiastically. She showed slides of her research and described how she was developing new materials for solar panels that could significantly improve their efficiency. Amelia took notes, trying to capture the key points.

"Your research is impressive, Laura," Nuria said after listening attentively. "How do you see the possibility of accelerating these developments? What additional resources would you need?"

Laura thought for a moment before responding. "With a larger team and access to certain lab equipment that we currently don't have, we could move much faster."

Nuria nodded and took notes. Amelia then focused on the costs.

"Laura, could you provide an approximate estimate of the additional costs and the time that would be saved with these resources? We need to make sure any investment has a clear and justified return."

Laura nodded, recognizing the importance of the question. "Of course, I'll prepare a detailed report with that information and send it to you as soon as possible."

Next came Roberto, the lead engineer on the wind turbine project. His presentation was technical and full of details about the stability and noise problems they faced. Nuria and Amelia listened attentively, asking specific questions to better understand the challenges.

"Roberto, you mentioned that stability is a critical issue," Nuria said. "Have you considered innovative solutions, perhaps inspired by other engineering fields?"

Roberto nodded, his face lighting up. "Yes, we've been exploring some approaches from the aerospace industry, but we need more time and resources to adapt those ideas to our wind turbines."

Amelia stepped in again, focusing on economic feasibility. "Could you prepare a cost analysis for these solutions? We need to assess whether it's viable before allocating more resources."

Roberto agreed and promised to provide the requested analysis. Nuria and Amelia exchanged a look, recognizing that the team had potential but also many challenges to overcome.

The afternoon continued with a series of similar interviews. Each employee presented their projects, challenges, and needs. Amelia paid close attention to Nuria's questions and the employees' answers, taking notes and trying to absorb all the information. However, it was becoming increasingly clear that while she could understand financial and logistical needs, technical evaluation should be left in Nuria's hands.

When the interviews were over, Amelia felt exhausted but optimistic. She knew they had a talented and dedicated team, and with Nuria's guidance, they could transform "Energreen Solutions."

"Nuria, thank you for leading these interviews," Amelia said as they settled in the meeting room. "It's clear we have an incredible team, but we'll need to organize our resources well."

Nuria nodded, smiling. "Indeed, Amelia. I believe that if we work together and align our efforts, we can take this company to new levels of success. I trust your ability to handle the financial and administrative side. I'll handle the technical aspect."

Amelia nodded, feeling relieved to share the burden. "Thank you, Nuria. Together, I'm sure we can achieve great things."

As they got up to return to their offices, Amelia felt a renewed sense of confidence. She knew that with Nuria by her side and the right team, "Energreen Solutions" had a bright future ahead.

Upon reaching her office, Amelia sat at her desk, reviewing her notes. She decided her next step would be to go over the financial reports and find ways to free up funds for the most promising projects. She wanted to ensure every investment was justified and aligned with their strategic goals.

Today had been an exhausting day for Amelia, and there were still ten minutes of work left. She wanted to wrap up the day and perhaps continue when she got home, but she knew that if she started reviewing financial reports now, she would have to start all over again. She thought about Jason and wondered if he was as busy as she was. She didn't want to interrupt him, but if he was free, they could go home together and rest.

Amelia picked up her phone and sent a WhatsApp message to Jason:

"Are you almost done? I want to start looking at financial reports, but if I start now and we leave soon, it'll be wasted time. I'd rather work on them at home."

Since his reply was taking longer, she added:

"I'm in my office. When you're ready, come find me. I'll get started on the reports."

She focused on the reports, trying to find ways to optimize resources. Nuria was also working, as Amelia received an email at 6:39 p.m. detailing the projects that could yield quicker results and where investments should be prioritized. Nuria also pointed out which projects to pull resources from, as they needed quick results.

Noticing the time, Amelia checked her phone, but there was no response from Jason. This worried her. Jason usually responded quickly to her messages. If he hadn't replied, it could be for two reasons: either he was very busy, or something had happened. Amelia considered the possibility of going to his office, but if he was in a meeting, she would only be interrupting. She saw that her messages had been read. She calmed down a bit and continued working, though she wondered what could be keeping him so busy that he couldn't even reply with an "OK."

It wasn't until 7:50 p.m. that Jason appeared at her office, looking exhausted.

"We can go. Sorry for the delay," he said, his voice tired.

Amelia looked at him for a moment. He seemed worn out. She didn't know what the reason could be, but she wondered whether she should ask or just give him a hug. As her laptop shut down, she stood up and embraced him.

Jason needed the hug, but he interpreted it as her needing it. He held her warmly, resting his face against her hair.

"Any problems?" he asked softly.

Amelia lifted her face at his question, her eyes reflecting a mix of concern and tenderness.

"No, I'm really happy with everything that happened today, but you seem down. Did something happen?"

Jason swallowed and chose his words carefully, not wanting to worry her more than necessary.

"Don't worry, everything will be fine. I just lost my position in the family group. That gives me more time to dedicate to you and my companies."

Amelia felt a knot in her stomach upon hearing this. The idea of Jason losing his position in the family group was shocking. She knew how important it was to him, even if he tried to downplay it.

"I'm so sorry, Jason. I know how much it meant to you," she said, hugging him tighter. "But I know you'll overcome this. You're incredibly capable, and I know you'll do great things with your companies."

Jason closed his eyes, enjoying the comfort Amelia's embrace provided. Although losing his position in the family group was a hard blow, having her by his side gave him the strength to keep going. He pulled away slightly, looking into her eyes.

"Thank you, Amelia. Don't worry. I'll get my position back. Let's go home."

Amelia nodded, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. She wouldn't be lenient when negotiating with Grupo Xiting over the renewal of patent fees. She packed up her computer, grabbed her purse, her laptop bag, and left the office with Jason.

During the drive home, Amelia tried to distract Jason by talking about how wonderful Nuria seemed and their plans to revitalize "Energreen Solutions." She even made a villainous face while explaining how she planned to make Grupo Xiting pay for firing him, earning a smile from Jason.

Over dinner, Amelia continued her efforts to keep the conversation lively. She enthusiastically described the innovative ideas they had discussed and the positive energy she felt working with Nuria. Jason did his best to focus on the conversation, grateful for the distraction Amelia provided.

"I think Nuria will be a great addition to the team," Amelia said, smiling. "Her ideas for hydrogen storage are revolutionary."

Jason nodded, enjoying seeing Amelia so enthusiastic. However, his mind kept returning to the problems with his father and Grupo Xiting.

"And about Grupo Xiting, I have plans to make sure they pay what they owe for the patents," Amelia added, making a villainous face that made Jason laugh.

"I'm glad to see you're taking this so seriously," Jason replied with a smile.

The conversation continued smoothly until, at the end of dinner, Amelia decided to address the topic that had been worrying her.

"Jason, why did they dismiss you?" she asked, trying to keep her tone gentle and showing genuine concern.

Jason, surprised by the question, initially reacted harshly. "It's none of your business," he said, immediately noticing Amelia's hurt expression. Seeing her reaction, he softened his tone. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. You're trying so hard to be kind to me, but I don't want to burden you with more worries."

Amelia held his gaze, her eyes showing concern and tenderness. "Isn't it a girlfriend's duty to care about her boyfriend? I understand you don't want to worry me, but by not talking about it last night, I got jealous. Isn't it better to discuss it rather than let me imagine things?" she said, making puppy eyes that made Jason laugh.

"Don't worry; it stems from yesterday. My father threatened to dismiss me if I didn't fire you and end our relationship. I won't tell you the choice adjectives he used for both you and me, but in short, he fired me for insubordination."

Amelia looked at him with surprise and concern. "But I don't work for Grupo Xiting. I might be shooting myself in the foot, but I'm not going to let them have access to our patents."

Jason smiled, grateful for her loyalty. "Don't be silly. Ask for ten percent above the normal rate. They have a very important project, and if they don't agree, they could lose several billion euros."

Amelia's determined eyes made Jason feel more optimistic.

"I will, Jason. I won't give them any leeway," Amelia replied firmly.