Toby eventually fled before the crowd could surround him, but his image quickly spread throughout the neighborhood, accompanied by bold red markings-thief!
Initially, the security guards and residents were skeptical about Toby being the thief. After all, it was quite bizarre for someone to steal air conditioners these days.
However, once they saw Toby’s face on the surveillance footage, they all unanimously believed he was the thief. How could they not be wary of a bald man?
As described vividly by Darnell, Toby was ultimately added to the community blacklist.
The security guards not only posted his image on various bulletin boards but also handed out fliers. Even the Apex beggars had a copy of Toby’s picture.
Fortunately, Toby left the neighborhood promptly. Otherwise, finding out that he had gone from being admired by the people of Baycliff to being labeled a notorious thief would likely have made him faint on the spot.
After driving away Toby, Darnell bought lunch and returned to the three women’s rented apartment to ease Bailee’s embarrassment and Shayla and Casey’s suspicion.
He explained that he felt bored staying at home while Bailee was taking a shower and that he was also feeling hungry, so he went out to buy something.
This explanation relieved Shayla and Casey of their doubts, and Bailee expressed her gratitude. The four of them then sat down to have lunch together.
After finishing lunch, Darnell got up to return to the office. His intention was to let the three women rest at home to help ease Bailee’s emotions.
However, all three insisted on going out to meet clients, wanting to work hard and achieve results to show their gratitude to Darnell. With no choice, he ended up driving them to a nearby subway station.
At two-thirty in the afternoon, Darnell appeared on the seventeenth floor of Spectrum Pharmaceuticals. He leaned back in his office chair, handling several tasks.
Then he recalled Areli’s goal-1. 8 billion in sales. Although Areli told him not to feel pressure, Darnell still hoped to achieve it.
In his life, he was used to ensuring that every task ended positively.
But when he opened the surveillance feed to scan the sales department, he found that nearly two hundred salespeople were slumped in their chairs, listless and demoralized.
Back in Eliezer’s time, at least half the office should have been empty at this hour, with salespeople either visiting clients or on their way to do so.
But now, it seemed like they were just coasting along.
“If this continues, forget about 1. 8 billion. We might not even be able to pay bonuses.”
Darnell rubbed his temples and sighed. After pondering for a moment, he called in the twenty team leaders.
The twenty leaders quickly stood at attention. With Eliezer sidelined and Roberto captured, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals was now Areli’s domain.
Darnell was Areli’s right-hand man and the head of the sales department, so they naturally dared not oppose him as they had before. He went straight to the point.
“The company is in serious trouble right now.”
He tapped his fingers on the sales report. “Miss Fanshaw and the others have discussed it and are planning to lay off thirty percent of the staff, which means at least sixty people will need to go.”
“From the twenty teams, I need each of you to provide me with three names by five o’clock tomorrow afternoon.”
Darnell’s tone was firm. “These three names can include your own.”
Upon hearing Darnell’s announcement, the twenty team leaders immediately roared in protest.
“What? Layoffs? Now?”
“Thirty percent? That’s unacceptable!”
“Yeah, it’s the end of the year! Laying people off at the end of the year is just pushing us to the edge!”
Their outcry drew the attention of the people outside the office, who gathered to see what was happening. When they heard about the layoffs, they became agitated as well.
If it weren’t for knowing that Darnell had some clout, they might have charged in to tear the office apart. The noise of discontent and anger surged from outside.
“It’s already outrageous that the team with the poorest sales performance will be fired, and now they want to lay off thirty percent? That’s ridiculous!”
“How can we survive like this? Let’s go find Miss Fanshaw! Let’s go find Mr. Matson!”
The two hundred men and women pushed open the office door to protest.
“Find Miss Fanshaw? Find Mr. Matson? Do you even have the guts to do that?”
Darnell leaned back in his chair, ignoring the uproar. He simply pointed at the report on the table before continuing, “Two hundred of you, each with a base salary of five thousand. That means the total salaries of two hundred of you amount to twelve million a year..”
“Adding venue fees, utilities, advertising costs, property expenses, it costs the company at least twenty million a year to support you all.”
“And yet, the two hundred of you can’t even manage to bring in a billion in sales over the course of a year. Do you really have the nerve to shout and protest here?”
Darnell’s voice turned somber. “The company reaches a billion in sales, and the maximum profit we see is just one hundred million. You take home over fifty million in commissions, plus an additional twenty million in costs. How much do you think is left for the company?”
“Only thirty million. After deducting the advertising fees and salaries of other departments, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals hardly has any revenue left.”
“Of course, if your sales performance really did hit a billion, that profit would still allow me to negotiate with Miss Fanshaw and headquarters.”
“But look at the sales report this year. As of yesterday, how much have you achieved in sales? Only 600 million!”
“What does that mean? You haven’t brought any profit to the company, and yet the company has to dig into its own pockets to pay your salaries. Do you really have the audacity to complain?”
Darnell slammed his hand on the table and shouted, “If we don’t lay off thirty percent of the staff, the company is going to collapse!”
His words hung in the air, and the room fell silent. Everyone exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions awkward and tense.
Deep down, they all knew that the business they brought in didn’t match their salaries and commissions at all. They understood that Darnell was speaking the truth. However, the thought of a thirty percent reduction in staff was undeniably daunting.
Being let go from the company would not only mean losing a significant income but also the uncertainty of finding a new job. After all, there weren’t many companies hiring at the end of the year.
“Of course, I understand that layoffs at this time are a huge blow to everyone. We all have families to support, and losing a job brings immense financial pressure.”
Darnell’s expression softened.
“But the company truly can’t afford to pay everyone’s salaries. If you were in Miss Fanshaw’s shoes, would you continue to pour money into a losing business?”
One of the team leaders hesitated for a moment and then spoke up, “Mr. Halford, we can reduce our base salaries by twenty percent to cut costs.”
“If twenty percent isn’t enough to cover the cost, then thirty! Mr. Halford, just tell the management that laying off thirty percent of the staff is no different than cutting salaries by thirty percent.”
The other team leaders quickly chimed in, “We’re willing to take a pay cut to survive the crisis.”
Though a thirty percent salary reduction would hurt, at least they would still have some income, and better sales performance could make up for it. It was a far better option than outright layoffs.
Darnell remained silent, listening to everyone’s opinions. Fifteen minutes later, he looked at them with determination.
“Although I think Miss Fanshaw won’t change her mind easily, and cutting salaries is only a temporary fix, for everyone’s sake, I’m willing to talk to Miss Fanshaw, even if it means getting an earful from her.”
“I understand the difficulties you all are facing.”
Darnell raised his fist. “Besides, I consider you all family.”
Many of them straightened up slightly, their faces reflecting pride and gratitude.
“Give me half an hour. I’ll go talk to Miss Fanshaw.”
Darnell spoke resolutely, “I’ll bring back good news for you. If I fail, I’ll be the first to resign.”
The two hundred people were moved, their eyes glistening as they watched Darnell walk away…