Chapter 23

“Developing new products called for fresh components, and back in the day, what you called innovation was siphoning off resources from other parts of Integral Elements Inc., causing the original production lines to operate below capacity. Plus, you went ahead and splurged on some fancy new production machinery, which sent costs skyrocketing and profits tumbling down. Open innovation turned into a pretty facade for haphazard experimentation. Quality parts, that’s where Integral Elements Inc. really shines. You’re on Dorsey International’s radar because of that unwavering quality. But aiming for the untapped education market? You strayed from your main game five years ago.

Brielle’s voice was steady, her fingers tapping lightly on her laptop, filled with all the datal she’d compiled for Integral Elements Inc.

“Mr. Tanner, you should know that if someone opens a burger joint in a small town, the business model isn’t one-size-fits-all. Because if that person tries to set up shop in another town, there’s a good chance they’ll find another burger joint already flipping patties, and suddenly there’s nothing special about the original place. It’s the uniqueness that’s the real deal.”

“Mr. Tanner, the initial interview was very enlightening for me. The reporter asked you a question about the business boundaries of Integral Elements Inc. Do you recall that?”

It was the company’s first brush with the press. Tanner was a self-made man, riding high at the time.

How had he responded? He said too many folks focused on boundaries, not the core.

“If you picture boundaries as gravity, every object, by virtue of its mass, creates gravity. affecting every other bit of matter. The difference is-the farther from the core, the less the pull. Or, if its own mass is small, the weaker its influence. Everything’s boundless, so I don’t believe in setting limits. As long as the core is solid, I’ll make it.”

Back then, he put such stock in a company’s core, but success can blind you. After many years, for the first time, someone reminded him so clearly that he had forgotten his original intentions.

A flicker of realization and amazement crossed Tanner’s eyes before he finally asked, “Ms. Brielle, when do you take the helm?”

She smiled. “If all goes well, next week.”

“Then here’s to a fruitful collaboration.”

After the call, Brielle let out a sigh of relief. She brewed herself a coffee, her phone. chiming with a bank transfer notification. The funds had gone to charity, leaving her account just shy of twenty grand.

Material things never mattered much to her. Other than her modest apartment, she’d given 16.06 everything to charity.

The head of Sunflower Children’s Home had been like a father to her, having rescued her when she was on the brink of starvation. He’d paid out of pocket for her hospital bills, which led to a costly divorce.

Brielle always felt indebted, so most of her paycheck went to living expenses and the rest to the Sunflower Children’s Home.

years, she hadn’t Her salary from Dorsey International was decent, but even after three yea indulged in luxuries.

A reminder on her phone showed today was Miranda’s birthday. Having lived with the Haywood family for over a decade, it was still necessary to buy gifts, but even if she spent the whole twenty grand, Miranda probably wouldn’t bat an eyelash.

Brielle decided to get crafty. She changed clothes and headed out to the supermarket for baking supplies, planning to whip up a birthday cake herself.

Miranda had a sweet tooth but always fretted over calories, so Brielle picked low-calorie options for the cake.

Just as she finished the cake, her phone rang. It was Robert. “Bri, where you at? Lillian’s getting hungry.”

It seemed that Lillian would also be at the family dinner tonight.