On Monday, she got the call that they were being shut down.

A dream she’d been working towards for years now and just finally got to the top of. She couldn’t believe the news, she was frustrated and distraught. She didn’t know what to think. So many thoughts all at once.

Why? How? When? Who?

So many questions cluttered her head, circling round and round her brain with endless thoughts to why. Why was her dream to go forward with the company crushed now?

Did someone cause this? Did she cause this? Was it an employee’s fault? Was it her fault? How did it just happen when she reached the top, when she was about to fight to bring the company back up. What about all the plans she had set in place?

After the phone call was over, she sat there, staring. The phone in hand, not knowing what to think, say or do. Timeless Touch Design, the best business office of interior design in the state. She had been working for 7 years. Cally was having circles of confusion, just lost in thought, like what was next?

Shortly after she had made some phone calls trying to figure out why and to let other office managers know. She got another phone call, she was surprised because it was the CEO of Timeless Touch. She answered on the second ring, because, why was the CEO calling her? Cally answered the phone; “Cally, if you and your team can design a 50 million dollar home, you might be able to save the business. I’ll send over the attachments now, they want it done by next Friday. Talk soon, I have to go.” The CEO hung up the phone short and quick. Cally felt like she was hit by a wave of relief and worry. Next Friday? Today’s Monday, that gives us two weeks.

I’m short staffed, Cally thought, I only have a team of seven rather than a team of twelve. But I’d still have the business and job in hand. She couldn’t wrap her head around it all, but she really didn’t have a choice, she immediately called a meeting. Although a team of seven isn’t good, it’s better than a team of zero.

The team slowly gathered around the conference table at the emergency meeting, everyone looking around at each other and at Cally, confused and worried. None of them knew how serious this situation would be.

“Okay everyone I know this is sudden, but we have a lot to talk about,” Cally stated, placing the attachments from the CEO on the table, “The company is being shut down. But we have one opportunity to save it.” Everyone went silent.

Cally explained everything to the team, the 50 million dollar home, the deadline, and their design. She could see the worry on everyone’s faces, especially when she told them they only have a team of seven instead of twelve.

“So you’re basically saying, if we mess this up, we lose everything?” Mel, one of the team members from Timeless Touch asked. Cally sighed and paused for a moment, “pretty much!” She stated with a slight nervous smile. Nobody spoke.

Then Cally stood up and looked around the room. “But we still have a team. We have skills and all together we have a chance. So we are going to use what we have to make it work. For the first time since the phone call when she found out, Cally felt like she had some control over what was happening to the company.
Cally didn’t know if they would actually meet the deadline, but she knew one thing, she wasn’t going to let the company go down without a fight. The attachments were opened, the plans were spread across the table, and the team got to work.

The next 3 days were a blur, everyone working tirelessly and on their toes, Cally and her team barely left the office. They worked through the night, from getting somewhere to having to starting over. Every room had to feel incomparable and well designed.

By the ninth night, they had it. Cally stood in front of the screen as the final design appeared in front of them. No one dared to speak, except Mel, one of Cally’s leads for this project. Mel smiled and looked around the room at everyone else. “We actually did it!” Mel stated. Everyone took a sigh of relief and started to smile and laugh around at each other. Cally, letting out a tired laugh, “I think we did.”

For the first time in nine days everyone relaxed. The presentation was scheduled for Friday morning.
Friday morning came fast, and Cally entered the office bright and early. Final designs in hand, digital presentation getting set up and ready, she thought to herself, ‘I can do this.’ The rest of the team joined the conference room. As the last few walked in, at exactly 9:00 a.m. the CEO marched in the room. Everyone welcomed him in, feeling slight tension.

The CEO stated, “Are you ready? I’ve shared the presentation to the clients and they will be looking it over as you present it to me.” Cally looks around at the team and then back at the CEO, “As ready as I’ll ever be.” As she pulls up the screen the presentation begins. Room by room the designs appear and come together, modern and chic. From ranches to luxury homes, every house had its own special design. Some rooms were designed with everyday items plated in gold, and touches of stained wood. Others were smoked wood that gave off a warm comfortable feeling to the home. The CEO watched, silent and expressionless.

The last image appeared as Cally closed the presentation. It was dead silent, until a slow clap started from the team and soon everyone was standing clapping for Cally’s presentation.

The CEO cleared his throat. “Well,” he started, “The clients have responded to what I sent over to them,” he states as everyone is waiting on their toes to see what he says. “They have made their decision.” Cally gulps with nervousness building up on her chest. “What is their decision?” The CEO lets a small smile through, “They loved it. Good work team.” A wave of relief sweeps throughout the room.

Cally smiled as the team was excited to hear this news. But, she begins to wonder, “So does this mean we saved the company?” The CEOs expression suddenly changes. “Yes. Fortunately you did, which is amazing but,” he states, “There is another project the clients want Timeless touch to do.” The room fills with gasps and whispers.

Cally’s smile disappears. “What do you mean?” The CEO places a folder on the table. “The client wants one more thing.” Cally opens the folder slowly, as her eyes widened. “What is this?” She asks, right as the CEO looks at her with a serious face. “They want you and your team to design another house, with a bit of a tight deadline squeeze.”

Cally stared at the papers.

Then she saw the number at the top.

$100,000,000.

And under that was a deadline.

7 days.