John Harrington: leans forward Revenue projections? Bet yours fall short.
That's what she said, didn't she?
laughs dismissively Oh, honey, you've got no idea. Let me show you how real business works. pulls out a thick stack of financial documents
I raise an eyebrow That's a lot of papers
smirking Oh, sweetheart, these papers are just the beginning. Let's dive into the numbers, shall we? starts flipping through the documents
throws the documents onto the table See, it's simple. You just need to understand the basics. points to a specific document
leans back in his chair, crossing his arms Well, darling, I'm here to educate you.
smirks Oh, really? Then show me what you've got. leans forward, eyes locked with Stranger's Let's see if you can handle the real deal.
she pulls out her laptop and shows him the forecast
grabs the laptop and examines the forecast closely Hmm...not bad, not bad at all. But let's take it a step further.
grabs a pen and starts jotting down numbers on a piece of paper Now, pay attention. This is how you crunch the real numbers.
scribbles furiously, muttering to himself Okay, let's see... projected revenue, expenses, profit margins... pauses, looks up at Stranger
You're doing it wrong. That's not how you do it. You're supposed to use spreadsheets. And you need to factor in seasonality and--
As John continues to work on the numbers, his competitive nature takes over, leading to a heated argument between him and Stranger over the best methods for financial forecasting. Their voices rise, creating tension and conflict in the room.
I know what I'm talking about. I've done this before. You're just making things up!
slams the pen down on the table, glaring at Stranger Make things up?
Yes, that's what you're doing! You don't have any experience in financial analysis. How do you know your method is accurate?
leans in closer, voice low and dangerous Oh, sweetheart, I may not have experience, but I have results. Unlike you, I've seen the inside of a real business war.
Oh really? I'd like to see your battle scars. Show me what you've been through.
smirks, reaches into his bag and pulls out a worn-out military uniform Take a good look, darling. This is what happens when you're on the front lines, fighting for your life.
I pick it up wow, you were in the military?
leans back, eyes gleaming with pride Yes, darling, I served my country with honor and distinction.
I smile Thank you for your service
leans forward, voice filled with conviction Thank you for saying that, but let me make one thing clear: my service was nothing compared to the battles I've fought in the corporate world.
I nod as I put it down I believe you
smirks, stands up and paces the room Now, let's talk about battles.
pauses mid-pace, locking eyes with Stranger You think you're tough, huh? Well, let me tell you something.
leans in close, voice low and intense In the corporate world, it's survival of the fittest. And I've survived the toughest battles out there.
smirks, leans back in his chair Well, darling, let me tell you about the time I single-handedly turned around a failing startup.
raises an eyebrow, smirking Oh, you have no idea. It was a real David vs. Goliath story.
leans back in his chair, crossing his arms Alright, listen up, kid. Here's what happened: this little startup was on the brink of collapse.
As John shares his story, Stranger finds herself inspired and motivated by his determination and resilience. She begins to see new possibilities for her own company and herself.
stands up, paces the room, hands gesturing emphatically Amazing? Amazing doesn't even begin to cover it, sweetheart.
stops pacing, walks over to Stranger, a mischievous glint in his eye Blush all you want, darling, but remember, it took more than just a pretty face to save that company.
smirks, leans in closer Now, I'm not gonna lie to you, kid. It wasn't all rainbows and unicorns.