The day is already worlds apart from our previous staff events. Our employees are ready and willing, it would appear.
“That’s much better.” Sapphire moves into the middle of the stage, the spotlight shining on her, making her look surreal.
Fuck, I’m so head over heels in love with her it’s making me stupid.
My brain has almost turned into goo, I’m sure of it. Yesterday, I couldn’t concentrate all day and spent most of the morning replaying how I fucked her on my balcony, wearing those sexy boots she’s currently wearing. I was right about her becoming my obsession, in a good way, though, not a bad one.
“Good morning, everyone.” Sapphire greets everyone cheerfully as the music drifts away and the applause dies down. “I am Sapphire Feelgood and today I will be your host. First of all, I have a secret to share with you. My name is not, in fact, Sapphire Feelgood; nope, it’s Sapphire Smith. Boring, huh?” she asks with a smile.
“Did you know that?” Max asks through the side of his mouth.
“Yeah.” She told me last night. She tells me everything, even what size tampons she needs, depending on her flow. She’s a book that’s fully open, pages folded back, spine cracked and all.
“Now, you might be wondering why I call myself Feelgood. Well, it’s for one main reason. When I first started Safire & Spark, my mission was to ignite people’s passion and elevate events, and that’s what we do every week without fail.” She slices her hand through the air. “On my second month in business, a new client told me that I should call myself Sapphire Feelgood because I made his staff feel good. So, today, everyone, that’s the gift I am giving you. After you leave here, you will go home to your families, friends, roommates, or loved ones, feeling good about your job and yourself.”
She pauses to scan the room before walking gracefully across the stage, making eye contact with employees to make sure each person feels recognized and appreciated. “Now, I know some of you might be thinking, ‘What could this five-foot woman with a rainbow of hair possibly teach me?’ Honestly, I get it. You do serious, life-or-death work at Hart Law every day. But let me ask you this. When was the last time you thought about changing your own life or your mindset to go after that next promotion or to step into the role you’ve been ready for, for far too long?” She smiles warmly, pausing for a beat. “And no, I don’t literally mean Geraldine in accounts—we’ll leave her out of this—but you get the idea.” A ripple of laughter spreads through the room.
“Today, we are going to explore who you are through engaging and interactive workshops designed to reignite your passion, sharpen your motivation, and help you reach your full potential both personally and professionally.” She clenches her fist at her waist and raises it with determination.
Sapphire moves to the center of the stage, stands tall, and lets her gaze sweep across the audience. Then, with quiet intensity, she speaks: “I wake up every morning loving what I do. I stay up late writing speeches like this one because I love it, even accounting. But here is the real question. Do you still love what you do? Do you still feel that spark, the one that makes you leap out of bed in the morning? If not, that is okay. With my guidance and my incredible team, we will help you find it again.
“I have spent time with your leaders, Nathan, Max, Cole, and Eli, and here is what I have seen. They do not see you as just employees. They know you. They care about your families, your lives, your dreams. I saw Nathan walking through the office one day, stopping to ask about your children, your spouses, and even the schools your kids attend. And make no mistake, they see the hard work you put in, and they appreciate it.
“Their father, Daniel Hart, who many of you have known, started this firm with just a few thousand dollars, fueled by two things: passion and purpose. He worked tirelessly, often sacrificing time with his family, to build this firm into the state’s top law firm. And every single one of you contributed to that success. You helped put Hart Law on the map, and that is something to be proud of.
“And this is just the beginning. Hart Law will continue to grow stronger, not because of one mind, but because Daniel Hart’s vision lives on through his sons. Nathan, Max, Cole, and Eli wake up every day driven by purpose, passion, and love for what they do, just as he did. And together, with your talent, dedication, and courage, Hart Law is going to reach even greater heights.”
“Fuck, I think I might cry,” Max mutters, his voice cracking.
Me too.
Cole wipes under his nose while Nathan stares at the ceiling, overcome with emotion.
Sapphire keeps adding words, and I can’t stop listening.
“You might be wondering if Daniel knows about the work you all continue to do to carry his legacy?” she asks. “In answer to that, yes, he does.” She waggles her fingers at me and my three brothers sitting off to the side. “Every day, his sons visit him. They tell him about the cases you win, your achievements, the new lunch menus in the cafe, and how Bob’s son just scored a football scholarship to an Ivy League school. Every little snippet of news gets passed on.” She pinches an inch of air between her thumb and forefinger. “Because you are like family to them. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Daniel a few times now, and you have no idea how much he loves hearing about you, all of you, and how much he appreciates the way you’re looking after his business baby. It makes him smile. A lot.”
Sapphire wipes under her nose as if she’s feeling emotional herself. Then she adds, softer now, but with that unmistakable sparkle in her voice, “Today might look a little different than your usual staff conferences. At Safire & Spark we don’t do boring PowerPoints and read you stats and policy changes that could’ve been emailed. Instead, today is all about you.” She points her index finger like a spotlight, tracing the room. “Today is your reward. For working hard, for putting in the hours. Today we’re going to break through your own personal beliefs to stretch your boundaries, acknowledge your blocks and break through them. And, if you’ve lost it somewhere along the way, to help you find that spark again.”
Then she singles someone out. “But not you, Roger,” she says, and all eyes turn. “You’ve got enough spark to set this place on fire. And yes, I will be joining you for dance therapy later. I want to see those moves.”
Roger stands, shaking his hips with dramatic flair, then collapses back into his chair, grinning, and the room bursts into peals of laughter.
Sapphire makes a joke I don’t hear because Cole whispers, “How does she know who Roger is?”
“I don’t know,” I reply honestly. I’ve only ever known Roger to be all about the serious face and the numbers. As if Sapphire has conjured yet another of her spells, this is a new side of Roger I’m seeing today. The guy has moves and a personality beyond just crunching numbers.
There’s that magic of Sapphire’s again. I also haven’t had a headache in weeks; she’s a kind of medication everyone should take.
Sapphire raises her voice enthusiastically. “So, prepare yourself for a fantastic, fun-filled, packed-to-the-rafters day because we’re about to get this party started, and if I see a single one of you in your seat for the first session of the day, I will personally make you get up on stage and dance for us all.”
Then she introduces the Boomwhackers, the room electric, buzzing almost as everyone runs out of their seats to grab a multicolored tube from the other side of the room.
In sync, Max, Cole, and Nathan all turn to face me with giant grins.
“How the fuck did you talk that firecracker into dating you? You dull son of a bitch,” Nathan asks, part baffled and part amused.
I lift my shoulders to my ears in a shrug. “I have no idea.” I really don’t.