Short Stories in English for Beginners

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. But most employees get only a percentage of our 
profits
. However,
these days it’s not enough. We need to change something in this

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organization. We need to build up our business. Our employees need to earn
more money.’
Laura can’t believe it. Ms Smith is fighting for her employees! she
thought. I never thought that would happen!
‘For example,’ Ms Smith continues. ‘I have an employee. Her name is
Laura. She’s worked here for five years. She puts in lots of hours. She has
never asked for a 
raise
. She’s a good employee. But we can’t pay Laura
more money right now. Why? Because company profits this 
quarter
are
low. We need to keep our money just to stay open. Something has to
change!’
Oh my gosh! thinks Laura to herself. My manager just said that I’m a
good employee! In front of everyone! That’s really going to help my career!
Then she thinks, It’s too bad about the company profits though. But how can
that be? Antonio is working on that big 
technology
 project. I assume that
will help profits.
Laura wants to know what’s happening. And now is the perfect time to
check. She is invisible after all. She has access to everything!
Laura goes to Antonio’s office. Antonio is a computer programming
manager. I don’t want to steal his ideas, she thinks. I just want to know why
the company is losing money.
Antonio has been really successful. He started as a sales associate. He
always made his sales goals. So they brought him on the management team.
Now he’s working on a big project. It’s supposed to involve a lot of money.
The company’s money issues should soon be fixed.
Laura decides to look in Antonio’s files. She can still hear her manager
talking outside. ‘Antonio, tell me,’ begins her manager, ‘I know you’re
working on that big technology project. It’s the one based on the network
program we worked on as a group. This project has 
potential
, doesn’t it? It
could actually make the company rich, right?’
‘I’m really sorry, Ms Smith,’ Antonio begins, ‘but the project won’t be
possible. It costs too much. It’s a huge