Corey’s Complex Persona

Corey has consistently exhibited a peculiar duality; even before his official appointment, he behaved as if he were part of the inner circle in every conversation, exuding an air of authority. However, when challenges arose that demanded action, he deflected responsibility. He often threw up his hands, exclaiming, "this place is dysfunctional" or "someone needs to step up," all while maintaining a distance from the issues at hand. This tendency placed him in an uncomfortable position when faced with situations that clearly did not align with his vision, such as the significant reduction of Palmyra’s wine selection.

From the very beginning, Corey seemed to view the company as his gateway to a life filled with luxury and status. While ambition is commendable, some of his methods for achieving this dream have raised eyebrows. Edgar, who often sat through quarterly meetings with store managers, noticed Corey taking credit for nearly every innovative idea that surfaced, even those that originated with Edgar himself. During meetings, Corey would often claim ownership of ideas that Edgar had proposed, leaving Edgar in disbelief as he sat at the table, thinking, "I came up with that!"

The primary question remains whether Corey is so consumed by self-importance that he genuinely believes his own rhetoric. Edgar suspects that Corey does indeed buy into the hype surrounding him, believing he is the mastermind behind each concept he boasts about to Rob. Yet, there is also a ruthless, cutthroat edge to Corey’s personality, suggesting that he cannot stand to see anyone else receive accolades. He insists on being recognized as the leading expert, always.

This behavior was particularly evident just days before their conversation about remote work. Corey had emailed Edgar, requesting a spreadsheet to assess the costs of deli recipes. Edgar felt a twinge of skepticism, as he had suggested this idea numerous times before, only to be met with silence. However, he also felt a spark of hope that perhaps Corey had finally recognized the importance of precise cost tracking.

After investing half an hour into crafting a spreadsheet that he was proud of, Edgar was eager to send it to Corey. The spreadsheet allowed for easy input of ingredients, quantities, and costs, culminating in a visually appealing summary of the data. Once completed, he protected the formulas from tampering and sent it off, feeling a sense of accomplishment.

Yet, upon arriving at Palmyra the next day, Edgar found Corey present but had not yet interacted with him until late afternoon. While near the deli, he encountered Josey, the manager, who expressed her frustrations about inflated prices set by Pat. She then mentioned how Corey had created a spreadsheet for her cost assessments.

"Wait a minute. Corey told you he made that?" Edgar asked, puzzled.

"Yep," she replied, adjusting her glasses, seemingly unaware of why this was significant.

"Does it have light orange boxes and a bright yellow total at the bottom?" he pressed.

"Exactly!" she said.

"I created that! He emailed me asking for help on it."

Though Edgar's insistence on credit may seem self-serving, it was becoming absurd. Josey laughed, fully believing Edgar's claim. To verify, they headed to the nearest computer, where she pulled up Corey's email and confirmed Edgar's design.

The effectiveness of Corey's bravado during quarterly meetings stems from the lack of a method to counter it. Edgar contemplated the best approach, perhaps bursting into laughter each time Corey claimed credit for someone else's work. Alternatively, he could seek Rob for a discreet conversation, but Edgar was not inclined to approach Rob directly. Confronting Corey or publicly calling him out also seemed like a monumental mistake.

Edgar understood Corey’s mindset well. Long before receiving his new position, Corey had assumed that everyone was working for him, which meant that any idea from his team was implicitly his.

As Edgar prepared for the Arcadia assignment, he had a clear vision of how it would unfold. The location was promising, situated across from a Walmart in a new retail complex, with a manageable lease. The store itself was bright and inviting, featuring expansive plate glass windows, which contrasted sharply with the gloominess of Southside.

However, the delay in Corey’s communication raised questions. They had begun stocking shelves on Tuesday, but Corey only sent an email at 3 PM. Edgar suspected a chaotic atmosphere or a lack of regard for his role, as if they had forgotten about his contributions.

Despite this uncertainty, Edgar observed that Felix had been present to set up registers and IT systems. This morning marked the first time Teri was called in, and she too seemed bewildered by the rushed preparation for a soft opening in two days. The chaos surrounding the situation appeared reasonable; however, Edgar felt there was more to it. If Duane were leading this endeavor, he would have reached out for assistance sooner.

Corey met Edgar at the front of the store to give him a quick tour. When they reached the produce section, Edgar noticed the absence of fresh items. Corey explained, "We decided not to carry produce here."

"Really?" Edgar replied, surprised that Duane would permit such a decision.

Corey continued, "Liberty can't seem to sell produce, so we're skipping it."

This conclusion baffled Edgar further, revealing a disorganized thought process. Other peculiarities arose, such as Pierre O'Brien's unexpected presence and the lack of internet connectivity for the scale in the bulk department. Edgar was left questioning the logic behind these choices, especially since no one consulted him on these decisions.

As the tour concluded, Corey assigned Edgar the task of scanning items without tags, indicating a rush to complete preparations. Edgar agreed but recognized the challenges ahead. He intended to assist but was not solely responsible for tagging.

While Edgar and Teri shared confusion about the store's layout and design choices, they remained committed to their tasks. As Edgar initiated his scanning project, he found that progress was more manageable than anticipated. However, while scanning high-profile items like Mr. Banks' Apple Cider Vinegar, he discovered a discrepancy in pricing that sent him straight to the back office.

Confirming his fears, Edgar found that the price displayed on the scanner was outdated. He reached out to Jacques for assistance, and to his relief, Jacques acknowledged the error, admitting he had sent an outdated database to Arcadia. Although relieved to have identified the issue, Edgar was frustrated that he would need to re-scan everything.

Fortunately, Teri and Pierre stepped in to help with the tagging process, and they managed to address the problem quickly. Yet, neither Corey nor Duane acknowledged the email chain Edgar initiated regarding the pricing error, leaving him feeling unappreciated.

Later that day, Corey approached Edgar, inquiring about his progress. Edgar explained the situation with the database, but Corey simply nodded and walked away without further comment. This nonchalant response from Corey left Edgar feeling frustrated, especially since he had caught a significant error.

By the end of the day, Edgar decided to wrap things up, ensuring he had completed all necessary tasks and caught up on emails. He was determined to leave the chaotic two days behind him, even as new challenges loomed on the horizon.

As Edgar anticipated the upcoming weekend, he received an email from Corey summoning him to a meeting on Monday to discuss the new structure. The rollercoaster of emotions and challenges he faced at Arcadia had solidified his resolve to navigate the complexities of working alongside Corey and the evolving dynamics of the retail environment.

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