102. Nice to meet you!
*Bamm!
A woman slammed the table in a luxurious office as she checked her product sales on the screen.
"Fu-!" She almost cursed, but she reminded herself not to "fuu~" . She took a deep breath a few times to calm down. Then she closed her eyes and used her finger to massage them, then she leaned on her luxurious and comfortable chair.
The woman was the CEO of the newly opened Laven Branch. Rebecca Laven.
Laven's group... Laven company... Laven headquarters. They were called by many names. In Valentine city, No one wouldn't recognize Laven's name.
The once number one company in the city, with dimensions like range from number two company.
But it's already history. A few years ago, her grandfather, the current president at that time, decided to make an idiotic move. That's what Rebecca thought.
She understood that her grandfather wanted to train his successor but to make a competition among his successor even when knowing outsiders had long eyeing their wealth and company... It can only be called a stupid move!
In the end, her father, also the first son of her grandfather, was able to take the presidential seat but not without a price. As a result, the once glorious Laven group only left with half what it was before.
Her father was able to stable the main company, and now she was tasked with a new branch to expand Laven once again.
"Rebecca, I'm not a genius like you. I don't have even half of your business mind. The best I could do was stabilize this company until you take the seat. That's why I'll let you be the new CEO of the new branch, experiment as much as possible, and do whatever you want. Take as much experience as you can." That was what her father said.
Rebecca happily accepted the task from her father. Because In the main company, many rules or traditions from the past would hinder her. So this chance was a golden chance for her to spread her wings.
She believes she was better than many of her father's employees. She believes that she could be successful in a short moment.
At least, that is what she thought before.
But now, no matter what products she made and what path she took, her company only lost more and more money.
The problem was not because she made a wrong decision or made a bad product, but every time they're ready to release their products, the other company would release the same product as them but a bit faster than them!
This means they lose their novelty and originality every time! Some media even said they plagiarized other products!!
The first time she thought it was a coincidence, she accepted that it was her loss.
The second time it happened, she became suspicious.
Then the third time, she was sure there was a spy on her company
So she chose only the one she trusted to develop a new product, even then!! The same thing happened because of that. She almost broke the taboo, questioning her friends and her trusted employee's trust.
Still, even with that much loss, Her father didn't mind about it and kept sending her money for a new venture which made her feel even guiltier!
She lost her way. She was frustrated she didn't know what to do anymore and what path to take. Her confidence had been broken to pieces. She even thought of giving up and asked her grandfather for advice, but...
"If you can't handle this small problem, you're not worthy of the presidential seat" remembering her grandfather's words made her even more annoyed!!
She took another deep breath to calm down
When someone knocked on the door
"Come in," she answered
The door opened, and a woman her age came in. "President, someone from Vermilion has come to find you. He said he already has an appointment with you," the secretary reported.
"Haa~" Rebecca sighed "it was today, wasn't it? I almost forgot about it, Haa~" she sighed again. With a disgusted face.
Rebecca knew Vermilion was the front name for the renowned Mercenary Crimson Eagle. But, primarily because of that, she didn't want to meet them.
It was normal for her to react like this. This isn't the first time someone from the hidden world has come to meet her.
There's a rule that someone from the hidden world wasn't allowed to act in the secular world on the surface among ordinary people. It's to hide Mana's existence from the world. But as long as they can conceal Mana's existence from the world, they can do anything they want.
It was a loop on the rule that everyone knew and used for themselves.
Someone from the hidden world is usually arrogant with their power and looks down on ordinary people. You can't blame either, as they literally have the ability to kill or take down a country.
"You're going to meet him?" The secretary, Sasha, asked worriedly. She knew what Rebecca had experienced with those guys. They just showed up without any appointments with their arrogant tone. Sometimes she felt like the young masters she often saw in her favorite novel showed up in reality.
Rebecca let out a wry smile. "It's okay. They won't harm me. Threatening was the best they could do."
"Thank you for worrying about me, Sasha. I didn't know what I would do without you," Rebecca said, her gratitude sincerely. Sasha was one of the reasons she didn't fall apart. Because of her, she is still able to trust her employee. "Seriously... Thank you..."
*Thump
Sasha gently slapped Rebbeca's back.
"Hey, hey, what happened to you? If our high school friends saw your state now, they might die of shock!" Sasha said jokingly.
(It's me who should say that...) She thought. Her story was a story that can be found anywhere. Sasha first met Rebecca at middle school. She was slightly chubby and a weeb at that. She easily became friends with boys, but it wasn't the same with girls.
Sasha didn't have many common topics to talk about among girls. That's why she was usually with boys. Because of that, it was only a matter of time before she became an outcast. But, as you expected, Rebecca helped her before it became worse.
"Can you show him to the other room?" Rebecca said, cutting Sasha's thought.
"Ah, yes. I'll bring him at once," Sasha replied before she left the president's office.
***
"This way, please," Sasha said politely, at least on the surface. She secretly sized up the visitor this time. (Black hair and purple eyes. A bit short for an adult.
No, he looked like a high schooler. The same as others, they always have good looks but... Wow, this one is above the others!)
(He was humble when he talked to me before too. Which made him better in personality and looks. Oh, I almost forgot he also made an appointment before coming here. It's another good point.)
Then Sasha took a peek at him once again. It surprised her as Her eyes met his eyes.
*Wink
He winked and smiled at her.
*Cough
Sasha quickly made a fake cough, her face burning red. No, it wasn't because she was shy. Instead, she was embarrassed the other side knew she was peeking at him.
(No! This one is not good either. He's too flirtatious!! If he acted like this in front of me, who knows what he would do when he met Rebecca. I have to be by her side!) Sasha stopped further peeking and hastened her pace.
***
Rebecca finally met face to face with the visitor. "What can I help you with on this occasion?" Rebecca asked politely, but her face was cold.
On the other hand, the visitor was calm and didn't get offended by her. Rather, he turned to Sasha, who stood behind Rebecca. "Is she related?" He asked
Rebecca frowned slightly (Why did he ask that? Is it something ordinary people shouldn't hear? I brought Sasha with me so they can't use Mana carelessly. Is he the same as others? but Crimson Eagle didn't have that kind of reputation.) She thought suspiciously, but she still shook her head to answer him.
"Alright, Vermilion Tenth executive's first staff. Lex Spifer, nice to meet you." He said
(Crimson Eagle, Tenth executive first trainee… Executive's candidate) Rebecca decrypted his words.