Clinton Smith, the most influential board member, had spoken up for Kelsie.
No other words needed to be said for everyone to know he had made his choice between Jerry Sutton and Kelsie Sutton.
As such, the board members siding with Clinton, leaned towards her and inquired, "Ms. Sutton, what do you think about Lumen Group applying to work for Jett Adler?"
Kelsie turned to glance at him and revealed a small smile.
Jett Adler?
She didn't want to be anywhere near that uncultured rude man.
So she shook her head in refusal, "We shouldn't bother about it."
Jerry didn't wait for the words to fully roll off her tongue before he shot up from his seat again and glared at her hostilely.
"We shouldn't bother about it? Do you know anything about Lumen Group at all? We used to be a leading company in the past until we stopped taking high risk jobs and wounded up here."
"We stopped fishing in huge waters after your mother passed and we've suffered greatly for it!"
"Do you think you'd still have the cheeks to say we shouldn't bother taking the job when money stops flowing in from the company?"
"Do you think someone as talentless as you will be able to survive without help from Lumen Group?!"
Deborah scoffed and turned to look at Clinton Smith arrogantly.
"Did you hear that? The person you're fighting so hard to keep as a board member wants to keep the company the way it is."
"She doesn't have any talent, but she has refused to let us use those we have in the company to take Lumen Group far. For our prized company to remain the same for more than two decades, is that what you want?"
Clinton parted his lips to retort when Laura, who didn't notice this, let out a loud snort.
"Kelsie, are you saying we shouldn't bother because you don't want me to be one who would represent Lumen Group?"
"Back when we were young and father brought in a computer science tutor, you kept dozing off whenever we had a session."
"Had you listened to what we were taught back then, you would've had a chance to represent the company now. I wouldn't even dare to stand in your way."
"So you have no one to blame for your actions. Now stop trying to stop the company from growing just because you're jealous of my skills."
The board members found sense in her words and the ones on siding with Jerry and his family couldn't help voicing our their thoughts.
"Don't be so thoughtless. This is a company where thousands of people depend on to feed their families. If you have a problem with your sister, talk it out at home instead of turning her down for something so important."
"If we apply and get this job, we would be doing all thousands of our employees a favor since we'll be increasing their salaries. You can't let your jealousy stop such a good thing from happening to them."
"We as board members and shareholders of Lumen Group also stand to gain a lot if this deal clicks through. The more popular our Lumen Group becomes, the more profit we get and the more customers we would get."
Laura's eyes suddenly twinkled evilly and she spoke up softly, "Let's not pressure Kelsie. I'm sure she had her reason for saying we shouldn't bother."
"Perhaps, could it be you think you can do a better job than me? It's can't possible be that, right?"
Kelsie pressed her lips into a thin line and said nothing.
Laura's mind was so twisted she couldn't think of the accusation she'd come up with it if she said no.
But if she said yes and showed her skill, Lumen Group would definitely proceed with their plan of applying for the job.
She wouldn't be able to mess it up even if she wanted as everyone would be watching her like a hawk.
And if she didn't mess it up, Lumen Group would definitely be selected. She didn't know what Jett Adler wanted with a cybersecurity and tech company, but if whatever it was involved hacking, she feared he would certainly pick up on how she worked.
That could put her out as the one who had been stealing from him.
At the thought of all this, she didn't know when she sighed softly and gently massaged the back of her neck.
Hearing her soft sigh, everyone took it to be a positive reply to Laura's question.
Deborah laughed coldly and sneered at her in contempt.
"While you stuffed your face with food and kept getting bigger everyday, Laura studied hard to learn everything about computer science."
"While you slept 12 hours everyday, Laura spent that time practicing what she learnt by enrolling in contests."
"Even when she never made it into the top ten hackers for contests for over 5 years, she was never discouraged."
"She kept studying harder and getting better until she got to the level she is today. So how dare someone like who who has never bothered to glance at a computer textbook before have the cheeks to compare yourself to her!"
Kelsie glanced at her with her droopy eyes and calmly raised a brow, "I'm not saying your daughter's skill isn't good. I'm just saying they are better people who will also apply to get the job."
"Isn't it better to focus our time and energy on the jobs at hand instead of wasting the next few weeks preparing for a job Jett Adler would likely reject?"
Laura immediately huffed in reply, "No, that's not what you meant just now. You're only saying this to save face. Kelsie, do you really think you can ever compare to me?"
She beat her chest arrogantly and continued, "I've always been better than you and always will. In fact, let's make a deal right here and now."
"Let's individually prepare for the next few weeks and apply for the job separately. Whoever gets accepted will bring together a team and work for Jett Adler."
"Do you dare to accept, Kelsie Sutton?"