Consequences of Dumping the Obsessive Boss: Stuck with Him Forever-Chapter 38: The Upcoming First Round of Bidding
Summer Lowell picked up the file, hesitating at the desk, seemingly having more to say.
"Say whatever’s on your mind. Why are you hesitating so much today?" Noah teased lightly.
"President Norris, as we previously agreed, it’s time to move onto the second step now."
Summer Lowell reached over and moved the calendar on Noah’s desk, pointing to a date on it, "The Sinclair Group should be too busy lately to bother with the competitors they bullied days ago."
"I know," Noah nodded, "You don’t have to worry about my end. There’s definitely not going to be any issues." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞
"That’s good, I’ll get back to work then."
The days go by particularly fast when you’re busy, and in the blink of an eye, it’s now early May.
Mid-May is the bidding day for the Four Seasons project.
After another night of overtime, Summer Lowell yawned as she headed to the bathroom to wash her face. When she returned to the office, she saw Assistant Fletcher had already laid out breakfast for her.
"Finn, what would I do without you!" Summer Lowell hugged her shoulder, whining playfully.
Assistant Fletcher squirmed away, setting up the chopsticks as she asked, "I heard the Four Seasons project team almost all worked through the entire night again last night?"
"Yeah, third time this month- nothing we can do, the bidding is in four days, and we need to finalize all the details before then."
Summer Lowell rubbed her stiff, aching neck and yawned, sitting at the table: "I’m too tired. You attend the meeting for me later, I’ll take the chance to sneak a nap."
"Alright, I’ll record the meeting highlights for you to review."
"There shouldn’t be anything important to record, it’s just a regular meeting. If it were important, I’d attend." Summer Lowell yawned again, "Just endure for another week, once the first round of bidding is over, the situation should become clearer."
"Director Lowell, you and the other designers have worked hard for so long, you’ll surely pass the first round successfully."
"Thank you for the well wishes," Summer Lowell raised her left hand, clenching it lightly, "But I’m most afraid of jinxing it."
Assistant Fletcher understood, raising her hand to cover her mouth gently, "Alright, I’ve got it."
After a simple breakfast, the exhausted Summer Lowell slipped into the small office attached to her workspace, hiding there for a two-hour nap before coming out.
As soon as she stepped out, she ran into Assistant Fletcher, who was bringing documents. Seeing her tired look, Assistant Fletcher fetched a cup of warm water and handed it over: "The assistant to President Norris came by earlier, saying President Norris is looking for you. He seemed quite urgent, and was about to call you."
"President Norris is looking for me?" Summer Lowell looked up and drank half the cup of warm water, "Got it, I’ll head over now."
"Do you want to bring these plans upstairs? You mentioned yesterday that you’d show these to President Norris today." Assistant Fletcher took the empty cup, handed over the neatly compiled documents, and showed the cover to Summer Lowell.
"If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten." Summer Lowell smiled, picked up the file, and left her office.
Upstairs, Summer Lowell approached the president’s office, where the president’s assistant immediately opened the door and greeted her with a smile: "Director Lowell, President Norris is available now."
"Thanks, seems like I have good timing." Summer Lowell nodded slightly, carrying the file in.
In the office, Noah was holding a small spray bottle, wiping the leaves of the potted plants he kept there.
Upon hearing Summer Lowell approaching, he greeted without turning around, "Why not sleep awhile longer?"
"President Norris, I’m not sure... Whether you’re being sincere or sarcastic?" Summer Lowell carried the file over to him, "President Norris, in good spirits today, you’re even tending to plants."
"Indeed, I’m in quite the good mood today," Noah admitted with a smile, "I called you here to share some good news."
Summer Lowell raised an eyebrow upon hearing that, feigning surprise: "Oh? It’s been a long time since I’ve heard good news from you, President Norris. Feels a bit unusual."
"Your way with words is something else once you get comfortable!" Noah shook his head, continuing, "You guessed right, Maxim Sinclair has been poaching designers from several industry peers to target our Four Seasons project, causing resentment among the upper echelons of those companies."
"An enemy’s enemy is a friend," Summer Lowell put down the file, with an expectant look, "Are they willing to join forces and lodge a complaint against Sinclair Group for malicious competition?"
"Previously, not really- well, it was more so they were fearful of taking on The Sinclair Group, but now, after half a month’s effort, only two of the most timid ones haven’t signed the joint complaint."
Noah appeared particularly satisfied with the result, his face showing nothing but smugness.
Yet alongside the joy, Summer Lowell felt concerned: "The Sinclair Group’s background is strong, I’m not trying to hype up the opponent, but President Norris, you’ve only returned to the country recently. During your efforts over the past weeks, did you manage to keep it hidden from The Sinclair Group?"
"Of course, not a single trace," Noah assured, his smugness growing, "There’s always someone more capable out there. Maxim might be formidable, but I’m no pushover myself."
Summer Lowell wasn’t interested in his background; her concerns lay on whether Maxim Sinclair had discovered her discrete tactics.
"As long as Sinclair Group doesn’t catch wind of it, our chances of passing the first round of bidding safely should increase significantly."
Noah nodded, having the same idea: "Indeed, oh, and we’ll be on the verge of the first round of bidding in three to four days. Have the final details been ironed out?"
"Mostly settled. Though there are still a few disagreements among some designers. We’re in discussion, and by tomorrow night at the latest, I’ll email you the project’s final draft."
As Summer Lowell spoke, she retrieved the file she previously set down, "These are from another project group; several spots need your review."
"No rush, I’ve been quite busy these past days too, leave the files for now, I’ll look them over eventually."
"Alright President Norris, I’ll leave them here. The project group still has tasks, I’ll head back now."
"Go ahead, oh, and once the Four Seasons bid final draft is completed, call me over to view it rather than sending it to my email."
Once bitten by a snake, one becomes cautious for years.
Back when the Crescent Moon design leaked, Noah had people conduct a reverse-tracing but could only identify that the file was sent from Crescent Moon’s own computer and email.
If Crescent Moon hadn’t been attending a company event the night it occurred, explaining would have been impossible.
Summer Lowell didn’t overthink his emphasis: "Alright, I understand."
