Off I went, convincing myself that maybe, just maybe, I could pry some truth about my parents' car accident years ago from Jacqueline. After a pep talk, I glanced at the clock. With three hours to spare before my rendezvous with Jacqueline, I decided to head to the office.,

"Morning, Director Hudson,

" greeted Grant, his face lighting up as if I was some kind of morale-boosting serum that made him bloom on sight.,

"Morning, Mr. Smith!

",

"You're looking particularly bright today, Director Hudson. Someone special in your life?

" Grant's question felt overly familiar, as if we were old buddies., Flashes of sweet moments with Ernest crossed my mind, pulling a slight smile on my face,

"Well, Mr. Smith, the weather's great, isn't it?

", Since I'm not that close to him, I obviously wouldn't spill the beans., He chuckled in response, prompting me to head straight to my office., It was Monday, which meant the weekly department meeting was on the agenda., During the meeting, everyone presented their performance updates. Among them, a colleague named Lester handed me a contract,

"Director Hudson, I've just secured a deal with a new lighting company. They're fresh in the market and could really use our technical guidance. Please take a look at the contract details.

", I skimmed through the document,

"Less than a month old?

",

"Yes, brand new,

" Lester replied, his nerves slightly visible., The risks of partnering with a new company are significantly higher than with those over three years in business due to numerous uncertainties., Sensing my hesitation, Lester quickly added,

"Don't worry, Director Hudson. I've negotiated an upfront payment of fifty percent as a deposit, another twenty-five percent halfway through, and the balance upon completion.

", I couldn't help but smile and say,

"Their eagerness really shows they're serious about this collaboration.

",

"Exactly, I'd feel bad turning them down,

" Lester said, finding humor in his own statement., The room lightened up with laughter, someone even joked,

"What kind of sincerity are we talking about here? Gifts or a pretty face?

",

"No, no, nothing of that sort. We adhere strictly to our company's ethics. It's just their genuine interest in working with us, given our reputation and capabilities,

" Lester continued his pitch., I acknowledged the gesture,

"The sincerity is apparent.

", Though my words were brief, they immediately led others to tease Lester,

"Look at you, snagging such a deal. You owe us a dinner.

", Lester cleverly deflected to me,

"That depends on if Director Hudson gives the green light.

", This contract would require my approval and then Grant's endorsement to proceed., Our company wasn't desperate for clients. This discretion probably contributed to Conrad's immediate rejection by the higher-ups when he sought collaboration., Curious about the enigmatic big boss, yet without any leads, I faced Lester's hopeful gaze without an immediate verdict, stating,

"Give me the company's profile to review, and I'll decide.

" Lester gave an OK sign, marking the end of today's meeting., The company profile was straightforward. The head had several years of technical experience elsewhere, and judging by the number of shareholders, it was a partnership., This setup had its pros and cons. On the upside, the company wouldn't crumble if one person faltered. The downside was having too many cooks in the kitchen could complicate matters for us. After weighing the options, I felt this collaboration was worth pursuing. So, I went to find Grant., Currently, Grant held the reins of the company. Observing past decisions, it was clear the company favored stable, quality growth over rapid expansion, being selective with its clientele., Grant's office door was open. He was on a call. I was about to leave and return later, but he gestured for me to come in.,

"...Exactly, what we're missing is a Chief Technical Officer, a top-notch lighting engineer... Compensation isn't an issue. If he's willing to come over, I'd even give up my seat for him... Alright, looking forward to hearing from you.

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