Chapter 341: The Unyielding Woman
"You handed the Planning Department over to me three years ago. What were the economic conditions like then? What was consumer demand like? And what about now? Do you have any idea what the economy and consumer demand are like today?"
"You don’t know anything! You just sit in your office all day, wave your hand to set a target for us, and say, ’Here’s the money, go get it done!’ Do you have any idea what we go through because of your orders? We’ve talked ourselves hoarse and run our legs off!"
"This paltry sum of money isn’t enough to get the job done, and that’s final! Why can’t you be flexible? Adjust the amount each year! Here we are, three years later, working with a budget from three years ago, and we still get berated by you daily for being incompetent. If you’re so capable, why don’t you do it yourself!"
Second Uncle had been bottling up a bellyful of grievances and was dying to vent at him. Today, he finally got his chance.
"Exactly!"
Third Uncle was now in charge of the Sales Department. Crushed by performance targets every day, he deeply sympathized with his brother’s complaints.
Last year, because they failed to meet their targets, everyone else got a bonus, but the Sales Department—the ones who worked the hardest day in and day out—didn’t get a damn thing. He’d been resentful about it for a long time.
"When you set targets for us, you have to consider the current situation, don’t you? If you keep acting so tyrannical, none of us will be able to work here anymore!"
"If you can’t do it, then quit."
Damien Vaughn looked at them coldly.
"I’ve told you before, the Vaughn Group doesn’t support freeloaders, even if your last name is Vaughn. If you feel you don’t have the ability to handle this pressure, then give up your position. There are plenty of capable people who would love to take your place."
"You!"
They were his own uncles, yet he was telling them to get lost in front of so many outsiders?
"Damien Vaughn, don’t be so arrogant! Weren’t you just going on and on about how capable this woman is? If a former medical student can handle technology, our jobs should be a piece of cake for her, right? Then let her do it! As long as she can meet our target for this month by the end of the month—not exceed it, just a passing grade—I’ll acknowledge her. How about it?"
"That’s right! If she meets the target, I’ll acknowledge her!"
Second and Third Uncle were dead set on challenging him today, but Damien Vaughn wasn’t afraid of them.
After all, the high-level executives in the company had long known what kind of people the two of them were, and that the uncles and nephew did not get along.
He didn’t mind thoroughly embarrassing them in front of everyone.
Just as Damien Vaughn was about to say something harsh, Cecelia Archer took a step toward him and looked at the two uncles.
"I accept this challenge. Everyone here is a witness. Have someone send your files to President Vaughn’s office. Before the end of the month, I alone will complete the goals of both your departments."
What?
Not only was everyone in the room stunned, but even Damien Vaughn was stunned.
He had used the Windmount project to secure her a place in the technology department; it was Cecelia’s only solid contribution to her standing in the Vaughn Group.
With him using his authority as president to keep everyone in line, no one dared to say anything.
But if she took on this challenge and failed, it would be very humiliating for him to try and protect her then.
Sensing the tension in Damien Vaughn’s gaze, Cecelia Archer looked at him calmly.
"If I can’t do it, the worst that can happen is I resign and go back to my Grant Group. It’s no big deal. I like challenging the unknown. Give me a chance, President Vaughn."
"Excellent!" Second and Third Uncle led the applause.
Now, Damien Vaughn didn’t need to say a word. The matter was settled.
Back in the president’s office, Damien Vaughn looked at her with a worried expression.
"You really didn’t have to get into this petty fight with them."
"I’m not fighting with anyone." Cecelia sat calmly on the sofa, looking through the files sent up from the Planning Department.
"I’d never been the president of the Vaughn Group before, either, but you disappeared for half a month on end, and didn’t I manage just fine? A job is meant to be done by people. If other people can do it, why can’t I?"
"But others have a team. You’re all alone."
"Didn’t you say it yourself? A large team, seniority, and relevant expertise don’t guarantee success. I may be alone, but that cuts down on communication costs, and I don’t have to deal with backstabbing. In a way, it’s another form of saving time."
"Cecelia, we just promised Candy that we would travel less for work and spend more time with her."
"I know. I’ll manage my time wisely."
"But there are only ten days left until the end of the month."
"So stop wasting my time with useless talk and let me focus, all right, President Vaughn?"
Cecelia was impervious to persuasion, stubbornly reading through the documents.
Damien Vaughn sat behind his desk, studying her for a long time. ’If worse comes to worst, I’ll just have to pull some strings to help her,’ he thought.
In any case, he couldn’t let Cecelia be humiliated.
But since Cecelia dared to accept this challenge, it meant she knew what she was doing.
She spent the afternoon reading files. At four o’clock, she left the president’s office to make a phone call.
"Mr. Sherman."
"So, have you thought it over? Decided to join?"
"Yes, but I have conditions."
Mr. Shaw was Julian Sherman, a trending A-list celebrity in the entertainment world whom Cecelia had met by chance recently.
She had originally had a falling out with his agent, Lena, and the two were supposed to never cross paths again. But a few days ago, Julian Sherman had suddenly tracked down her contact information and called her.
He was still talking about that dating reality show.
He had a new agent now, but the contract for the dating show was already signed, so he had to participate. The company had found several non-celebrity partners for him, but he wasn’t satisfied with any of them.
He felt their personalities wouldn’t be likable on the show, or that their beauty lacked distinction. He just couldn’t get Cecelia out of his mind.
Cecelia had been busy the past few days and had no time to deal with any celebrity, big or small, so she rejected him flat out. But Julian Sherman didn’t give up. He told her to think about it and that it would be fine even if she agreed the day before the show started.
The show started tomorrow. Coincidentally, Cecelia had been provoked just today.
"We only have our dates in Veridia, from eight in the morning to five in the evening. I won’t be staying with the production crew."
As long as she agreed, Julian Sherman felt these were not problems at all.
"The whole point of filming a dating reality show is to relax. I also want to take this opportunity to get some rest and not travel so far. I agree to all your terms. Anything else?"
"Whatever I say or do on the show, I’ll have my reasons. Of course, I’ll definitely consider the show’s entertainment value for your sake. So, let’s cooperate with each other, okay?"
"Of course." Julian Sherman thought she was stating the obvious and chuckled.
"Then get ready. I’ll have someone pick you up tomorrow morning. We’ll have to coordinate our styling based on our outfits, so we might have to start a little early. Sorry for the trouble."
He was quite humorous, witty, and easy to get along with. Cecelia smiled too.
"I’ll be up at six, then."
"Great. We’ll stay in touch on WeChat."
When they got home that evening, Damien Vaughn was playing with Candy while Cecelia, for a change, was doing a skincare routine.
After that, she slathered a thick mask on to deep-condition her hair.
Seeing her mother looking so relaxed and at ease, Candy assumed she was getting all dolled up for her father.
"Daddy, I feel like you and Mommy have gotten even closer since you came back from your business trip. She rarely used to get dolled up like this. She must be doing it now because she’s so happy."
Damien Vaughn was speechless.
"When are you and Mommy going to give me a little brother or sister? I really want a little brother or sister."