Chapter 136
“Of course, we always keep business and personal matters separate” Neva lifted her chin slightly, a look of pride on her face. The reason Rowland Group has achieved what it has today is because we understand such basic principles.
I smiled. “If that’s the case, why did you insist on replacing me. Mrs. Norman? your son, making you uncomfortable
er the matter of
Was it because I’ve repeatedly disagreed with you over
Neva’s gaze sharpened instantly. “I was simply impressed by the materials your company’s new team submitted,
“They were fresh and full of ideas, which is why I suggested to Mr. Jacobson that we make the change,” she replied coolly, her tone still laced with pride.
“If I remember correctly, Mrs. Norman took over Rowland Group at seventeen. After all these years, you’ve weathered more storms than someone like me could ever dream of
“So I don’t believe that when you looked at those materials, you didn’t realize they weren’t exactly what was needed at this stage”
I kept my smile, my words soft yet pointed. “You must have noticed, otherwise all those years as president would have been for nothing”
“Sylvia, don’t be so rude!” My pointed remarks were making Ezekiel break out in a cold sweat
I narrowed my eyes slightly. “Mrs. Norman, please don’t take it personally. I tend to be direct when it comes to certain issues. It’s nothing against you–it’s just about smoothing the way for our future cooperation.
“For any partnership to succeed, trust is essential. If you still hold a grudge against me, our collaboration won’t last. In fact, it could very easily go wrong and lead to unnecessary losses”
I met Neva’s gaze calmly, confident and unflustered. “So everything I’ve said today has been purely from a business perspective. As for any personal tensions between us… well, as a younger person, I’m still learning.
“If I’ve said anything to upset you, I offer my sincere apologies and would like to make it up to you with a cup of coffee”
I lifted my coffee cup with a gentle smile.
At last, the cautious look in Neva’s eyes softened. After a brief pause, she spoke, “Sylvia, if you were one of my subordinates, I’d be proud of you. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a woman like you in the workplace.”
Thank y
you, Mr. Norman. Your recognition is truly an honor,” I replied with a genuine smile.
Neva glanced at me in surprise, then couldn’t help but chuckle. “Alright, let’s talk about the project. Since you’re clear about your intentions. I assume you’ve thought it through.”
-not on such short notice.
“In three days, I’ll have the first phase of the proposal ready for you. As for the full proposal, I won’t be able to provide it— And even if I could, it wouldn’t meet your expectations because of the time constraints.”
Neva didn’t respond, lowering her eyes in thought.
I continued, “I also understand that Rowland Group is on a
p is on a tight schedule, so here’s my plan…”
For three hours, I almost lost my voice explaining every detail.
In the end, Neva seemed quite satisfied. As we were about to leave, she gave me her first warm smile and said, “Ms. Moreno, I’m looking forward to your proposal. Three days from now, let’s make sure we’re both there”
After seeing Neva off, Ezekiel wiped the sweat from his forehead and let out a deep sigh. “Sylvia, you’ve really got guts. That was the president of Howland Group you were dealing with…
I shrugged. “That’s just how I do things.”
I didn’t like brating around the bush or wasting time with small talk. So when I started working with someone, I usually weeded out clients whose personalities didn’t match mine
I was efficient and got things done. Any company that worked with me once became a long–term client.
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