woman wearing irish linen shirt

I sighed inwardly.I asked so clearly what to do?

In fact, judging from a rational point of view, my first reaction was impossible; but my intuition faintly felt that Jocelyn was right.

The chairman of our group and the big boss are alumni. The first company of the big boss was bought by the chairman. That project was not revitalized in the end, but the core team joined the group, and the second in command at the time is currently holding a key position.The big boss used the money to make crab shells, but it was a pity that he was still short of strength, and only then did he have the success of relying on the group, and today's farce.

Winning or losing does not matter.

I didn't ask any more questions.Jocelyn has made it clear that she has no proof, perhaps just a guess.If this matter can be confirmed, it may be helpful; or it may be invalid information-besides, who dares to ask for proof?I silently thanked Jocelyn for a while, and then repeatedly emphasized the dangers of passing the framework plan. In any case, I barely let Jocelyn find a free time at noon tomorrow.

This is also difficult for me.Frankly speaking, I'm so busy now that it's hard for me to squeeze out some time, not to mention our big boss?I'm really afraid of Jocelyn, but I'm also really grateful.

Thank you more today.

Seriously now, Miss Pande is also my half-boss.I originally had a meeting in the evening, but since she said nine o'clock, I must be on Skype at nine o'clock.

For such an arrangement, I couldn't eat at night, so I shook a cup of protein/powder to prevent stomach pain.Recently, the frequency of such improvisation is quite high. Although I still feel flustered, the feeling of fullness that comes with it really works.I'm wondering whether to buy that semi-liquid meal replacement - I tried it once before, the taste is too unfriendly to me - it's better than starving, isn't it?

Skype is a hundred times harder to use than Zoom.I noticed that Miss Pender's hair was a little wet, and her clothes had been changed, so she must have just taken a shower.But she put on makeup again, at least the eyebrows and lipstick are there, the camera will eat the makeup, I don't know what the real situation is.

Really fastidious.In fact, it's the same if she doesn't open the video, but only asks me to open it; but like her handling it like this, I feel that I am very respected invisibly.

Killing is worse than killing one's heart.

"Good evening." Miss Pande leaned back in the chair, still in the same position during the day, but the soft light of the floor lamp at night made the sense of conflict much blurred.She was wearing a short-sleeved jersey, probably cashmere from the color and texture.

I couldn't help but praise her again, but this time the boss was on the opposite side. If the small talk doesn't have the effect it should have, it will only have the opposite effect.

I restrained my indifferent thoughts, and only thought that she was in charge of life and death, and asked, "Can I help you?"

"There's a lot you can do to help. Before that," the corners of her mouth rose slightly, "have you had dinner yet?"

Her superior posture disintegrated in an instant.I redoubled my vigilance and said, "Thank you for your concern, I have already eaten."

Her brows stretched: "That's good, I'm worried that this impromptu meeting will make you hungry—then let's have a brief chat. At today's meeting, you seem to be dissatisfied with our framework?"

"No, I think this plan is pretty good." I won't be fooled by her nonchalant attitude. At this moment, I muster up my spirits, be on guard, and consider every word before I say it.

Miss Pender motioned me to continue.

"This is a framework that our big bosses are interested in. Its advantages and highlights are obvious, but it is not perfect." It’s going to be someone else. And in the meeting, what I’m talking about isn’t really what’s at stake.”

"I am listening."

I looked at her.Her emotions are hidden deep.

I said: "The real crux of this plan lies in the lack of external supervision. Whether it is such a huge team, its internal operating efficiency and unique working mode are all formed by absorbing support departments to form a closed loop. It is not so much a team. , it is better to say that it is a separate company, the helm of the department has too much power, what is the difference from the CEO?"

Miss Pan De listened silently and did not immediately comment.Her eyes gradually revealed a smile, but it made me feel that I was being scrutinized.I didn't speak in a hurry, I was a little apprehensive.

Does she believe it?

"You are really good at this." Miss Pan De said, "You are so talented, you can find the key to the problem from the complicated information in a short period of time, why did you choose to stay in the crab shell? If you were right at the beginning Company A is not satisfied, why not choose one of the MBBs and try again?"

She checked me out.

"Aren't I thinking about joining BCG now?" I smiled.

She was noncommittal, and just said, "Anyway, don't go to Maifu. Another B prefix is ​​not suitable for you... So it seems that our BCG is indeed the best choice."

Here it is again, the chain of contempt of the first-line consulting companies.I smiled apologetically and brought the topic back: "It will be very troublesome if this key point is pointed out in the meeting. I just hope that the debate on secondary issues can blur the vision, so that after the framework is finalized, the follow-up work will have more freedom. Some."

Ms. Pande agreed, and then said: "I understand that you won the Philippine market three years ago, and the strategy at that time must have been very beautiful."

I raised my eyelids, this is the topic of tonight.

Is my first level passed?

Miss Pender said, "I'd like a copy of the department's data at that time."

"Can I ask why?"

She glanced at the camera twice, then looked at the screen: "May I know why you ask that?"

"This is highly sensitive data." I kept my face.

During the video conference, the impact brought by Miss Pan De's real person can be alleviated a lot. Because of this, the sense of alienation and sense of proportion will be broken down and metabolized by the network transmission, so that it will not shock the other side of the screen.But Miss Pender did not become a second person because of this.She would look at the camera from time to time, obviously there should be nothing on her side, but I was always shocked.

"I'm afraid I can't answer your question." Her expression was focused, and she hardly expressed any emotion, "I thought it was one of your tasks to cooperate with our work."

"It's not cost-effective for me to do this level of cooperation. I'm very expensive." I smiled, "Although it is highly sensitive to the outside world, it is not a confidential document after all. Spend some money to find a new person, and he will be very happy." willing to provide such data."

"That's against the law."

I looked at the camera: "Really? I thought you didn't know before."

Miss Pan De finally had some fluctuations on her face.I was beating drums in my heart, and found that those indescribable things gradually gathered in the corners of my eyes: she laughed.Miss Pan De tilted her head and raised her eyebrows: "You don't seem to have any intention of gaining trust."

"I don't need to do that," I said. "We didn't sign any contracts, and you made no promises to me. The only person I can trust is you, and you have to trust me. That way, I can work with you. "

"You work for me." Her tone was firm.

I didn't care about the master-slave relationship she emphasized, and said easily: "Of course, that is also a way of saying."

She looked at the screen and didn't speak immediately.After a while, Miss Pan De said: "So, there is no data?"

"Unless you let me know what it is used for." I maintained a smile, "As I said before, I am very expensive."

Miss Pender smiled too.But compared to just now, her smile is different.I vaguely remembered her provocative appearance on the court.

She spoke to bring me back to reality: "Well... well. BCG should show enough respect to you. Let's talk about something else, about your department."

"You are welcome to ask questions."

"You guys have a different style than the European department. From recent discussions with managers, it's actually hard to imagine that you're from the same company, other than what you do." Miss Pender moved away from the back of her chair, but seemed more relaxed. , "What do you think of this difference?"

As if her question didn't matter.

I told the truth: "The dominant factor is still the head of the department."

"Can you go into more detail?"

"Well, as you may already know, the big boss values ​​us more. In terms of autonomy, our two departments are more open. The COO is not responsible for our specific business. Usually, Rudra, Kevin and I am reporting to the big boss." I cleared my throat very quickly, "Because there is a clear communication channel with the superior, many businesses are handled more freely compared to other departments. Rudra and Kevin are completely different Therefore, the work style directly affects the entire department, and there is a certain gap in the maturity and market depth of the market we are connected to, so the actual difference is of course even greater.”

She listened carefully and immediately asked, "Which model do you think is better?"

"Let me put it this way," I replied, "Rudra can lead the team to do European projects, but Kevin can't do Asian projects."

Miss Pan De obviously didn't expect me to speak so bluntly, she showed a meaningful smile and asked, "May I know why?"

"He doesn't know anything about the Internet." I said, "He is an excellent senior executive. I believe that Kevin can be placed in any position, and his excellence can be reflected. But it depends more on A certain methodology, I don't agree with his depth in the technical direction."

"Put you in Kevin's shoes, can you do better?"

"I wouldn't say that. We have completely different styles."

She nodded thoughtfully, and suddenly said, "Do you often work late lately?"

"Each to each other." There was something in my words.

"I saw you move your neck several times during the day." Her eyelashes were shadowed under the light, and they appeared thicker, "And your voice, I don't know if it's because of the Internet, it sounds a lot hoarse .”

"There will be more recently. You know, the situation in Brazil is not good. Our local colleagues have already worked from home, so meetings are more frequent." I cleared my throat again to hide my emotions.Turns out she just cared about me.

The real reason is of course not this, I still have a little bit of vigilance.

"It doesn't sound like I have much personal time. No wonder I use my mobile phone to send messages during the meeting." She looked directly at me, and in a blink of an eye, her eyes fell further down, and I knew she was looking at my face.

Miss Pan De's voice was soft: "Boyfriend?"

"I don't—" I lowered my head and smiled, and looked at her again, "I don't have a boyfriend."

Her eyes changed again.The noise in the communication covered every movement and stillness with a thin mist, as if her smile had content and her expression had warmth.I couldn't help asking: "What about you?"

Miss Pan De is too gentle at this moment, I can't help but lose my mind, thinking that the halo of the floor lamp at the edge of the screen is no longer constrained by the world, that her seat breaks the boundary between the line and the wall, and I think that she is close in front of me.

I heard her say, "Are you flirting with me?"

My ears are buzzing.What did she say?

My brain crashed on the spot, installed the card, disconnected the network, all in one go.