Chapter 8: EIGHT

There were low murmurings in the boardroom as the members of the board waited for the meeting to start. Some of them were checking their phones while others were having side conversations. The room was filled with a diverse group of members, each with their own opinions and arguments. As the meeting began, there was a low murmur of voices, but it ceased immediately when Ace and Kian walked in.

"Good morning, everyone. Thank you for coming. Let's begin the meeting," said Ace as he took his seat at the head of the table.

As Ace started to speak, Jared, the magazine director, came in immediately after, and everyone took their seats. He nodded to the others in the room before turning his attention to Ace, who was speaking.

The board room was spacious and well-lit with large windows that offered a view of the city skyline. A long wooden table occupied the center of the room with plush leather chairs surrounding it. The walls were adorned with framed pictures of the fashion company's previous collections and achievements.

"So, as you all know, we have two potential projects we can work on," Ace began, referring to the contract application for producing shirts for the upcoming carnival and the sub-store for clearance sales of their fashion products. "We need to decide which one should be our priority."

The first to speak up was a tall, older gentleman with a thick, gray beard—Mr. Conrad. He spoke in a deep voice that commanded attention. "I believe we've all read the document briefing to the letter. I'd like to suggest that we should focus on the sub-store for clearance sales. We've had a lot of inventory piling up, and we need to move it out quickly before it becomes outdated. The carnival project can wait."

"I disagree. We've been given a unique opportunity to produce shirts for the carnival, and we should take advantage of it. It's a chance to showcase our brand to a wider audience and potentially gain new customers,” Ms. Abdul, a middle-aged woman with short, curly hair chimed in next.

There was a brief moment of silence as everyone in the room processed this information. Then other board members spoke up.

A bespectacled woman with a soft voice spoke up next. "I think we need to consider the financial aspect of both options. Which one will give us a better return on investment? If we can make a profit from the carnival project, then we should pursue it. If not, then we should focus on the sub-store."

Another older gentleman, this one with a neatly trimmed mustache, added, "I agree with the financial argument. We need to make sure that we're not just investing money in a project that won't bring us any return. Let's do the math and see which option makes the most sense."

"I think we should focus on the sub-store. We've been talking about it for months now, and it could really help us clear out some of our old inventory," said Ace.

"But the carnival is coming up soon, and we could make a lot of money by producing shirts for it. Plus, it's a great opportunity to get our name out there," argued Ms. Abdul.

The room erupted into a debate, with each board member giving their own opinion on what the company should focus on. Jared listened intently, taking notes as everyone spoke.

He leaned back in his chair and rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he listened to the arguments being presented by the other board members. Finally, one of the members, a woman with sharp features and piercing eyes, spoke up.

"I think we should take a moment to do the math," she said firmly. "If we take on this contract for the carnival shirts, we'll have to devote a lot of resources to it. And while the carnival is a big event, it's only once a year. Is it really worth it?"

Jared nodded in agreement. "I think that's a valid point. We need to look at the numbers before we make any decisions."

The woman smiled at Jared in appreciation. "Thank you for understanding, Mr. Jared. I just think we need to be practical here. We don't want to overextend ourselves and end up in a tough spot down the road."

He nodded again. "Absolutely. And it's not just about the resources we'll have to commit to this project. We also need to think about the timing. If we take on this contract, it's going to take up a lot of our time and energy. We might not be able to focus on other projects that could be more profitable in the long run."

Another board member, a tall man with a deep voice, spoke up in agreement. "I agree with Mr. Jared and Ms. Smith. We need to be smart about this. I think we should hold off on the carnival project for now and focus on building up our sub-store. We can always revisit the carnival opportunity next year."

Jared nodded, pleased that his point of view was being shared by others. "That's a good idea, Mr. Johnson. I think we need to prioritize our long-term goals over short-term gains. And building up our sub-store could definitely help us achieve those goals."

"Moreover, we've not even gotten the contract for the so-called carnival project, it's still in the works and getting the deal is not certain," he added, much to the agreement of most of the members

"I see your point, Jared. If the contract doesn't come through? We'll be left with nothing," Kian said, voicing his concerns.

Ms. Abdul leaned back in her chair, her hands clasped in front of her. "That's a possibility, Mr. Kian, but I'm confident that we'll get the contract. And even if we don't, we can always pivot and focus on the sub-stores."

One of the board members, who was among those who hadn't said anything since the meeting started a tall man with a bald head and a thick beard, spoke up. "I agree with Ms. Abdul and the others. We have to prioritize the carnival project. It's a great opportunity, and we shouldn't let it slip away."

Another board member, a middle-aged woman with short blonde hair, chimed in. "Plus, we can use the carnival as a platform to promote our brand and attract more customers. It's a win-win situation."

As the board members continued to debate, Ace and Kian listened intently, occasionally interjecting to ask for clarification or to add their own opinions. The arguments and opinions continued to flow back and forth, some more impassioned than others, but eventually, the board came to a decision.

After taking into consideration the opinions and arguments of all the members, Ace spoke up. "It seems that the consensus is to focus on the carnival project as our priority. We will still work on the sub-store, but for now, we will submit the contract application for producing shirts for the carnival."

The board members nodded in agreement, and the meeting was adjourned. As they filed out of the room, each member seemed content with the decision that had been made, knowing that their voices had been heard and their opinions valued.