Louie opened his IBM laptop, leaned back, crossed his legs, and sipped Nestlé coffee. As the head of the marketing department, Louie rarely got involved in projects; most of his time was spent leisurely and relaxed.
Knock, knock.
Two knocks sounded on the door, and Louie shifted his gaze from the computer screen to the entrance. Shaw stood there with a smiling face, his fingers not yet leaving the door.
"Louie, busy?" Shaw asked with a smile.
Shaw's question left Louie speechless. Even a fool could see from his current expression that he wasn't busy. Leisurely leaning back in the chair, holding a cup of coffee, and wearing an expression of having nothing to do—what part of this suggested busyness?
"Manager, what's up?" Louie asked.
"Oh, I have some good news." Shaw smiled, walked into the office, and casually closed the door behind him. He pulled a chair, sat across from Louie, and continued, "Louie, I just received a notice. There's a meeting at 9 AM about the personnel selection for the Organization Department. It seems the department's head has been decided. The president will personally preside over it, and vice presidents and relevant department managers will attend."
"What does it have to do with me?" Louie placed his coffee on the table, took out a nail clipper from the drawer, and began trimming his nails, seemingly uninterested in what Shaw was saying.
Shaw pulled a chair, leaned slightly forward, lowered his voice, and said, "Brother, your name is on the list for the meeting. It means you are the chosen one for the new head of the Organization Department. In the future, you'll have to take care of your brother."
"Oh, is that so?" Louie frowned, seemingly troubled. "I'm used to having a leisurely life. If they make me the head of the Organization Department, I might die from exhaustion. How about this, if it really is me, I'll recommend you for the position, and I'll remain the head of the marketing department."
Shaw heard someone not wanting a promotion for the first time. Early this morning, Shaw received the notice and immediately informed Louie, thinking it would leave a good impression. After all, the Organization Department's power would be substantial, not only managing the marketing department but also overseeing the production department. The head of the Organization Department would hold a position equivalent to the deputy general manager in the group. Shaw believed that by building a good relationship with Louie, his own position would be more secure. However, he didn't expect Louie to not care about the position and even recommend him.
"Recommend me? If I can become the head of the Organization Department, do I still need to be polite with you?" Shaw thought, "What kind of background does this guy have? He's only been in the group for a short time, and he's nominated for such a crucial position."
"Recommend me, and if I become the head of the Organization Department, do I still need to be polite to you?" Shaw thought to himself. "What kind of background does this guy have? He's only been in the group for a short time, and he's nominated for such a crucial position."
"Recommend me, and if I become the head of the Organization Department, do I still need to be polite to you?" Shaw thought, "What kind of background does this guy have? He's only been in the group for a short time, and he's nominated for such a crucial position."
"The head of the Organization Department? Do you know how many people are eyeing that position? Not to mention those vice presidents, even some shareholders on the board of the group hope to have their people in that position." Shaw was well aware of the importance of the Organization Department. Although it currently did not directly manage the operations of the marketing and production departments, it was only a matter of time before both departments were unified under it.
This department's main role was to directly place people in the major departments of Infinity Group. Once it controlled the marketing and production departments, it would hold a significant stake in the power struggles among those within the group.
Shaw knew the importance of this department. Hearing that Louie wanted to give up a position that many coveted, Shaw shook his head repeatedly and said, "Louie, you're still young. Think about it. If you become the head of this department, how many people will have to nod and bow to you? By then, your financial resources will flow in like a river."
"Well, that's true." Louie nodded, seemingly persuaded. He furrowed his brows, looking troubled. Shaw thought he had convinced Louie and hurriedly said, "Louie, you can have whatever you want by then."
"But I don't know what to do with so much money." Louie's words almost made Shaw stumble to the ground. He stared at Louie with wide eyes, thinking, "Is this guy really naive or just pretending to be naive? How can he not know what to do with money?"
Seeing Shaw's surprised expression, Louie burst into laughter. He stood up, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window with his back to Shaw, and said, "I'm alone in Sradarc, with no family. I don't have much use for money. Having too much money can be troublesome."
Shaw had an impulse to punch someone. He really wanted to hit Louie in the face with his fist. "Are you even human? Don't you want money? If you have too much money, give it to me." Shaw thought to himself but didn't express it. Instead, he echoed Louie's words, "Louie, you're right, having too much money can be troublesome. But in this day and age, you can't do without money. Listen to me, brother, earn more money—it's always good."
Louie turned around, chuckled, and said, "Manager, you're right. I'm still a young man." At this point, Louie leaned his face toward Shaw, lowered his voice, and asked, "Let me ask you a personal question, Manager. Do you keep a mistress?"
"Joking, just joking. I'm this old; how could I do such things?" Shaw laughed repeatedly.
Louie, looking at Shaw's laughter, said, "What a good man, definitely a good man." Just as Shaw thought this was a compliment, he heard Louie continue, "No wonder I overheard your female assistant saying you always go home."
Shaw almost fainted. He realized he needed to be careful about what he said. This was the company, and someone might overhear. If people found out about him and his female assistant, it could affect his reputation as the head of the marketing department.
Louie and Shaw headed to the multifunctional conference room on the twelfth floor. As Louie reached the door, he saw Edith wearing a blue women's suit, holding a large stack of files, walking from the opposite direction. Her face, cold and beautiful, showed no expression. When she reached the door and noticed Louie standing there, she furrowed her brows and said coldly, "Supervisor, why are you standing at the door?"
"Waiting for you." Louie's face lit up with a brilliant smile, like a flower under the sunlight. He extended his hand, saying, "Come on, Edith, let me help you with these files."
"No need." Edith stood her ground, glanced at Shaw standing beside Louie, and said coldly, "Manager, I have something to discuss with the supervisor. Please excuse us."
Shaw nodded and smiled, "Sure, go ahead. I'll wait inside." He walked into the meeting room.
Edith kept her gaze on Louie, her voice not loud but forceful, "Supervisor, the reason you're attending this meeting is because of your strong capabilities and the president's personal recommendation. However, it doesn't mean you can act recklessly. I hope you won't disappoint me during the meeting."
Louie shook his head in confusion, wearing a puzzled expression. "I don't understand what you're saying, talking about presidents and strong capabilities. I'm quite confused right now."
Edith gave Louie a sharp look. She couldn't figure out what kind of person he was; he seemed inscrutable. Last time, Louie surprised her by discussing certain technical parameters and issues related to motive technology that even someone like Edith, with years of technical experience, hadn't considered. Afterward, she checked numerous documents and found that many of them involved cutting-edge motive technology currently in the research phase domestically. If these technologies were truly applied for civilian use, it would propel Infinity Group to become a leader in the domestic industry.
Edith had always suspected that Louie deliberately did this. It was highly likely that he had been involved in some cutting-edge technology abroad for years but couldn't disclose it for certain reasons. Considering the president's emphasis on him, her suspicion became even more convincing.
However, Edith didn't like Louie as a person and even resisted any contact with him. She actively avoided interacting with Louie for another reason: that day, she felt attracted to a man for the first time.
"Supervisor, I hope you can seize this opportunity." Edith felt that talking too much with Louie was a waste. She didn't want to continue the conversation, saying indifferently, "If you give up this opportunity, it would be a relief for me personally because I don't like you. But from a work perspective, I really hope you can apply the advanced technology you possess for the benefit of the group."
After saying this, Edith ignored Louie and walked straight into the meeting room.
Louie was left bewildered by Edith's words. He thought for a long time but couldn't understand when he supposedly acquired advanced technology.