Chapter 60

Chapter 60

"Did you really make this proposal yourself?"

In an instant, everyone's eyes locked onto Isabella - some curious, some ready to watch the drama unfold, and some clearly enjoying her predicament.

Isabella bit her lip, meeting Stanley's gaze head-on without flinching, her voice calm and clear.

"Yes, I did, Mr. Martinez."

Stanley sneered.

"Mr. Brown, have your hiring standards really dropped this low? You actually dare to bring something written by just a secretary to discuss a partnership with the Martinez Group?"

These words weren't just making things difficult - they were outright insulting.

William frowned, about to speak up for her, but Isabella gently pressed his arm first, signaling him not to worry.

She took half a step forward, facing Stanley directly, her tone still steady.

"Mr. Martinez, if you have any issues with the proposal, you can point them out directly. Judging an employee's abilities by their job title shouldn't be the Martinez Group's style, should it?"

Isabella's response both gave Stanley an out and made her position clear.

Stanley was actually a bit surprised.

Most young women, when publicly pressured like this by him, would have panicked already - either lowering their heads in distress or seeking help from a man. But this Isabella not only stayed calm, but she could also even think clearly enough to talk back.

Isabella was actually quite interesting.

He wanted to see just how capable this Isabella really was.

Only then did Stanley pick up the proposal, casually flipping through a few pages before closing it and tossing it on the table.

"Fine, today I won't look at job titles, only content."

After speaking, he paused, and when he glanced at Isabella again, his eyes were sharp and cold, his voice even more frighteningly heavy.

"Let me ask you - on page three, section three, regarding the cost budget for offline channel deployment, you calculated a total investment of 120 million dollars over three years. What's your basis? What makes you think this budget can last three years?"

Stanley's question was extremely tricky, hitting right at the core. This was the most complex part of the proposal with the most data - even if someone had read it, they'd have a hard time answering immediately.

Isabella hadn't expected Stanley to ask such a pointed question right off the bat, but she didn't panic.

Just when everyone present thought Isabella would get stuck and not be able to say a word, William looked at Isabella with a rather calm expression and said lightly.

"I'm here, no need to hold back."

Isabella immediately felt more confident. Staring straight at Stanley, she began calmly.

"Mr. Martinez, the budget in section three of page three is based on a comprehensive calculation of four factors: the average operating costs of the same industry in this city over the past three years, the Martinez Group's current channel resource utilization rate, the Brown Group's supply chain bargaining power, and the expected market inflation over the next three years."

Her speech was steady, her logic especially clear.

"The 120 million dollars is divided into three phases. The first phase is 40 million dollars for core commercial district layout, the second phase is 50 million dollars for expanding into lower-tier markets, and the third phase is 30 million dollars for maintenance and upgrades. Each expenditure corresponds to specific scenarios and return cycles, with detailed breakdowns on page seven of the appendix."

At this point, she suddenly paused and continued.

"Additionally, I've included three risk contingency plans in the proposal. If the market fluctuates, we can adjust the investment ratio at any time, compressing it to as low as 90 million without affecting overall progress."

Isabella's answer was word-perfect, with precise data and clear logic.

After hearing Isabella's report, a flash of surprise crossed Stanley's eyes.

He had originally just wanted to randomly find a question to make things difficult for Isabella, but he hadn't expected her not only to answer it, but even to have considered risk contingency plans.

Isabella did have some real ability - no wonder William valued her so much.

But Stanley still didn't show a pleasant expression.

After all, Isabella's existence would hurt Amelia, so anyone who hurt Amelia wouldn't have any good feelings toward her.

Meanwhile, everyone around looked at Isabella with admiration.

Who would have thought that such a beautiful female secretary would have such outstanding work abilities - no wonder William insisted on bringing her along.

Amid the surrounding sounds of amazement, Stanley's face darkened. He glanced at Isabella again and challenged her once more.

"Ms. Taylor has quite the silver tongue. Then let me ask, on page five, the user growth model - you used the traditional funnel model, but the industry is now using refined viral growth models. Isn't your thinking a bit too out of touch with market changes?"

Another sharp question.

Isabella couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.

Stanley wasn't examining this strategic proposal at all - he was clearly deliberately making things difficult for her.

Stanley and Amelia were really troublesome.

But even though she was complaining internally, Isabella remained composed on the surface, responding calmly.

"Mr. Martinez, it's not that we won't use viral models, but that they're not suitable. The Martinez Group is positioned in the mid-to-high-end market - user precision is more important than quantity. Blind viral growth would only lower the brand's positioning. The traditional funnel model, while conservative, has stable conversion rates and better suits the Martinez Group's long-term development."

As her words fell, the conference room became completely quiet.

At this moment, everyone could clearly see it.

Isabella wasn't some so-called "decoration" - she had genuinely studied the proposal carefully and anticipated all the questions Stanley might ask.

With such talent, yet she was just a small secretary - it really seemed like a waste of her abilities.

Stanley stared at Isabella for a few seconds. Even though he still didn't particularly like Isabella, he had to admit that he really couldn't find any problems with this proposal.

Isabella's abilities far exceeded his imagination.

But even if he acknowledged her work capabilities, it didn't mean he would like her. In his eyes, no matter how capable Isabella was, she was just a secretary by William's side.

And since Amelia liked William, he naturally wouldn't have any good feelings toward Isabella.

Stanley's expression remained cold, without a single word of praise for Isabella. He just waved his hand.

"We'll keep the proposal for now. Revise the details a bit more, and we'll talk again next time."

Clearly, Stanley was still going to make things difficult for Isabella.

William's eyes turned cold, about to speak, but Isabella steadied him once again.

Stanley was actually already satisfied with this proposal - he was only being difficult because she had made it.

If William and Stanley got into a conflict at this point, it would likely affect this partnership.

In this situation, arguing was useless and would only make the scene uglier.

William didn't speak, only stared at Stanley with dark eyes. Instead, Isabella smiled slightly.

"After we return, we'll optimize the details based on Mr. Martinez's suggestions and get back to you as soon as possible."

When the meeting ended, and Isabella followed William out of the Martinez Group, her expression was somewhat worried.

She had passed this hurdle, but what about the next one?

Getting into the car, William, who had been silent, finally looked at Isabella, his tone carrying obvious approval.

"Just now, you did very well."

Facing that level of difficulty from Stanley, Isabella could remain composed and resolve each challenge one by one - even though he admired Isabella's abilities somewhat.

Isabella smiled sheepishly.