It was suffocating in the conference room and I wasn't the only one who was feeling that—maybe I did, but how could they have not when it was obvious by the faces of the people present?
It was a very interesting combination, actually. Most of the people have bags under their eyes because of the grueling hours they spent doing nothing but work for the past several days, late at night. And almost everyone's faces were dark and dripped in tension with very genuine reason.
And that gorgeous reason was sitting at the head seat, flipping through the pages with her long slender fingers maintaining her usually calm and leisurely pace.
But the pressure and tension she was projecting were on par with her looks, though.
Anyway, the conference room was the same as most of the office, with only black and white, and a long rectangular table was placed at the center, with one end occupied by Alina and the other by the projector, displaying the images of a beautiful pair of earring designs. And along the length were the employees with bleak looks.
Alina flipped the page again and many loud gulps faintly resounded throughout the room as she asked while glancing at the very nervous woman, who was standing beside the projector.
"And is this the same for each and every one?"
"Y—yes, umm, e—every hundred unique sets of design are...a—adjusted to the requirements. Each high-end piece has a c—counterpart specially crafted from...alternative m—materials to maintain the same brilliance and form without losing the core design language. A—and so, we have exactly hundreds of b—both luxury and... accessibility sets of designs ready."
Her voice kept breaking, and she had to swallow from time to time as her voice kept trailing because of her throat becoming dry.
"A—again, w—we processed every design again."
I couldn't blame the young woman. Up until now, she was only in charge of reviewing jewelry design, but now because of the sudden disappearance of the team lead, Sabrina, she suddenly had to present it—and in front of Alina no less. She should be applauded for just even standing there, actually.
"The issue from the last meeting was that it felt too different when compared to each of their counterparts."
So, the meeting was about the album J&K was launching with a total of a hundred designs. It was the biggest launch in history, and not only just that but it also had a lower quality counterparts that target the general audience.
This was a different thing, but it had to be a fucking hundred, huh? If I were to say I was completely recovered from my last chat with Alina, it would be a lie, and now, I had to hear this?
"It couldn't be said to be of the same design."
Alina continued as she stared at Leila with her cold gaze.
"Y—yes, after testing it with light—I mean..."
At that, finally the composure she was maintaining suddenly crumbled, but at that time, Zoey suddenly stood up and started to explain.
"After doing a lighting test, we are able to bring the variance in tone to only five percent by simultaneously keeping almost the same volume perception under light by adjusting the curvature depths."
Inside the room, if there was someone who was unaffected by the situation, then it should be Zoey. How she was able to keep her face straight in front of Alina? No one knew that—maybe that was her superpower, like that one where one could turn off their emotions or something.
Anyway, this was the fifth redo. The main problem was that the counterpart of their high-end sets was never able to hold the design because of the material chosen, so she asked for lab-grown material with the most accurate result they could give, but it always fell short of Alina's expectations.
And that was why Leila was startled.
I watched the whole meeting from the sidelines, only answering a specific question and adding things here and there. Now that I became a director, I didn't need to worry about explaining anything. This was the perk of being a director, I guess, but maybe I spoke too soon.
"Five percent? Is that correct?"
Alina turned her head towards me and asked that. I was taken aback, sure, but I didn't come all this way for nothing and calmly answered.
"Yes, I checked that myself—the reflection density under multiple lighting environments is accordingly noted."
The room then became silent, with only voice was the soft humming of the air conditioner and the projector, which was broken from time to time by Alina as she tapped her finger on the table.
A moment passed with heavy silence, as Alina kept flipping pages, one after another, as she regarded every design with a calm and steady pace.
Before her arrival I had the title of perfection, but now it felt pale compared to her. She was bold and confident and never left space for slight error. That was why she was doing something that all of us would disregard the idea of even if it came into our minds.
Improving the quality of the substitutes meant a large amount of expenditure that needed a suitable number of sales to overcome with but Alina appeared to be confident about it for some reason. I guess she did really save a branch so no one had to argue with her.
So, when the topic of her welcoming party arrived, she responded that she would welcome herself with a successful launch of their upcoming project and then completely submerge herself—along with us—in work.
"'For me'? You couldn't come up with something better than this?"
Alina chuckled as she read the tagline 'For me' of the product, and most of the people's faces turned pale—I too was the same but after seeing her amused look, I think otherwise. It was when she showed some interest, not disapproval and I was right, as I saw her closing the printed album.
"Alright, let's go with this and begin production immediately."
As she said that, only then did a color reappear on everyone's faces and Alina after looking at me, she continued.
"What about the material transfer?"
"I'll get on it right away."
I replied a little too enthusiastically.
"And when will it be done?"
She got up from her chair and picked up her long peach-colored coat.
"Ten days... but I'll see if I can make it in a week."
After seeing her, everyone stood up, and I answered back after quickly thinking.
"Make it five days."
She didn't stop, and after putting her coat on, she just left the room. And when the door got closed, everyone let out a loud sigh as they slumped down on the chair.
"Man, I thought I was going to die."
Shaun, who hadn't said a word during the whole meeting, spoke. I have already decided to send him for material inspection—since he got Zoey as his superior, he has been living a most luxurious life in the office.
Anyway, though everyone showed the same thought as his, no one spoke out loud like him. Excluding me and Zoey, all were the juniors.
As everyone was basking in the success of their project, I went to Leila, who too was looking like a dead person, and said with a smile.
"Good work, that was good for your first presentation."
She was on the verge of breaking into tears, but before she did, I continued.
"But still, go and apologize to President."
Her face which was about to tear up, suddenly darkened as I, after giving her redemption, took it back. I couldn't help but smile and patted her on the shoulder.
"Y—yes,"
With her shoulder slumping downward, she dragged her body towards the door as she replied back to me.
"Miss And—Eek!"
But before she even touched the door, it suddenly opened, and Alina came inside as she looked at the terrified Leila like she had seen a cockroach or something.
Well, there went her chance of redemption.
As most of the people were sprawling on their chairs, they quickly straightened themselves with different expressions flashing on their faces.
Alina disregarded everyone with a distant gaze until it fell on me.
"Miss Andrea, when the goods arrive, inform me..... I'll accompany you for inspection."
Huh? With me? But I was going to give that to Shaun.
Now, here was a thing about being a director—what I found out, at least—that I needed to distribute the work equally and efficiently to the people under me and that was itself work.
So, now she wanted me to do something other than that? Why?
"Why?"
I couldn't help myself and slipped up before I quickly added up.
"I mean, understood, President."
She studied me for a little while before turning back and leaving again. But as she was about to, I noticed her lips slightly curved up.
This....this didn't seem to be good to me.