Upon hearing the time, Rebecca glanced at her watch. "I'll wait until 10:30. After that, I'm leaving."
She held the upper hand in this negotiation, and she intended to keep it that way.
The meeting was set for 10:30, and she wasn't about to act like she was begging for a favor. After all, it was AY seeking her collaboration, not the other way around!
Talbot, with a reassuring smile, said, "Rest assured, our President Yeager is very punctual. If she said 10:30, she'll be here on the dot."
Anthea had actually arrived earlier, but there had been an issue in the tech department. The company's internal network had been attacked by international hackers, causing chaos. Despite the efforts of a dozen programmers working overtime for days, the problem hadn't been solved. Upon hearing about it, Anthea decided to step in herself.
Over in the tech department, the secretary led Anthea in. "Liam, Lucas, this is Ms. Yeager, a relative of the boss's family. She has a remarkable talent for computers. Please explain the issue to her."
Anthea had instructed Talbot not to reveal her true identity to everyone, to get genuine feedback and ideas. So, apart from Talbot and his secretary, no one knew who she really was.
Liam and Lucas, the two employees, were staring at their screens in frustration. Hearing the introduction, they looked up, hoping for a miracle. But when they saw Anthea, their initial hope faded.
She was strikingly beautiful, yes, but she seemed so young! Barely eighteen, maybe? Was she even in college yet? To them, she seemed like a high schooler, and her presence was as welcome as a disruptive child’s.
Still, she was the boss’s relative, and they had to show her respect. The bespectacled Liam quickly stood up. "Hello, Ms. Yeager, I’m Liam, a backend engineer, and this is Lucas, our database administrator."
Anthea nodded slightly, "Hello."
Lucas quickly explained the complex issue they were facing.
Anthea raised an eyebrow, "Let me give it a shot."
Lucas and Liam made space for her to sit.
The secretary chimed in, "Ms. Yeager, perhaps you should try later. It's only twenty minutes to 10:30."
What could be done in twenty minutes? Rebecca was waiting upstairs, and this collaboration was crucial. The secretary couldn't let Rebecca wait too long.
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