Chapter Thirty-Eight

Hector gave a few seconds for the information to sink in before continuing. 

"This project is the most important every year. I am sure Mr. Ross mentioned this, but we have limited time and a rapidly approaching deadline. There is no time to waste."

With a glance in Sharlene's direction when he had said those last words, Hector continued to look at everyone.

However, his glance made Sharlene wary. 

'Did he think she was a time-waster?'

She thought, feeling offended by her new colleague's glance. 

Shaking her head, she scolded herself.

'I must be overreacting.'

"Is there something you would like to say, Miss?"

Mr. Thomas suddenly questioned, and all eyes were on her once again. 

Nervously smiling, she quickly responded.

"No, there is nothing."

"Then I would appreciate you pay attention."

'What?!'

She bellowed in her head while trying to maintain the smile on her face.

'Did I hear correctly?'

This Hector had bluntly told her she was not paying attention when she was because she had written a few notes in her notebook. He swiftly turned to look at someone else as he continued speaking, but she was fuming.

"We have a serious matter that is way above our heads, so we need perfect cooperation and teamwork. Do you all understand?"

"Yes, we do."

Everyone vocalized except Sharlene because she was still raging. 

On many occasions, she would be calm and collected. 

She would overlook these types of attitudes since she tolerated her boss. But for the past three days, she could not, and it was all thanks to her pregnancy mood swings, and maybe her tolerance bar had reached its zenith. The man had an air of arrogance surrounding him and made her unintentionally frown. 

'Was it because her laughing out loud earlier had gained the man's irritation? But she did not know him.'

Feeling his eyes on her person, she waited for him to call on her, but he moved on. 

"Are you okay?"

Whispering, Rita looked worried.

"Just pregnancy mood swings."

"Anger?"

"How did you know?"

Chuckling as quietly as she could, for Hector's eyes had suddenly descended on her, Rita murmured.

"Your ears always turn red when you are fuming."

Touching the tip of her ears with a blush, Sharlene was about to respond when Hector had loudly cleared his throat for their undivided attention, though he already had it. Clamping her mouth shut, Rita sent a wink in her direction before she looked back at her slightly frowning Hector.

"Now that I have everyone's attention."

Grimacing when his eyes were on her yet again as he stressed those words, Sharlene was beginning to dislike Hector Thomas even more. 

Stealing a glance in Madam Sinclair's direction, she realized she was not the only one who felt that way, for the woman was seething. She could practically feel her waves of anger across and probably not the only one because everyone except Hector avoided her eyes.

Swiftly, his intelligent eyes averted from her face to look at Madam Sinclair's, whose expression instantly changed from Miss. Grumpy to Miss. Happy. 

"Let us begin, shall we, Miss. Sinclair?"

He asked, and Sharlene became annoyed with his question. 

'Was he asking or stating?' 

She wondered while hovering the pen tip above the page. A few seconds later, she had received her answer when he swiftly opened his briefcase and began to empty the contents quite neatly on the table. 

Gathering them in his hands, he showed through his actions that the question he had asked was rhetorical. 

Lightly tapping them on the desk and making sure the stack was enough for the number of people in the room, he shared it in two and gave them to the two secretaries on either side to distribute to everyone. 

Soon, the only thing heard in the room was the shuffling of papers as everyone browsed through the thin but thick pages. Beautifully designed, everything in the booklet was original and recent, especially with the drawings she took an entire week to draw. 

"In your hand is the outline for the event. The type of jewelry pieces selected. All materials, accessories, and bindings to use are listed there. The next page features each piece of jewelry drawn, created, designed, and prepared for display. The time printed near them. Since we have to push work for the two months, excluding this week, Mr. Ross has provided provisions to select a large team of helpers from the other departments. They will arrive next week, so treat them as coworkers, not competitors."

"Yes, sir."

Everyone chorused, including Sharlene, for she looked forward to working hard to make the grand event a reality. It was the first big project she would be involved in.

A genuine smile spread across Hector's face, the most modest smile Sharlene had seen him form ever since he entered the conference room. It did not last long, for his poker expression soon returned.

"Good. Let us start with choosing several different types of jewelry we can use. Care to tell us, Miss. Sinclair?"

Sharlene furrowed her eyebrows. She realized Hector's tone was mocking as if he was inwardly laughing at Madam Sinclair. 

"I am afraid, Mr. Thomas, it was not I who came up with the idea, but my secretary, Miss. Cunning-ham."

Sharlene and Hector were left stunned, while everyone else remained neutral, for they had already known Sharlene was the brain behind every design and idea from the Visual and Art Design Department. She had unconsciously made a big name for herself when she showed her first draft during her interview.

Clearing his throat, Hector only hummed. 

"I see."

His criticizing eyes made Sharlene's eyebrows furrow in annoyance. 

'Was this Hector looking down on me to be so shocked?'

Thinking this, she slowly composed herself as she glanced in Madam Sinclair's direction, who looked like she won the lotto. What was she hoping for embarrassing Hector so? 

Furrowing her eyebrows in her direction, the woman ignored her while keeping her eyes straight ahead as if she had never spoken.

"Well, Miss. Cunning-ham? Please do share."

Returning her eyes onto Hector, then searching everyone's faces, for they had all looked in her direction with attentive eyes, Sharlene spoke. However, her throat suddenly became dry from the attention, so it came out like a squeak.

"Ah...yes."

Quickly, she cleared her throat with blushing cheeks. 

"What I supposed to my boss was that instead of making enormous and extravagant necklaces, we should shrink the length to reach just above the wearers' sternum and add an extended piece to fall a little below the neck on their back. Not only will that be lighter for the wearer, but the smaller an item, the more expensive it becomes because of the extra design and mechanism. Since the budget is grander than last time, that will not pose a problem. The necklaces will not only be customized, but they will be comfortable to wear either for important events or none."

Taking a deep breath while shivering due to nervousness, Sharlene held her breath. Everyone was left astounded by such an insignificant yet thought-through idea. With a pat on her hand, Rita whispered near her ear.

"Excellent idea, Shar."

Janice sent a smile that voiced Rita's words in her direction since she was sitting opposite her.

She felt moved by their commendation. 

Hector hummed as he finally took his seat after standing for so long. Leaning onto the table, he formed a steeple with his fingers. 

"So, you are saying instead of making larger accessories, we should invest in making them smaller with better materials and designs?"

Glancing in Madam Sinclair's direction as if the woman would give her the answer, she confidently responded but felt anything close because Hector's calculating stare was nerve-wracking. 

"Yes, we should."

"What does everybody else think?"

Glancing in everyone's direction, Hector did not look impressed by her idea. 

"I believe her idea regarding the necklaces is a good idea, sir, but about the rest of the jewelry, that cannot be possible because far too much expense will go into the production of customizing them and not able to finance the event."

One person commented while being mindful of her idea.

She was not discouraged. After all, it was just an idea that they could dismiss. It was never part of her job to give ideas. She was supposed to be the one to write the ideas, not the other way around.

"Anyone else?"

Rita raised her hands, and unsmiling Hector pointed at her.

"I think it is a good idea. Yes, there will be losses, but I believe a lot of profit will come out of this since people–the upper-classmen, women especially, are looking for something new, fresh, and artistic."

No one else spoke after that while they contemplated the two contrasting arguments. 

"I will inform these ideas, Miss. Cunning-ham to Mr. Ross."

Hector spoke this with assurance, but he sounded cold, his eyes piercing like a sharp knife into her face. 

'Why was he angry?'

She thought, quite irritated.

'What is wrong with him?'