Chapter 180 - Essence

"Call me Leslie, can you please not think of me as old-fashioned as your grandfather?" He made a slightly distressed expression.

Laila chuckled, "Alright, Leslie." In this country where even parents' names can be used directly, calling an elder by their name wasn't a big deal.

Leslie hooked her arm and led her towards the crowd behind, saying, "Let me introduce you to everyone. This is Herbert Galls, the CEO of Victoria's Secret."

"Hello, Mr. Galls," Laila nodded in acknowledgment. Victoria's Secret's future achievements had little to do with this CEO. It seemed that it was a woman who came after him that propelled Victoria's Secret to greatness.

But encountering a CEO-level character, something that had only been seen in novels was indeed interesting. Herbert had the air of a protagonist, and it was clear that Warren Galls' handsomeness and elegance were inherited from him.

In the Western world, women are considered less appealing after turning thirty due to various facial concerns. In contrast, older men exude a mature charm. Herbert, in his forties, stood there exuding a refined demeanor. He was the type of man that women who appreciate older gentlemen would scream over.

"Hello, Miss Moran," Herbert didn't prompt her to call him by his name. He understood how to not overshadow his boss. Leaving a profound impression on the boss was good, but if it was a negative impression, it wouldn't be worth it.

Leslie proceeded to introduce Laila to the company's high-level executives and many mid-level managers. Despite their positions, they couldn't just sit idly in their offices when the big boss personally appeared. Unfortunately, Leslie couldn't remember all their names, so he had Herbert introduce them on his behalf.

After some small talk, they entered the high-level conference room of the Victoria's Secret headquarters.

Leslie offered the main seat to Herbert, taking a seat with Laila in the lower right corner.

"Everyone," Herbert gathered their attention, "I believe you are already aware that for the next year, Miss Laila Moran will be fully in charge of planning and promotional activities for our company. Miss Moran has had numerous successful cases in the past, and I believe that our cooperation will take the company to an even better state."

Applause filled the conference room. The applause was enthusiastic, but Laila didn't become conceited enough to think it was all for her. It was likely a way for the big boss to assert his presence.

Under everyone's gaze, Laila smiled and nodded, "Yes, taking on this task is a challenge for me as well. During this time, I hope everyone can cooperate with my work to help us create a miracle for Victoria's Secret."

"Creating a miracle," what a confident statement! The people in the conference room stared at her with surprised looks. Before her arrival, they had all heard about the planning cases she had handled. It was inevitable. Few would willingly become assistants to a girl under twenty if they didn't know how outstanding she was going to be.

Once they saw her resume, all that was left in their hearts was a sense of shock and the feeling that they had wasted their decades of life.

Others were able to make hundreds of millions with a few tens of thousands at the age of eighteen, while they were only thinking about which girl was the hottest in school at that age. How could they compare?

In many people's eyes, Laila's appearance was like a blow to their self-confidence. Since they couldn't compete, they might as well obediently cooperate. If even the boss had shown his full support for her, then the subordinates certainly wouldn't say anything.

They were also curious about how she planned to promote the brand. After all, this was a lingerie brand, not a movie with a plot and explosive advertising points. How would they create a "miracle" for it?

Laila looked around, taking in the expressions of each person. Perhaps because Leslie was present, nobody showed any flaws in their performance. This was good. Carrying Leslie's trust and support, she could work wholeheartedly. Naturally, she would demonstrate that miracles were created by people.

"Before I arrived, I had already familiarized myself with Victoria's Secret as a brand. In my opinion, it has a lot of untapped potential. But before I share my thoughts, I'd like to know, how do you all perceive Victoria's Secret? If you had to describe it in one word, what word would you choose?"

The people in the conference room exchanged glances, wondering what others would say. However, they had to be careful since this was in front of the boss. Saying the wrong thing would be embarrassing.

"Sexy," a voice chimed in from below.

All eyes turned to the speaker, who turned out to be the CEO's son, Warren Galls.

Laila smiled at him, "That's one. Any others?"

With Warren leading the way, others began to voice their opinions, saying things like "seductive," "romantic," "indulgent," and so on.

"That's right," Laila said after everyone finished, "Just as you all mentioned, Victoria's Secret has that kind of allure. So, let's choose a defining attribute for it."

Saying this, she took out a drawing from her bag. The drawing wasn't very refined; it was a seemingly casual colored pencil sketch.

The drawing depicted a woman with a beautiful figure, half-sitting up from her slumber. Her long hair was slightly curled and draped over her shoulders and back. Her gaze was hazy as if she hadn't fully awakened from her dreams. A semi-transparent, silky cloth was sliding down from her waist, revealing her full buttocks, slender waist, and long legs.

Laila was adept at drawing, although she might not compare to a professional artist. However, creating simple and basic drawings was well within her capabilities.

"This is the essence I want to create for Victoria's Secret!"

Her assistant took the drawing and projected it onto the screen at the front of the office.

Leslie was intrigued, resting his chin in his hands, "Laila, I think I'm enchanted by the woman in this drawing. Could you elaborate on your ideas?"

"My pleasure," Laila smiled at him, walking over to the screen, "My drawing might not be very artistic, but everything I want to convey is right here. What is lingerie? It's the most intimate clothing for women. It not only provides comfort but also a sense of security.

"But at the same time, let's not forget its duty as clothing, which is to accentuate the beauty of women. What Warren said just now was accurate—sexy. It's a term that fits Victoria's Secret perfectly. How can we infuse this sexiness throughout the entire brand? How can we make people associate this term with Victoria's Secret? That's the most important thing we need to do over the next year."