Chapter 4

One of my team members couldn't watch anymore and quietly interjected, "Daisy, those are Chloe's notes on the client's specific preferences. We might need them later."

Daisy shook her head with a chuckle.

"Client preferences? AI can easily analyze that from public data."

"Besides, Evercore is a massive corporation. Their board's aesthetic is bound to be international, high-tech, and ultra-modern."

I almost laughed out loud.

Arthur Sterling, the Chairman of Evercore Group, absolutely despised the so-called "futuristic high-tech" style.

He had started his career in traditional manufacturing before successfully pivoting. He wanted this smart showroom to showcase the company’s evolution, not to look like a sci-fi convention.

I had personally accompanied him to the site five times.

He had told me himself:

"I don't care how advanced the technology is. If it lacks a human touch, it's trash."

That was why my original concept was "The Legacy of the Forge meets the Energy of the Future."

The first exhibition zone was designed to preserve their old machinery, vintage photos, and the ID badges of their very first employees.

From there, digital projections and interactive displays would seamlessly transition visitors into their new clean energy production lines.

That was what Evercore actually wanted.

But Daisy didn't know any of this.

Because she had never bothered to read the client dossier.

She only knew how to ask her AI.

Once she cleared out the conference room, she began treating her work like a live stream, constantly bragging about her process.

"AI, design a jaw-dropping concept for a smart showroom. Make it as high-end and futuristic as possible."

A bunch of buzzwords quickly populated her screen:

"Metaverse."

"Cyberpunk City."

"Interstellar Travel."

"Future Engine."

Daisy’s eyes lit up with excitement.

"Amazing! Now "this" is what I call creativity!"

I sat quietly in the corner, checking my emails.

An email from Marcus Drake, the procurement manager at Evercore, popped up in my inbox.

[Hi Chloe, I heard your company suddenly changed the project lead? Chairman Sterling is a bit concerned. Will you still be attending tomorrow's clarification meeting?]

I replied:

[I will be there, but I won't be the main presenter.]

Marcus replied almost instantly:

[The Chairman only approved the direction you pitched earlier. Are you sure about this?]

I glanced over at Daisy, who was currently prompting her AI to "generate a galaxy-class headline for the presentation."

I typed back:

[I will bring a backup proposal just in case. It won't affect your firm's decision-making process.]

After hitting send, I encrypted my true final proposal on my laptop and slipped the printed backup copy into my bag.

In my past life, I cared too much about Brandon and the company's reputation, backing down again and again.

In this life, I wouldn't let anyone use my hard work to score points.

And I certainly wouldn't let Brandon step over my dead body to protect his precious little intern.

The next morning, we arrived at Evercore Group for the clarification meeting.

Daisy had dressed up in a sharp white designer suit-dress, her makeup flawless, looking like she was ready to accept an award.

Before getting into the car, she stood at the entrance of our office and gave me a sweet smile.

"Chloe, since I'm presenting today, could you help me click through the slides?"

The colleague next to us scowled in annoyance.

But Brandon nodded approvingly. "Good. Let's keep the roles clear."

I took the clicker from her hand. "Sure."

A smug look flashed across Daisy's face.

When we arrived at Evercore, Marcus was waiting in the lobby to escort us.

Seeing Daisy leading the group, he paused.

"And who is this?"

Daisy immediately extended her hand.

"Hi Marcus, I'm the new project lead, Daisy Vance."

"You can contact me directly for anything regarding the project moving forward. Chloe will be assisting me."

Marcus’s gaze shifted to me.

I gave him a slight nod without offering any explanation.

With a complicated look on his face, he led us into the executive boardroom.

The room was packed.

Arthur Sterling sat at the head of the table. His hair was silver, but his eyes were incredibly sharp.

In my past life, after our bid was thrown out, he had called me and asked, "Chloe, is this trash really the best you can do?"

Back then, I had no way to defend myself.

This time, I wouldn't let him down.

Daisy opened her presentation.

The moment the first slide popped up, the room fell into a dead silence.