Chapter 268 - Squad Endorsement Offer (3)

The two women contemplated for a while and tried their best to gather their composure. They secretly took a deep breath and looked at each other with a meaningful glance.

"You've made a good point," Cathy helplessly spoke and looked at boss Wang. "Do you think that the concept is not worthy for you to endorse?"

Hearing her question, Sofia immediately realized the sarcasm in her tone. She giggled and took a sip of water. Her movements were slow that the people around her gaped at her.

"The contract is not yet signed. If you don't like to endorse the products, we will find a new prospect to endorse it," Chel quickly added.

"You think too much. As I said, I am just expressing my opinion. I have no ill-intention for this project," Sofia replied. She busied herself by closing the cap of her water bottle and letting silence engulf them once more.

"Then, what do you want, Miss Sofia? Tell us exactly so we would not waste our time talking here but accomplishing nothing," Cathy demanded.

Now, these two representatives had another impression of the young lady in front of them. Not only she was inquisitive. She was also opinionated!

But as Cathy observed Sofia's expression, there was actually no trace of arrogance in her bearing. Despite her direct words towards their concept, she still looked noble while sitting straight in the chair.

Sofia pursed her lips. She slowly raised her hand on the left side and gathered some of her hair at the back of her ear. She leaned forward and give a glance at boss Wang. However, before she could respond to Cathy, Chel moved her chair using her full body and stood again...

"Actually... since you dared to say that our product's concept is too common, you must have your own idea, right? You can't just drop your opinion and criticize us without having thoughts. Otherwise, girl, we are just going to treat you as pretending to be a know-it-all," Chel also voiced out.

Seeing the manner of how she was maliciously eyeing Sofia, Jing Jing also stood from her seat. "What do you mean by that?" she countered in a challenging gaze.

"Ohh, don't tell me you don't understand what I said? It's too simple. Your squad leader should not give opinions to things that she does not even know the full nature of it. She can say that our concept is common. But who knows, she is just ignorant?!" Chel scoffed.

Jing Jing suddenly raised one of her eyebrows and glared at Chel. "Hey! Watch your words! What do you mean ignorant? Miss Sofia knows more than you! Her ideas are better than what you have! If not for her, you won't even know about that details!"

"Heh! You can claim that this girl is knowledgeable more than me. But, mere words from your mouth is just empty word. If we don't hear her ideas right now, then, how can we believe your claims that she is knowledgeable?" Cathy stated. 

Jing Jing clenched her fist. But, all of a sudden, she felt a tug in the hem of her blouse. Sofia gently pulled the side of her upper outfit and gestured for her to sit.

"Don't fight over little things. We are here to settle some matters. We must discuss this endorsement project in a professional way. I hate to waste my time too. But, raising our voices and yelling won't really make our discussion finish. Drink a sip of water and calm down," Sofia spoke. Her words were directed not just to Jing Jing but also to all of them in the room.

Jing Jing obliged. She quickly drank half of the water in her bottle and realized that she did react badly. "My apologies, Miss Sofia. I almost lost my temper. But, that Chel is clearly belittling you. I won't endure it," she whispered.

"Sister Jing, I appreciate your sentiments. But, situations like this need to be handled calmly," Sofia whispered back to Jing Jing. There was a small curl on her lips as she looked at the two brand representatives. Then, she shifted her line of vision to boss Wang. "Mr. Wang, do you have suggestions?"

The man had been in a state of daze. When Sofia called his name, he was once again startled. Then, he asked, "W-what? Ahh--- let me think first. S-should I give a suggestion?"

"Boss Wang, your mind seemed to be in outer space!" Jing Jing snickered with a hint of playfulness in her tone.

"Hmmph, I won't argue with you, jinx! However, I'm really sorry for my distracted behavior Miss Sofia and the two ladies... I haven't closed my eyes since yesterday," Boss Wang admitted.

"Mr. Wang, I understand. You did work hard for me. Let me just handle it, then," Sofia quickly asserted. She then looked at Chel and offered a friendly smile, "Please call your manager again, Ms. Chel. I will talk to her about my ideas of the concept for this endorsement project to expedite our negotiation."

Chel sighed and sat on her chair. She did not say a word but she proceed to check her call logs and pressed the name Manager Lan.

After dialing the number, the call was quickly answered in just a first ring. "Ehem! Manager Lan, sorry to disturb you. I have other concerns about the endorsement project," Chel stated in a solemn tone but her volume is loud enough to ensure that Sofia could hear her.

"Speak," the manager responded with no trace of emotion in his voice.

Just by her voice, Sofia could tell that the person was someone that held great authority in the shoe company. Perhaps, this manager is just a position. As for her identity, Sofia predicted that she sounded like an owner or perhaps the investor of the business.

"Uhm, So, I told the endorser about what you said on my first call. This endorser does not seem satisfied with the concept of our shoes. She thinks that it is too common to use comfort as the concept! Now, she wants to talk with you," Chel reported in one go and did not wait for the manager to say anything. "Manager Lan, here is the endorser!"

The phone was quickly handed to Sofia. In split seconds, Sofia place the device near her ear and slowly stood from her seat. Jing Jing and the rest of the people looked at her as she started walking towards the door and outside the office.

She just stood there on the side of the office. They could still see her shadow on the glass wall, but there was no way for them to understand the conversation between her and Manager Lan. All they could hear were murmurs and incoherent sentences from Sofia.

"Eh, ladies... do you want coffee?" Boss Wang asked the two representatives. He was calling his secretary again to bring him a coffee.

"No, we are fine. Boss Wang, who is this girl that she could actually talk to our manager calmly? What kind of family background did she have?" Cathy curiously inquired. 

"Miss Sofia? I'm not too concerned about the family background of others. But, judging from Miss Sofia's personality, she should be from an elite family. You can ask her," Boss Wang spoke and passed their attention to Jing Jing.

But before they could speak, Jing Jing already gestured for them to stop. "The two of you are not worthy of knowing the family background of Miss Sofia. Please respect her privacy!"

With Jing Jing's dismissal, they have settled in silence. Only Boss Wang was sipping a coffee while looking at Sofia's shadows outside.

Meanwhile, Sofia took her time to speak with manager Lan as if she was speaking with a person that had equal authority as her. Despite how cold the tone of Manager Lan was, she was not intimidated at all.

"You called the concept of our product common?" Manager Lan started.

"Let's call it what it is. The concept of comfort is now overused. It's really too common. I want to speak to you directly so I can share a better idea for these products. I wonder if you are interested to hear my ideas, Manager Lan?" Sofia responded.

"Hahaha... since you have the guts to call us out. Then, I am really interested in what better ideas do you have, Miss Sofia!? Care to enlighten me then," Manager Lan chuckled.

"Hmmn, from what I understood, the inspiration of the product... uhm, may I ask first if the designer of the shoes is a dancer too?" Sofia suddenly assessed.

"That's right! I could say that the one who designed the shoes had a fair share of dancing experience," Manager Lan answered right away.

"Then, who made the concept of the endorsement?" Sofia questioned once more.

"Is it important to know to know who made the what you called 'common' concept?" Manager Lan retorted. In reality, it was her department who assigned this concept. But, she did not want for Sofia to know it.

"Not really. I am just trying to find a better understanding of how the concept of comfort was decided for this endorsement. In any case, I will take a guess and assume that the designer was not the one who decides the concept," Sofia expressed easily. The manager may have her way of hiding information, but Sofia could proceed with her own instinct. And she was certain that her guess was correct.

"Whatever you want to assume! Don't waste my time. Speak your ideas," Manager Lan demanded.

"Hehe... Well, in my mind, those artists who performed and danced on the side of the streets did not really think about comfort. Instead, they are trying to express their passion for dancing. The sense of freedom from their movements while being watched in the public... the most suitable concept for this should be... breaking the comfort zone. What do you think, manager Lan?"

"B-breaking the comfort z-zone?----" Manager Lan repeated but there was a small tremor in her voice as she was actually impressed by Sofia's idea.. Break the comfort zone by wearing their products! Manger Lan took a deep breath and cleared her throat just to hide her astonished state. But, no matter what, she was completely impressed!