Chapter 306 - The Chronos Squad's Endorsement Of Shoe Brand (6)

"Manager Lan, pardon me for asking this... But, I think you've been tolerant to those teens. Why do you allow them to insult us back there?" Aikee spoke after the group walked out of the office and closed the door behind them. The scene of the Chronos squad members sleeping while she was presenting her ideas made her felt extremely upset. But, because of manager Lan's strange reaction, she did not dare spoke it out.

"Hmm... Do you know why no one dares to bully the celebrities from our studio?" Manager Lan asked back to her in a friendly and considerate tone.

Such a question seemed to have no connection with her initial query. However, Aikee still replied, "Because the company is capable of handling our talents well."

"That's right. We have the capability of managing the best talents in the district. So, no one dared to complain despite the malicious attempt to throw controversies at them," Manager Lan muttered.

"But, manager Lan, this has nothing to do with those teens. We should not keep tardy endorsers. How dare those brats! They just joined us only to sleep in our private conference room!" Aikee voiced out feeling frustrated and annoyed at the behavior that she had witnessed.

Aikee's teammates wanted to spoke their agreement with her complaint. But, when they looked at manager Lan's expression, they decided that it was better for them to stay silent. Manager Lan seemed not angry by the teens' attitude?!

"They joined us because I invited them. As for the tardiness, they arrived in the studio more than half an hour before their appointment schedule. They are not tardy. They are early..." Manager Lan paused for a while. Then, she look at Chel and Cathy that were walking side by side behind her. The two ladies nodded their heads and smiled at her. 

'But why would manager Lan invite ignorant teenagers to our conference meeting?' Aikee asked in her mind. She secretly rolled her eyes and mentally shook her head. She found it hard to believe that her boss would still defend the teens!

"Perhaps, they were asleep because they are bored with your presentation?" Manager Lan curved her lips. Her tone almost accusing. As if she meant to say that the reason why the Chronos squad members had fallen asleep was that their department did not keep their presentation interesting!

Hearing this word, the five people lowered their gaze in embarrassment. Even Aikee's face turned red and she became speechless. If they were confused about manager Lan's personality, one thing was clear to them... that their boss was actually partial to the teens. 

'But why?'

Manager Lan continued walking and spoke once more. "I am strict to all my employees because I know that there is still a lot to improve for them. I want them to be the best in their field. But, that girl named Sofia... we just had a brief conversation over the phone last time. Yet, she had supplied a lot of ideas to make this new project great. How could I not be tolerant of this kind of talent? In fact, I want her to work in this company."

'They don't look great and talented at all!' Aikee made a protest inside her mind. Manager Lan only gaped at her and sensed the hostility of Aikee.

"Hmmn... Cathy and Chel, how does Mr. Wang treat those teens when you meet them in his office?" Manager Lan inquired her two staff without looking in their direction. Boss Wang's press company had a good connection to their studio. Unbeknownst to her, the relationship of her company and boss Wang was the same as Sofia's contract.

"Manager Lan, the reason why Mr. Wang recommended them to be the endorsers of our product was because of their popularity. It is said that in the social media, they are the main topic..." Chel answered.

"To be the main topic in the social media is not something that should be praised. Our celebrities have also done it many times," Aikee stated hinting that Chel's idea was somehow too shallow.

Cathy glanced at Aikee in the eye and smiled. "Ms. Aikee is right. Our celebrities were able to do it. Being the trending topic is a natural occurrence in our studio. However, this time... those teens, their Chronos squad had secured all the top 10 on the trending topic with different discussions involving them. It's not just the main topic. All the trending main topics would lead to them!"

"Top 10! Is that for real?" Aikee exclaimed and took out her phone from her shoulder bag. Then, she opened her social media account and clicked on the top trending discussions.

"If you don't believe what I said, you'll definitely believe what you'll see in the trending hashtags there," Cathy stated and looked away.

Manager Lan sighed once more. Then, the expression on Sofia's face suddenly replayed her mind as she remembered their meeting.

"Not only they are smart, but they also know how to play dumb. Don't fall on their act, Aikee. In fact, Sofia was listening to all the ideas that were presented at the conference. Yet, not even once I had seen her show an impressed expression. The entire time, she was passive. It made me think that the ideas we have talked about were just average..."

"Manager Lan, you think that our presentation was only average?" Vera could not help but made her thoughts known. How could their presentation be an average?

"No, I think, it is remarkable. But, after seeing Sofia's expression, I think it's less impressive. I suggest for your department to be friendly with those teens and tried to accommodate them. Maybe, they will share their ideas too," Manager Lan finished.

~~

On the other hand, back in the office of Manager Lan, Sofia's members had shifted to various comfortable sleeping positions while leaning on the table. She just sat there and observed them with gentle eyes.

'That manager Lan... what could be her hidden agenda?' Sofia pondered. Her eyes diverted towards the ceiling while tilting her face upwards. Then, her arms propped on the table and supported her chin.

Since the lady did not criticize them for their lack of manners during the conference meeting, Sofia quickly sensed that something was going on. There was no excuse for her team to sleep. If she was in manager Lan's position, she would have called them out and reprimand them.

While Sofia was still immersed in thinking about manager Lan's hidden agenda, the door in the office was pushed open. A man took a single step inside only to came to an abrupt stop. There was a camera dangling in his chest and both his hands supported to steady it.

The sight of Sofia's thinking pose welcomed his eyes. In Sofia's momentary daze, he sensed a boundless depth being expressed by her facial expression.  In an instant, he suddenly felt the urge to take a picture of Sofia's face.

Without making any noise, the man grabbed his camera and positioned it to his face. And then, he snapped a picture of Sofia.

The moment he pressed the capture button, the camera made a flashing effect which startled Sofia and finally pulled her back to reality.

"Sorry. I am compelled to take a stolen photo of your expression. It is beautiful and alluring. You look like you are trying to explore the world of mysteries in your head," the man quickly explained. "Look, it's stunning!" he added and showed Sofia the picture.

When Sofia took a glimpse of the picture, her heart quivered and her hands trembled in fear. Her eyes widened for a split second and she took a gulp before shifting her gaze to another direction.

"Please delete it," Sofia mumbled softly while trying to regain her composure. 

For some reason unknown to her, the appearance that she saw in the photo was the face that belonged to her past life!

'Why am I seeing the reflection of my past appearance in the camera?' Sofia questioned her thoughts. She wanted to take a look again. But, she was really scared that she would see her face in the past again!

The man's smile froze and he was completely baffled by her request of deleting the picture. Somehow he felt that it was a subconscious demand.

On the side, Sofia did not notice that her companions had already opened their eyes. They quickly gathered around the man and look at the screen of his camera too.

"Aww, Sof... you look so mysterious in this picture. It's a waste if it will be deleted! We should keep it! Or maybe use it as your profile picture?" Claire quickly asserted.

The man was also shocked by Sofia's words. His fingers were still frozen for a few seconds before he regained his senses.

"Stolen photos gave a different impact to the viewer. Your picture is admirable! The beautiful Miss here is right. It's a waste if you'll have this deleted!" the man stated referring to Claire's comment.

Suddenly, Stephen's hand reached and grabbed the camera. He then stared at the picture of Sofia. "I will keep this if you don't want it, Sof."

Sofia was at loss. But after a while, she thought of an alibi and spoke coldly, "I don't want someone taking picture of me without my permission." 

Her tone did not give them any chance to argue with her anymore. The man also nodded his head and felt dismayed. Something in Sofia's expression made him felt uneasy.

"I will delete it, then. My apologies for not asking your permission," the man spoke in a respectful tone. His thumb pressed the buttons of his camera.. Then, he sighed when the notification of deleted photo was displayed on the screen.