Chapter 250

I decided to visit Lindsey; perhaps she knew something about my parents' car accident. After deciding, I checked the time. I still had a few hours before lunch, so I headed to the office.

"Good morning, Ms. Kay!" Ron greeted me with a wide grin, as if I were a miracle cure for his workday blues.

"Morning, Mr. Shane!" I replied.

"You're glowing today, Ms. Kay. Is it love?" he teased, as if we were longtime friends.

Hayden's sweet kisses flashed through my mind, and I couldn't help but smile. "Maybe it's just the good weather," I said, deflecting his playful comment. We weren't close enough for me to share my personal life.

He chuckled, and I went straight to my office. It was Monday, meaning the usual department meeting. Everyone gave their updates.

Sean Lyon, one of our employees, handed me a contract. "Ms. Kay, this is from a new lighting supplier I've been talking to. They're a startup and want our technical guidance. Could you take a look?"

I skimmed the document. "They've only been around for, what, a month?"

"Yeah, they're really new," Sean admitted, looking slightly uneasy. Partnering with a new company was riskier than working with an established one, due to all the unknowns.

Probably worried I'd reject it, Sean quickly added, "But don't worry, I negotiated the payment terms. They'll pay fifty percent upfront, twenty-five percent midway, and the rest after the project's completed."

I smiled. "They're definitely putting in the effort. Looks like they really want to work with us."

"Yeah, they're super eager. I'd feel guilty turning them down," Sean said with a relieved grin.

The others chuckled, teasing him. "Sincerity, huh? What'd they offer? Free gifts or a special someone?"

Sean waved his hands, laughing. "No, nothing like that! I wouldn't dare break any company rules. They're just genuinely impressed by what we can do."

I nodded. "Their sincerity definitely shows."

Even though it was a casual comment, everyone cheered for Sean. "Great job, Sean! If you seal this deal, you're treating us all to dinner!"

Sean quickly deflected. "That's only if Ms. Kay gives me the green light." My approval, then Ron's, was needed before we could proceed. We weren't short on clients, so we didn't have to jump at every opportunity. That's probably why Jace's proposal had been rejected by our mysterious boss.

I thought about that elusive boss and felt a surge of curiosity. I still had no idea who he was. With Sean looking at me hopefully, I didn't make any promises. "Send me a copy of their background. I'll review it and let you know."

Sean gave me an enthusiastic thumbs-up, and the meeting concluded.

The background check was straightforward. The company's head had been a technician at another firm for several years, and it appeared to be a partnership, judging by the number of shareholders. These types of companies had their advantages and disadvantages. The upside was that no single person's issues would disrupt the entire operation. The downside? Too many decision-makers could complicate things for us.

After weighing the pros and cons, I decided the partnership seemed feasible and went to talk to Ron. Ron was acting as the interim boss, and from what I'd seen, the company wasn't focused on rapid expansion; they were more interested in steady growth and maintaining quality. When choosing clients, we definitely prioritized quality over quantity.

Ron's office door was open, and he was on the phone. I was about to leave, but he waved me in. "...Yes, we're seriously looking for a chief technical officer, someone top-notch in lighting engineering... Salary's not an issue. If he's interested, I'd even step down for him... Awesome, I'm counting on you. Talk soon."