Chapter 188: Putting Mary on the Spot

"What else do you want to know?" Hannah asked indifferently. Despite Janet's obvious fury, she remained composed. It was exactly as she'd anticipated.

"I'm leaving today," Janet said after a moment of silence, her voice calmer now. Hannah had guessed as much; with so much turmoil, Janet's departure from Starlight Group's Kensbury City branch seemed inevitable. The company's headquarters were in the capital; their recent expansion into Kensbury had drawn most employees here. Janet's troubles likely sealed her fate, perhaps even leading to a reprimand.

Hannah imagined Janet's misery but felt no sympathy. Experiences had hardened her.

"Goodbye," Hannah said coldly, ending the call. She had no time to waste.

Janet, phone clutched in her hand, trembled with rage. Hannah had deliberately provoked her. Managing to restrain herself, Janet finally said, "I'll never return to Kensbury City, and I'll never see Oscar again."

"And?" Hannah prompted.

"I hope you'll deliver a message to him for me."

"Tell him yourself."

"He won't answer my calls."

"Do you think I'll help?"

"But you answered mine," Janet pointed out.

"Because I wanted to see your misery," Hannah remarked with a smile. "I'm not a saint."

"Hannah!"

"Janet, don't presume to know me. I'm unlike anyone else," Hannah sneered. "Farewell." She hung up.

Janet and Oscar's affairs were their own concern. If Janet wished to confess her feelings, she should do so personally. Hannah chose to remain uninvolved; there was no love between them, and she cared little for their reconciliation. She would not help them reunite. She was, after all, no saint.

Hannah picked up the office phone. "Rose, we have a meeting on the Light Building project in half an hour."

"Yes, Ms. Hannah."

Thirty minutes later, Hannah sat at the head of the conference table. Each team member presented their progress. Mary Cooper began her report on the Light Building's promotional plan.

"I believe, given it's an opening, we need a special offer. We could offer gifts alongside store discounts. With Valentine's Day approaching, we could provide free chocolates and flowers for purchases over 500 credits," Mary said enthusiastically.

Hannah listened quietly. After Mary finished, she looked nervously at Hannah, unable to gauge her reaction. Hannah had transformed; a competent, powerful figure with unexpected hidden depths. Mary, a fan of Celina's lead designer, Crane, had purchased a counterfeit version of one of Crane's dresses. It remained in her closet, a cherished secret. Now, knowing Hannah's true identity as Crane, Mary considered destroying it.

"This plan is the worst," Hannah stated bluntly, leaving Mary exposed before the assembled team. "First, the gifts and activities are unoriginal. If I recall correctly, the W shopping center in Country M used this last year. While referencing successful marketing is acceptable, these ideas are simply unimaginative," Hannah critiqued harshly. Mary, having found the plan online, couldn't refute it; she hadn't realized Hannah was aware of this obscure campaign.

"Second, this is barely a promotion; at best, it's a mere opening gift. Consumers will see the gifts as standard, not a special offer."

Mary, inwardly seething, wondered at Hannah's newfound eloquence.

"Third, it lacks customer retention. Simply put, most will be first-time visitors. A positive experience might encourage repeat visits, but that's unpredictable. We need strategies to ensure return customers," Hannah outlined three key flaws.

"I need a revised plan by tomorrow morning," she told Mary.

Mary, biting her lip, simply nodded. She couldn't afford to appear incompetent.

"Next…"

The remaining items were dealt with swiftly.

Mary returned to her office, throwing her documents onto her desk. The harsh criticism gnawed at her. What had happened? Why had Hannah changed so drastically?

Unable to contain her anger, Mary called her father.

"Dad," she choked out.

Roger, already in a foul mood, hadn't anticipated Janet's swift downfall at Hannah's hands. His high expectations had been cruelly dashed. He'd later learned the Light Building's occupancy rate had reached 60%, projected to hit 80% before reopening – promising significant profitability and validating Hannah's bold claims. The more he thought about it, the angrier he grew. Hearing Mary's distress only amplified his impatience.

"What now?" he snapped.