Chapter 834: The One Who Holds Accountable
"Give me the mouse," Manuel said, his voice frigid. Susan complied, making room for him. His face was impassive. She stood beside him, awestruck by his power, fearing dismissal.
Manuel took the mouse, glanced around, and began typing code Susan couldn't decipher. Tammy and Clara were equally perplexed by the rapidly flashing symbols on the screen, interpreting it as highly advanced code.
Tension filled the room. No one dared speak or inquire about his actions.
Five minutes later, the code stopped scrolling. Manuel retrieved the mouse and, to everyone's astonishment, the missing file reappeared in its folder. Clara, Susan, and Tammy were all stunned.
Clara couldn't believe her eyes. She was certain she'd deleted the file and emptied the Recycle Bin. How had it returned? What code had Manuel written? Though outwardly calm, she felt a knot of unease in her stomach.
Manuel passed the mouse to Susan. "Is this the file you were looking for?"
Susan clicked on it, quickly locating key points. "Yes, this is it. How did you…" She trailed off as Manuel left with Clara, leaving Susan alone. A pang of hurt lingered, though she recognized her own mistake and felt grateful for his intervention. Dismissal still seemed likely. She focused on composing herself for the upcoming presentation.
Manuel returned to his seat as Mr. Brown concluded his meeting with his subordinate.
"My apologies for the delay; an emergency arose," Mr. Brown said politely.
Manuel nodded, "No worries."
"Let's begin," Mr. Brown instructed his assistant, who then addressed Susan. Susan nodded.
The meeting commenced.
"Hello, Mr. Brown," Susan began. "I'm Susan Phillips, General Manager of Phillips Bank. It's an honor to present our proposed collaboration."
"My pleasure," Mr. Brown smiled.
Susan returned the polite smile and proceeded directly to the proposal. She'd rehearsed this presentation countless times with Manuel, who'd meticulously critiqued her tone, pronunciation, and delivery. She felt she could almost be an actress.
The hour-long presentation concluded flawlessly.
Mr. Brown applauded. "Phillips Bank is brimming with talent. I'm incredibly impressed by such a promising young president. I thought such talent was rare, but Miss Phillips is equally exceptional! I admire it!"
The praise, while flattering, made Susan blush. She felt self-conscious, remembering her near-failure.
"I agree," Mr. Brown said. "I was hesitant about such a large-scale collaboration. Phillips Bank’s history is impressive, but the young president... For older generations, you naturally raise concerns. However, after meeting both of you and hearing Miss Phillips’ report, I must say, the new surpasses the old."
Manuel responded with grace, praising their efforts while showing due respect to Mr. Brown and his experience.
Mr. Brown nodded in satisfaction. "I'm a pragmatist. I value collaboration with those I respect." He extended his hand. "To a wonderful partnership."
"Thank you. To a wonderful partnership," they replied.
The project was finalized, more smoothly than anticipated. Had it not been for the earlier mishap, they would have celebrated. But the awkward silence during their return journey was palpable.
Outside the WST building, Manuel paused. "What happened with the file today?"
Tammy's eyes welled up. "I was carrying Miss Phillips’ laptop. I don't know how the file disappeared. Clara, didn't you see it?"
Clara responded regretfully, blaming her own negligence for not personally verifying the file's presence. She implied Tammy’s irresponsibility, despite her own inaction.
Tammy retorted angrily, accusing Clara of being the only one to handle the laptop after it was turned off.
Clara countered with a prepared defense, casting herself as the victim and shifting blame back to Tammy. Her eyes filled with manufactured tears.