Chapter 547
Chapter 547:
Not a single hand went up. Everyone stared at their notepads, shoes, or the floor—anywhere but at Lynn. They knew their own limits, and none of them wanted to risk public humiliation on live television.
Still, management had set a firm goal, and they needed someone to represent the company in the competition.
The Harris Group, a heavyweight in the industry, had to make an appearance—preferably with an accolade to bring home.
Lynn’s gaze landed on Yelena. “Yelena, you’re up,” she commanded.
She fully expected a protest. But Yelena simply shrugged and said, “Alright p>
For a brief moment, Lynn was too stunned to speak. Finally, she cleared her throat and gave a curt nod. “Fine. Go ahead and start preparing p>
Yelena crossed her arms. “One condition—Tessa will be the main contestant, and I’ll assist her p>
“What?” Lynn nearly spat the word, her calm facade cracking. “Are you out of your mind?” Yelena seemed to be making snap decisions.
“Absolutely not,” Tessa chimed in, flustered.
She had just been promoted to full-time, and now she was supposed to face off against top-tier professionals? “I—I’m not ready for that kind of pressure!” Tessa added.
Yelena rested a hand on Tessa’s shoulder. “You’ve got the talent. I believe in you,” she said. Turning her attention back to Lynn, she added, “If you won’t let her compete, then count me out, too p>
“You…” Lynn’s frustration was palpable, but she knew she had to pick her battles. “Fine, but if you insist on Tessa taking center stage, you’d better walk away with at least one award. Otherwise, forget it p>
She wasn’t expecting a miracle, but given Yelena’s skill, even a smaller prize would still be a win for the Harris Group. The Harris Group’s design department had once reigned supreme, a hotbed of creativity that drew awe from competitors across the industry. But as the visionary founders reached retirement age, their protégés slipped into the same old, risk-averse mindset. Slowly, the once-celebrated department drifted into creative stagnation. Severance packages were offered to gently nudge the veterans toward retirement, and fresh new faces were brought on board in hopes of reigniting that old spark. Still, genuine success remained elusive.
This design competition presented a shot at redemption—a chance to thrust the Harris name back into the spotlight. Management was banking on at least one notable victory or prize. It was all about getting the department, and the company, back on everyone’s radar. Just when Lynn thought she had wrapped up the meeting, Bella rose from her seat.
Your next favorite is on gⱯlnσν𝓮𝓁s．𝒸o𝗺
“If Yelena’s in, then count me in too p>
Lynn, momentarily stunned, quickly recovered. Bella had shown no interest before; clearly, something had changed her mind. But Bella was the Harris heiress, after all—her whims were not up for debate.
“Alright, I’ll send over the registration forms later,” Lynn said, keeping her expression neutral.
Bella’s gaze slid over to Yelena. Her tone was almost deferential. “Yelena, let’s do this p>
Yelena gave Bella a cursory glance, her expression unreadable. Bella’s sudden enthusiasm for the competition raised questions, but Yelena wasn’t one to shy away from a challenge—or a mystery.
If Bella wanted to compete, so be it. Yelena knew she wouldn’t be the one losing in the end.
With that settled, Lynn straightened her stack of papers. “Well, that about covers it for today. Meeting adjourned.” She hesitated but then spoke again. “Bella, would you stay behind for a moment p>
Bella couldn’t quite grasp why Lynn had asked her to stay behind, yet curiosity kept her in her seat. She wanted to understand what Lynn was up to.
Resting her hand on the table, Bella tapped her fingers with a hint of impatience. “Miss Lancaster, what do you want from me?” she asked bluntly.
Lynn responded with a quick smile, clearly trying to pacify her. “Miss Harris, my behavior around others is just for appearances. I genuinely respect you, you know.” Bella saw right through her. Lynn was clever, no doubt, and Bella had known it for a while.
Still, she couldn’t help but wonder. How would Lynn react if she discovered that Yelena—the person she constantly disregarded—was actually the true heiress of the Harris family?
Even so, Bella’s curiosity was fleeting. She had no plans to divulge that secret.
“So, what’s this about?” Bella asked, her tone sharper this time.
Eager to please, Lynn leaned forward slightly. “Miss Harris, since you’ve entered the competition, I assume it’s to surpass Yelena. Am I right p>
The remark struck a nerve. Bella narrowed her eyes. “Do you have a suggestion p>
Seizing the opportunity, Lynn quickly replied, “Actually, the team here isn’t performing well because p>
“Because what?” Bella interjected, her gaze piercing.