From the sympathetic looks my colleagues were giving me, I knew Patricia was telling the truth.


    But there was no turning back now. I let out a long sigh. "No matter how difficult it is, we won''t know until we try. Patricia, will you help me?"


    The air in the office seemed to freeze for a second. Not just Patricia-everyone around us sucked in a sharp breath. Taking on the Excel Group coboration was practically a gamble. If we pulled it off, it would be a major win. But if we failed, it would be a thankless, exhausting mess.


    "Fine." Patricia gritted her teeth. "I owe you anyway. I''ve been cking off ever since I joined the R&D department. Guess it''s time to show what I can really do."


    I gave her a grateful look and handed over all the files of Schneider Group. I needed her to wrap up that project before she joined me in tackling Excel Group.


    Once I finished distributing the documents, I pulled out my phone and sent a message to Oliver. "I choose Patricia to be one of my assistants."


    His response came almost immediately. "Got it. Who''s the second person?"


    I thought about it. Other than Patricia and Scarlett, I wasn''t familiar with anyone else in the R&D department, so I left it up to him. "Anyone is fine."


    The next day, Oliver made a public announcement. Patricia and Samson would be my assistants.


    My eyes widened in disbelief. Of all people, it had to be him? Talk about bad luck.


    Before I could even protest, Samson was already on his feet, outraged. "No way! There are so many people in this office. Why me?"


    Oliver shot him a sharp look and said in a cool and firm voice, "You''re a new hire. You don''t know anything yet, so, of course, you need to learn. First rule in the employee handbook-followpany leadership''s assignments."


    Normally, Oliver came across as a bit entric, but maybe spending so much time around Alex had rubbed off on him. When he put on a serious face, he actually carried some weight. At least, it was enough to momentarily intimidate Samson into silence.


    "But-"


    "But what?" Oliver cut him off impatiently. "Your skills aren''t much, but your attitude sure is. Even Serena isn''tining. Why are you?"


    "Serena." Samson turned to me. "You don''t want me as your assistant either, right?"


    Oliver''s gazended on me, but I simply looked at Samson with a knowing smirk.


    "I reviewed your background. You majored in marketing, so this job suits you well." I smiled. "I have no objections."


    "You..." Samson was momentarily speechless.


    "Since Serena has no objections, that settles it. Oliver turned to leave but suddenly paused and looked back at Samson. "This Excel Group deal is worth at least tens of millions of dors. Don''t mess it up. But if wend the deal sessfully, each of you will get amission upward of a hundred thousand dors."


    A mix of pressure and incentive was the perfect way to handle someone as hot- headed as Samson.


    I started going through all the documents and quickly realized something. They were packed with coboration details, but there was barely any information on Excel Group''s key personnel.


    "Let''s go, Serena." Patricia stretched her neck. "It''s time to clock out."


    "You go ahead." I kept flipping through the papers while checking something on myputer. "These documents don''t include any details on Excel Group''s main contacts. I need to look them up."


    She nodded. "Alright, just don''t stay toote. We''re heading out."