“Director Whitmore, I trust you understand what constitutes a truly new product. Don’t just tweak a few settings and expect me to believe that’s innovation. It’s a waste of your time–and mine.”


    He simply couldn’t believe that, in only twenty days, Evangeline could deliver anything fundamentally different from thest version.


    Evangeline shook her head. “You should see for yourself.”


    That was when Theo finally took the proposal from her.


    At first, when he saw that she was still using thepany’s existing technology and algorithms, he dismissed it, unimpressed. It was standard,petent work–nothing more.


    But as he kept reading, something caught his eye.


    He sat up straighter, his expression growing serious. “Did you develop these yourself?”


    “Mr. Carlisle helped me out a bit as well,” Evangeline answered honestly.


    It had always been this way; whenever she hit a wall with the algorithms, Glenn was the one who could fill in the gaps.


    Hearing this, Theo’s initial hope faded..


    Well, that exined it.


    And, he suspected, Glenn’s involvement probably went beyond just this–it was likely he’d had a hand in other aspects, too.


    Glenn was a genius when it came to this sort of thing.


    Clearly, he was pulling out all the stops to keep Evangeline around.


    But then…


    Theo recalled thepany gossip he’d heard over the past couple of days–rumors about Evangeline. He let out a wry, mocking littleugh.


    Looks like this is a one–sided affair.


    his feet.


    “Show me the actual prototype, Theo said, rising to his


    <b>19-18 </b>


    Fawkes Enterprises.


    “Are you all useless? It’s been over two weeks–how do you still not have a concrete proposal? Why do you think I hired you? To sit around and do nothing?”


    Poppy’s perfectly manicured handnded hard on the table.


    “The timeline’s jus


    The project manager kept his gaze downcast. too tight–it’s really hard for us to pull this off…”


    Poppy cut him off. “I gave you two weeks, and now you’re telling me it’s too difficult? What did you promise me when you took this job? Howe otherpanies manage, but you can’t?”


    Back when she’d been in the States working with UME, their timelines for proposals never surpassed two weeks.


    Even with development, debugging, and training, the entire process rarely took more


    than three months.


    The project manager muttered, “It’d be the same with any otherpany. UME only pulled it off because-”


    “Enough. No more excuses.<b>” </b>


    I


    “Seven days. I’ll give you seven more days. Bring me a viable proposal by then.


    That’s all. You’re dismissed.<b>” </b>


    After he left, Poppy began pacing the room, anxious.


    She hadn’t expected things to fall apart so quickly.


    Soren had trusted her enough to hand over the role of project director–this was her first major responsibility for the Fawkes family. She could not afford to mess this <ol><li>up. </li></ol>


    Besides, Helena knew about this project, too.


    Last time, she’d never gotten any news about Flora’s situation, which probably meant they hadn’t suspected her involvement.


    If she could handle this new project well, she’d prove to Helena that she was the only real contender for Mrs. Fawkes.


    Failure was not an option.


    After a moment’s thought, Poppy had an idea.


    She sat down at herputer and sent out a message.


    1010


    Within two minutes, a boyish, clean–cut young man knocked on the door and


    entered. “Ms. Yates, you wanted to see me?”


    “Close the door,” Poppy said, lifting her chin.


    He did as she asked, his pulse quickening slightly. Once the door was shut, his gaze flicked to her, cheeks <i>ting </i>


    with red.


    Poppy was the office goddess–beautiful, effortlessly kind, the topic of every guy’s


    conversations in the break room.


    Now, here she was, calling him into her office with the door closed. He couldn’t help feeling nervous and a little excited.


    “Ms. Yates, is there something I can do for you?” he asked quietly.


    Poppy smiled. “Rx, Frank. I actually have a good opportunity for you. If you can pull this off, I’ll make sure you’re promoted to project manager.”


    Frank’s eyes widened. “What do you need me to do?”


    Her smile widened. “If I remember right, your girlfriend works at UME, doesn’t she?”


    Chapter <b>144 </b>