Even though Elena had not shown her face at the office for the past month, she played a part in all the critical decisions made in September Media.
Michael might have made her stay in WongRiver Pavilion, but he had not barred her from her activities. He had been busy with his work too. Sometimes he might only be home once in a week.
Elena had been productive whenever Eldest Young Master Williams was not home. She would even hold video conferences until two or three in the morning. She did not ignore her work with September Media.
“The annual report from last year is out, and our loss is controlled within 45 percent,” Lois announced to Elena as soon as she got the report.
“But don’t worry, we only started the company in the second half of the financial year. In the next half, we should be able to keep our losses to within 30 percent.”
That was a new report fresh from the oven!
Elena read through the reports for the whole afternoon and made key analyses on the losses with everybody. However, the losses led them to a positive direction in their development. They should be able to lower it to 20 percent in another half a year. Some of their projects managed to reap profits!
“The ‘Goddess of Speed’ anime is in its planning stage, but Elena, I would like to ask you for your opinion.” Lois had calculated its capital, and she was not sure about it.
“The process for this anime project will take a very long time, at least two years, while we should be able to release the live-action online series for ‘My Mysterious Husband’ this year. Elena, are you sure we should start with the ‘Goddess of Speed’ project?”
The animation could be a moneymaker, but it could also suffer significant losses.
“This could be our last straw.” Elena read another report. “I’ve said it before, leave the animation cost of ‘Goddess of Speed’ out of the budget.”
“I understand what you mean. Even if we suffer a loss, it will not affect the entire profit planning.” Lois was still a little worried. “But that would add to our burden of cost.”
They promised Second Young Master Sharp to gain a 30 percent profit in three years. That was not easily achievable for a media company.
“In that case, let’s treat the money as a sunk cost and don’t include it in the budget.”
Lois did not say anything, and the rest of the lot also fell silent.
It was a challenge, indeed! However, were challenges not a kind of motivation?
“Okay! We will follow your plan, let’s consider the 100 million a sunk cost.”
“It’s not 100 million; it’s 50 million.” Elena looked at Aryan and said, “Do what you need to save the remaining 50 million.”
“Elena, this is too hard on Aryan!” How could he save the 50 million meant for the workforce?
Aryan, however, looked at Elena with full determination. “Don’t worry. I will save 50 million within these two years.”
“You will tire yourself to death!” Lois felt terrible for him.
However, Aryan said, “If we don’t give it our all when we’re young, do we wait till we’re old to do that?” They might not even get another chance to do so when they were old.
Nobody could argue with that logic.
“Alright, so that’s the plan for ‘Goddess of Speed.'” Elena opened another project proposal. “For ‘My Mysterious Husband,’ since we have selected the cast, let’s start shooting at the beginning of the year.”
They had spent the whole afternoon in a meeting.
At around six in the evening, they dragged their tired but excited bodies out of the meeting room. Web conferences were not as effective as in-person meetings, after all. Elena’s charisma reassured everyone as a leader during that meeting.
Decisive, rational, and even stubborn!
The stubbornness born out of rationality could, in turn, stimulate one’s motivation. They had many obstacles in their journey ahead, but who would deny that those were new challenges?
They packed their things and got ready to go to dinner. Elena did not need to pack because she had not been in the office for more than a month. She decided to wait for them in the lobby. When one of the elevator doors opened, a tall figure unexpectedly entered her line of sight.
Elena was stunned when she saw his face; it was colder and more solemn than ever, and she forgot to react for a few moments. She even forgot to walk out of the elevator—if she did not get out, people outside could not get in either.
As time passed, the elevator door automatically closed.
When she finally could not see that figure anymore, Elena suddenly snapped back to reality and tried to press the door open, but it was too late.
Just as she thought she would go back upstairs with the elevator, the door opened once again. He had pressed the button from the outside.
“I… I’m sorry…” Elena lowered her head and quickly got out of the elevator. She thought he would enter the elevator, but he just stood there.
Then, the elevator door closed; somebody upstairs wanted to use it.
Elena felt a bit uneasy. She wanted to leave, but she could not move her legs.
Henry did not enter the elevator, and he continued to stare at her silently.
Finally, Elena took a deep breath and raised her head to look into his eyes. With a faint smile, she said, “Long time no see. How are you?”
“Not good.”
She had no reply to that.
Only two little words and her heart tugged.
However, what’s done was done. Even though he did not feel good, he would just have to move past that.
“I had an exam today, so I took the chance to come here. Tonight…” She paused and continued to say, “I’m going back later.”
When the elevator stopped at the eighth floor, she knew that her friends would be down soon.
She forced a little smile and looked at him, “I have to go, you…be good to yourself.”
He still looked attractive, but one look at him, one would feel his misery.
She turned to leave, but he had grasped her wrist.
“Henry…” Elena was shocked. The elevator was on its way down from the eighth floor. Her friends were about to arrive. She did not want to get into a fight in front of her companions as she did not want them to be worried.
“Henry, I really should head back.” She emphasized on the two words—’go back’.
He was an intelligent person, and he would understand what that meant. She had been with Michael for more than a month. He might not have known what Michael had done to her, or how many times he had done that to her, but he could imagine it. How could a woman like her—who was with another man every minute of her life—be worth his while?
“Henry, let me go, please? Lois and the rest are coming down.”
Elena almost pleaded with him. She had a dinner appointment with her friends, and they were about to arrive.
However, Henry tightened his grip.
With a blank expression, he asked, “Has he been good to you?”