HIS SALVATION

Chapter 15 - Acknowledgement

The next morning, Elsie arrived at Westbridge International with considerably less dread than she had carried the previous day.

There was a simple reason for that.

She wasn't going to Veyr Group today.

The project team at Veyr Group was revising the project statistics and final details, while the cooperation contract between the two companies was scheduled to be signed the following day.

And this time, the contract would require the presence of the CEOs.

Elsie stepped through the entrance of Westbridge International and headed toward her department.

She adjusted the strap of her handbag.

“Today should be peaceful.”

She had barely finished the sentence when she entered the department.

“WELCOME BACK!”

Elsie stopped.

Everyone was standing.

Then came the applause.

She blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Nora Whitmore grinned at her.

Clara was clapping enthusiastically.

Daniel Mercer raised both hands in celebration.

Elsie stared at them.

“What is happening?”

Daniel stepped forward.

“Our brave representative has returned from the battlefield!”

Elsie slowly looked around the department.

“You're all being dramatic.”

“Veyr Group,” Clara said solemnly, “is not a workplace. It's a survival test.”

Nora nodded.

“Exactly.”

Elsie placed one hand against her chest.

“Well…”

She lifted her chin proudly.

“Look.”

She pointed at herself.

“Definitely not zombies.”

Everyone laughed.

“No monsters.”

More laughter.

“And I'm yet alive and standing.”

Daniel immediately raised his hand in a military salute.

“Mission accomplished.”

Elsie returned the salute.

“Thank you, soldier.”

The department erupted into laughter.

Even Nora had to turn away for a moment.

“Honestly,” Clara said, “only you could walk into Veyr Group and come back making jokes.”

Elsie smiled smugly.

“I told you all I would survive.”

Daniel lowered his hand.

“We were prepared to hold a memorial.”

Elsie's eyes widened.

“For me?”

“Very tasteful.”

“I can't believe you.”

“You would have looked lovely in the photograph.”

“Daniel!”

Everyone laughed again.

Before Elsie could retaliate, footsteps approached from the corridor.

The laughter gradually faded.

Evelyn Hart appeared.

She looked at Elsie with a small smile.

“Well done.”

Elsie's expression immediately became more professional.

“Thank you, ma'am.”

Evelyn approached her.

“I've already received feedback regarding your meeting at Veyr Group.”

Elsie blinked.

“That was fast.”

“Veyr Group tends to communicate efficiently.”

“That is one way of describing them.”

A few people tried not to laugh.

Evelyn smiled.

“Your performance was impressive, Elsie. You handled yourself exceptionally well.”

“Thank you.”

“You demonstrated a much stronger understanding of the project than we anticipated from someone so new to the department.”

Elsie smiled.

“I'm taking that as a compliment.”

“It was intended as one.”

Evelyn gestured toward her office.

“Come with me. We need to discuss the next step.”

Elsie nodded.

“Yes, ma'am.”

She turned toward her desk, grabbed her notebook—

—and accidentally knocked her pen onto the floor.

It rolled directly beneath Daniel's chair.

Daniel picked it up and handed it to her without saying anything.

Elsie accepted it.

“Thank you.”

Daniel gave her a solemn nod.

“Still alive.”

Elsie narrowed her eyes.

“I heard that.”

He immediately looked innocent.

Evelyn cleared her throat.

Elsie straightened.

“Coming.”

Evelyn's Office

Evelyn closed the door behind them.

“Sit.”

Elsie took the chair opposite her desk and opened her notebook.

Evelyn began reviewing the project's current status.

“I've gone through the preliminary feedback from Veyr Group. Your meeting appears to have resolved several of the concerns surrounding the cooperation proposal.”

Elsie nodded.

“There are still a few areas that need revision.”

“Such as?”

“The projected implementation timeline, resource allocation and several of the performance indicators.”

Elsie flipped through her notes.

“I already marked those.”

Evelyn looked at her.

“You did?”

“Yes.”

Elsie turned the notebook around.

“I suggested restructuring the performance indicators into measurable quarterly benchmarks. That should make the progress easier for both companies to evaluate.”

Evelyn studied the notes.

“Good.”

She continued.

“And the resource allocation?”

“I suggested separating the operational costs from the strategic development budget. Otherwise, the projected figures become difficult to compare.”

Evelyn nodded slowly.

“That was one of the concerns raised by the executives.”

“I thought so.”

“You've clearly paid attention.”

Elsie smiled.

“I was trying very hard not to look like I was terrified.”

Evelyn laughed softly.

“You didn't.”

“Excellent.”

Evelyn closed the file.

“Now, there's another matter.”

Elsie straightened.

“Tomorrow.”

“The cooperation contract will be signed tomorrow.”

Elsie nodded.

“I know.”

“The CEOs will be present.”

Elsie's expression became slightly more serious.

“I see.”

“I want you to make sure our CEO is informed of the schedule and the final arrangements.”

Elsie nodded.

“I'll make sure he receives everything.”

“Good.”

Evelyn reached for the telephone receiver.

“I'll notify his executive assistant myself.”

Elsie stood.

“Anything else?”

“No. That's all.”

Elsie turned toward the door.

She opened it.

Then paused.

“Wait.”

Evelyn looked up.

Elsie pointed toward the floor.

“My notebook.”

It was still sitting on the desk.

Evelyn smiled.

“Your battle instincts are apparently improving. Your memory still needs work.”

Elsie grabbed the notebook.

“I'm working on it.”

She left the office.

Evelyn shook her head with an amused smile before picking up the receiver.

Outside, Elsie had barely taken three steps before she was surrounded.

Nora appeared first.

“So?”

Clara joined her.

“What did they say?”

Daniel leaned against a nearby desk.

“Did the executives interrogate you?”

Elsie stared at them.

“No.”

“Did anyone threaten you?”

“No.”

“Did you see the CEO?”

Elsie paused.

“No.”

Daniel looked disappointed.

“Then what did you even do there?”

Elsie looked offended.

“I worked.”

“That sounds suspiciously responsible.”

“I am responsible.”

Nora laughed.

“Tell us everything.”

Elsie opened her mouth.

Three people leaned closer.

She immediately stepped backward.

“Personal space!”

They laughed.

“Fine,” Elsie said. “I will tell you.”

She lowered her voice dramatically.

“Everyone at Veyr Group looks like they were born knowing how to calculate taxes.”

Daniel burst out laughing.

Clara covered her mouth.

“And their meeting rooms,” Elsie continued, “look like places where people confess international secrets.”

Nora laughed.

“You're exaggerating.”

“I am not.”

Daniel raised his hand.

“Did you survive the elevator?”

Elsie nodded proudly.

“Yes.”

“Without getting lost?”

She hesitated.

“I only pressed the wrong floor once.”

Everyone laughed.

“I knew it!” Daniel exclaimed.

Elsie pointed at him.

“That doesn't count.”

Before the conversation could continue, the atmosphere around them suddenly changed.

A man in a formal suit entered the department.

He was clearly a senior executive assistant.

He looked around.

“Ms. Elsie Ashford?”

Elsie's smile disappeared.

“Yes?”

“I've been instructed to bring you to the CEO's office.”

Silence.

Every head in the department turned toward Elsie.

Elsie looked at them.

They looked back.

Daniel slowly raised his eyebrows.

Elsie whispered,

“Why does everyone look like that?”

Nora whispered back.

“Because the CEO summoned you.”

“That doesn't necessarily mean something bad.”

Clara smiled.

“No.”

Daniel nodded solemnly.

“Definitely not.”

Elsie narrowed her eyes.

“You're enjoying this.”

“Very much.”

She sighed and picked up her notebook.

“Fine.”

The assistant gestured toward the corridor.

“Please follow me.”

Elsie followed.

Behind her, the department exchanged curious glances.

The CEO's Office

The executive assistant stopped outside a large set of doors.

“Mr. Hale is expecting you.”

Elsie nodded.

“Thank you.”

The assistant knocked.

A calm voice came from inside.

“Come in.”

The door opened.

Elsie stepped inside.

Behind a large desk sat Marcus Hale, CEO of Westbridge International.

He was a middle-aged man with a composed appearance and a presence that was authoritative without being intimidating.

There was something distinctly fatherly about him—calm eyes, measured manner and the sort of quiet confidence that made people feel they could approach him without fear.

He was deeply engrossed in a document.

Elsie stopped a few feet from the desk.

“Sir?”

Marcus looked up.

“Yes?”

Elsie straightened.

“My name is Elsie Ashford. You asked for me?”

A faint smile appeared on his face.

“Yes. Please, sit.”

Elsie sat.

Marcus closed the document.

“I wanted to speak with you personally.”

Elsie blinked.

“Did I do something wrong?”

Marcus chuckled.

“No.”

“Oh.”

Elsie visibly relaxed.

“That is good.”

“I've heard about your meeting at Veyr Group.”

Elsie nodded.

“Yes, sir.”

“You handled yourself remarkably well.”

“Thank you.”

“You were sent into an environment where even experienced employees were reluctant to take responsibility.”

Elsie smiled awkwardly.

“I may have been unaware of how terrifying it was.”

Marcus laughed.

“That may have helped.”

Elsie looked slightly embarrassed.

“But you didn't simply survive the meeting.”

His expression became more serious.

“You contributed.”

Elsie listened carefully.

“You identified weaknesses in the proposal, offered workable solutions and communicated them confidently to executives who have considerably more experience than you.”

Elsie smiled.

“I was just doing my job.”

“And that is precisely what impressed me.”

Marcus leaned back slightly.

“Your willingness to volunteer for this project took courage.”

Elsie looked surprised.

“I didn't think of it that way.”

“Most people don't volunteer when something looks difficult.”

He smiled.

“You did.”

Elsie nodded.

Marcus reached for a document on his desk.

“Tomorrow, I will be attending the contract-signing meeting at Veyr Group.”

Elsie's eyes widened slightly.

“Yes, sir.”

“I want you there with me.”

Elsie blinked.

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“As your assistant?”

“For the meeting.”

She looked momentarily stunned.

Marcus smiled.

“If you hadn't handled the cooperation discussions so effectively, Westbridge might not be in a position to sign this contract tomorrow.”

Elsie's eyes widened.

“That sounds like a lot of responsibility.”

“It is.”

Elsie swallowed.

Then nodded.

“I'll do it.”

Marcus smiled.

“I expected you would.”

Elsie stood.

Then immediately caught the edge of the chair with her handbag.

The chair shifted.

She froze.

Marcus watched her.

Elsie slowly straightened.

“I meant to do that.”

Marcus's smile widened.

“Of course.”

“It's a confidence technique.”

“I see.”

“Very advanced.”

“I'll keep that in mind.”

Elsie nodded solemnly.

“Good.”

She turned toward the door.

Then looked back.

“Sir?”

“Yes?”

“Do I need to wear something terrifying?”

Marcus raised an eyebrow.

“Terrifying?”

“For Veyr Group.”

He laughed.

“No, Ms. Ashford.”

Elsie smiled.

“Good.”

She opened the door.

“Because I don't own anything terrifying.”

Marcus watched her leave with an amused expression.

Outside, Elsie closed the door behind herself.

She took one breath.

Then another.

“Tomorrow.”

She looked down at her notebook.

“Back to Veyr Group.”

Her shoulders dropped.

“Why did I say yes so quickly?”

From somewhere down the corridor, Daniel's voice carried faintly:

“Because you're brave!”

Elsie looked toward the department.

“I heard that!”

Laughter followed.

And despite herself, Elsie smiled.

Tomorrow, she would return to Veyr Group.

This time, she wouldn't be walking in alone.