Chapter 374 Mutual Cooperation for a Win-Win Situation
The next morning, as soon as I walked into the office, Amy told me someone was waiting for me in the conference room.
I figured it must be Lucas. Ever since Lila started getting better, Lucas had been all in on his tech project, working like a man possessed.
When I got to the conference room door, I saw Alaric standing by the window.
The morning sun streamed through the window, casting a glow around his strong silhouette.
He stood tall, but I could sense a slight tremor in him.
Hearing my footsteps, Alaric slowly turned around. When our eyes met, I saw a mix of emotions flash across his face—awkwardness, stubbornness, and a deep sense of longing.
"Morning," I said, breaking the silence, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Morning," Alaric replied, his tone a bit stiff, his eyes darting away from mine.
"Amy said someone was waiting for me. I thought it was Lucas, but you beat him to it," I said, trying to sound casual and break the tension.
Alaric just nodded slightly and started organizing the files in his hands.
I placed my files on the table, trying to act natural.
"About yesterday..." I began, hoping to ease the awkwardness.
"Let's not talk about it," Alaric interrupted with an apologetic smile. "I was too hasty yesterday. My bad."
He looked up, his eyes filled with sincerity.
He added, "Diana, I know you have your own thoughts. I'll respect your choices."
I was a bit surprised by his direct apology.
"I get your concern, too. It's just that this is really important for Skylar and me. I can't ignore it," I said softly.
Just then, Lucas walked in, humming a tune. He smiled brightly upon seeing us. "Hey, you guys are early!"
His arrival finally eased the tension in the room a bit.
Alaric nodded and turned to Lucas, changing the subject. "Lucas, how's the progress on that tech project you asked me about?"
Lucas immediately got serious, speaking with a hint of humility. "Honestly, it's all thanks to you two. I reviewed our previous work and realized that many key breakthroughs were because of Diana's suggestions. If it weren't for her optimizing the algorithm, I'd still be stuck."
As he spoke, Lucas pulled out two files from his folder and handed them to Alaric and me. "Your advice on hardware adaptation really boosted the project's efficiency and profitability."
Lucas continued, flipping through the project progress report and its data charts.
"We've made significant breakthroughs. At this rate, we'll deliver ahead of schedule!" he said excitedly.
"Don't get too comfortable," Alaric said, frowning as he reviewed the files. "There are still many areas that need improvement, and this part might require a substantial budget."
He pointed to a section in the document and pushed it back to Lucas.Hearing Alaric's words, Lucas quickly humbled himself. "We're gonna need your continued support," he said.
We gathered around the conference table and officially started discussing the project's improvement plan.
Alaric focused on the large screen, his laser pointer darting across it as he detailed his new ideas.
"Based on current market research, the Cooper Group's user base aligns closely with your project's target audience. We can leverage their established sales channels to penetrate the market quickly," he remarked, his eyes sparkling with insight. After finishing, he turned to me, seemingly seeking my opinion.
I quickly organized my thoughts and spoke steadily. "Leveraging the Cooper Group's sales channels to promote the project is indeed forward-thinking from a strategic perspective. A partnership would undoubtedly enhance our project's reach."
I paused briefly before continuing. "However, the Cooper Group's traditional sales model indicates that we'll need a comprehensive and customized overhaul of our current marketing strategy."
Lucas nodded repeatedly. "I've considered partnering with the Cooper Group before but hesitated, worried about managing these critical details and potentially burdening them. Your analysis gives me confidence."
"We need to quickly assemble a professional team to draft a detailed collaboration plan, covering every aspect thoroughly," Alaric suggested.
"I'll arrange for our specialists to liaise with the Cooper Group and delve into the collaboration details. Meanwhile, we'll further optimize our internal project team structure to enhance inter-departmental coordination, ensuring smooth progress," Lucas said enthusiastically.
Just then, my phone rang urgently on the table. Seeing Melissa's name on the screen, I was overwhelmed by a sense of foreboding.
I hesitated but quickly answered, only to hear crying.
Recognizing Skylar's voice, I gently called her name into the phone. Yet, the crying only intensified.
Melissa's anxious voice came through. "Diana, Skylar has a fever and won't stop crying."
My heart sank, my face turned pale, and my hand trembled slightly.
Alaric, noticing my change in expression, immediately stopped what he was doing and leaned in to ask softly, "What happened?"
Skylar's wailing was giving me a headache. I managed to say, "Melissa said Skylar has a fever."
Alaric's eyes filled with concern. Without hesitation, he said, "Diana, don't worry. Let's go home."
He quickly helped me gather my files and led me out.
Lucas stood up, looking concerned. "Diana, go take care of Skylar. We can discuss the project later."
I didn't have time to respond as I got into Alaric's car.
On the way, Alaric drove steadily, constantly reassuring me. "Skylar is strong. She'll get better soon."
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