Chapter 203 A Narrow Escape
Lauren knew Quentin was behind their current mess, and Ethan was stuck with no way out. For a moment, she felt just as lost.
Seeing Lauren's disappointed face, Ethan couldn't stand it.
"Lauren, don't worry. Even though you did great in the International Architectural Design Competition, you don't have much work experience. And you can see the company's in bad shape. I'm just trying to keep it afloat," Ethan said, trying to sound relaxed, but it only made Lauren feel worse.
Pulling herself together, Lauren started thinking of a solution. Suddenly, an idea hit her.
Lauren smiled at Ethan and Richard. "I have an idea. Not sure if it'll work, though."
Ethan smiled back. "Let's hear it."
"Yeah, tell us. It might be a great idea," Richard chimed in.
All eyes were on Lauren, but she didn't feel embarrassed. She carefully organized her thoughts to explain her idea clearly.
"Right now, we have two problems: no experienced designers, and hiring new ones is too expensive. Maybe we can recruit university architecture students. They might be students, but they're not complete novices," Lauren said excitedly, her eyes lighting up.
Richard couldn't hide his excitement. "Lauren, you're a genius! I think this could work. Students in related fields can get up to speed quickly, and they're easier to train than people who've been working for years."
Richard praised Lauren's idea, his eyes full of admiration.
Ethan also thought it was a good plan. "Why didn't we think of this? Lauren, your thinking is really broad."
Ethan's face lit up with joy. If this plan worked, the company might pull through.
Lauren scratched the back of her head. "I remembered that when I was in college, some companies came looking for interns, so I thought of this. You guys might have been too stressed to think of it."
Ethan clapped his hands. "Alright, Lauren, don't be shy. Since you came up with this idea, what do you think we should do next?"
Lauren's expression turned serious. "First, we need to check out schools in City A with design programs and contact them. For the recruitment pitch, I suggest offering student internships. That way, we can create a win-win situation with the schools."
Lauren spoke confidently, sure that this plan would help Ethan.
Ethan and Richard nodded in agreement.
"Alright, let's do it your way. We should use this chance to build long-term partnerships with these schools. If this works out, their students will get preference in our company," Ethan added.
"Of course, if that's the case, I'm sure the schools will be more willing to let their students intern with us," Richard said with a smile.
Lauren wholeheartedly agreed with Ethan's suggestion. She knew she hadn't misjudged him. Ethan was not only kind-hearted but also a responsible man.
She smiled warmly at Ethan, and he caught her expression. Feeling a bit shy, a blush crept up his face.
"Lauren, should we handle this? Richard will stay at the company to finish the designs. We've got a few projects due next month, so it'll be a busy time for you both," Ethan said.
"No problem. Go ahead. I'll be waiting for your good news at the company," Richard replied.
With that, Lauren and Ethan left the company. To resolve the issue quickly, they first researched all the schools in City A online and finally selected two universities: Pinnacle University and Quantum Global University. They decided to visit Pinnacle University first.
They headed to the architecture program advisor's office. Getting the advisor's approval would make establishing cooperation with the school much easier.
Lauren and Ethan walked into the advisor's office with polite smiles. Since they had contacted the advisor, Adrian Morgan, beforehand, their visit wasn't unexpected.
"Mr. Morgan, hello. We're from Skyline Design Company, as we mentioned earlier. I'm Lauren Walker, and this is our president, Ethan White," Lauren introduced with a smile.
Adrian stood up. "Hello, please have a seat."
Lauren and Ethan followed Adrian to the sofa. "Mr. Morgan, let's get straight to the point. We want to partner with your school to train architects, and your students need internships. This way, we can create a win-win situation, giving students valuable practical experience," Lauren explained.
Adrian nodded. "Miss Walker, you're right. We've collaborated with companies before, and several students interned there. However, the feedback was often negative. Students lack patience, and if the companies were unreliable, it backfired."
Adrian expressed his concerns honestly. While it was good for the school to create practical opportunities for students, unreliable companies could have a negative impact.
Lauren and Ethan understood Adrian's concerns. "Mr. Morgan, rest assured. If your students intern at our company, we will provide them with thorough training. Frankly, we are in dire need of architectural design talent, so we will treat your students well," Ethan said sincerely.
However, his words did not convince Adrian. Adrian smiled distantly, finding it hard to trust easily.
Lauren felt anxious, thinking, 'If we can't get the school's support, Ethan's company will still be in trouble.'
"Mr. Morgan, we came here with great sincerity and hope you can give us a chance. If this collaboration isn't satisfactory, we won't bother you again in the future. Is that okay?" Lauren asked.
Lauren's eyes were sincere, and she could see that Adrian genuinely cared about the students' interests. If they could collaborate with someone like him, she would also feel reassured.
