Chapter 4 Not From Around Here?

• “Excuse me, sir. I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else,” Dalia responded politely and warmly.
• Despite her words, the middle-aged man continued to stare at her intently, his expression still filled with surprise. “Sir, excuse me… the elevator is already open,” Dalia said, gesturing toward the open elevator doors with her thumb.
• “Ah, yes,” the man replied, stepping aside and motioning for Dalia to enter first.
• Inside the elevator, it was just the two of them. The middle-aged man used the opportunity to learn more about Dalia. “Pardon me, I don’t believe I’ve seen you here before. What’s your name?”
• Dalia smiled politely and nodded slightly. “I’m Dalia, sir, from the marketing division. I’ve only been working in this branch for a few months. Before this, I was with the main office.”
• The man nodded in understanding. “That explains why I’ve just noticed you. I apologize for earlier.”
• Dalia quickly shook her head. “I should be the one apologizing to you, sir, for not watching where I was going.”
• The man nodded again, offering a faint smile. “By the way, are you originally from here?”
• “Um…”
• “Your accent is a bit different,” he added when he noticed the hesitation on Dalia’s face.
• “No, sir. I’m not originally from here. But I’ve been living here for over five years now,” Dalia explained with a warm and polite smile, though she couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable with the way the man was looking at her.
• The man nodded again, and just as he was about to ask another question, the elevator chimed, and the doors slid open. He gestured for Dalia to exit first. Before stepping out, Dalia gave a slight nod and then walked toward her office, which was just a few meters from the elevator.
• When she entered her workspace, she was greeted by a stack of files waiting for her attention. Dalia took a deep breath and quickly tied her hair into a messy bun. Then, she began reviewing the documents she needed to work on.
• The past few days had been especially busy for the company where Dalia worked. They were in the middle of preparing a new project with a prominent corporation that would soon become their partner.
• Gradually, her coworkers started to arrive. Each of them greeted Dalia first before settling into their respective desks. Within moments, the 5x6-meter room was filled with the sounds of typing and phones ringing incessantly.
• “Dalia!” called one of her coworkers, rushing over to her desk with a panicked expression.
• Dalia looked up, her eyes filled with curiosity.
• “Our manager can’t make it—he’s suddenly fallen ill. Since you were the one who created this presentation, you’ll need to step in and present it. Here are the files,” the coworker said, handing her a stack of folders and a flash drive.
• Dalia couldn’t refuse. She nodded and took the materials.
• “Good luck! I heard the owner of the company himself is attending today, along with our boss’s younger brother who’s been living in Sydney for years. We’re counting on you! Do your best!” her coworker added, their face a mixture of hope and worry.
• Dalia nodded again before turning her attention back to her computer screen. Armed with her experience and education, she worked diligently to finish all her tasks before the meeting started. Once her work was complete, she opened the presentation file. Since it was her own creation, she felt a little less anxious. All she needed to do was review the content and highlight key points that required emphasis.
• At exactly 11 a.m., Dalia stood up from her desk. Her coworkers looked at her with both concern and encouragement.
• “Good luck, Dalia! You’ve got this!” a few of them said, cheering her on.
• Dalia responded with a sweet smile and left the room, heading toward the elevator. She pressed the largest button among the others, and within a minute, the elevator chimed and opened its doors.
• Before stepping out, Dalia took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. Then, with steady determination, she walked toward the only room at the very top floor.
• Ahead, a reception desk was manned by several formally dressed men and women.
• “Dalia, you’re here for the presentation?” one of the receptionists asked, recognizing her.
• Dalia nodded and gave a faint smile.
• “Good luck! Wishing you the best. Let me escort you to the meeting room,” the young woman said, stepping out from behind the desk to guide Dalia.
• Together, they walked past other employees, heading toward the end of the hallway, where a tall door labeled *Meeting Room* stood. The closer they got, the more deliberate Dalia’s steps became.
• “Here you go,” the receptionist said, smiling warmly.
• “Thank you,” Dalia replied politely.
• She took another deep breath, released it slowly, and then turned the doorknob, pushing the door open. Plastering a calm smile on her face, she stepped inside with confidence.
• Her eyes swept across the meeting room, taking in the sight of three men and three women engaged in conversation. Dalia smiled and bowed her head slightly in greeting.
• “Excuse me, I’m Dalia from the marketing division,” she introduced herself, standing by the entrance.
• “Please, come in,” responded a middle-aged woman seated nearby.
• Dalia nodded and walked to the front of the room, where she began setting up her presentation equipment. Once ready, she handed out copies of her presentation to the attendees.
• As she distributed the documents, she locked eyes with the man she had met earlier in the elevator.
• “Hey, we meet again, Dalia,” he said, his tone cheerful.
• Dalia simply nodded and flashed him a polite smile. Once the handouts were distributed, she took her position at the front and began her presentation.
• “Good afternoon, esteemed guests. I am Dalia from the marketing division, and today I’ll be presenting some fresh ideas for the collaboration between Pinacle Group and Global Exchange Group,” Dalia began, her voice firm and confident, her demeanor exuding professionalism.
• “Our marketing division has prepared several innovative concepts for the launch of the new product…” she continued, diving into the material she had meticulously crafted.
• The meeting attendees paid close attention, observing her presentation with interest. Five out of the six participants appeared impressed and pleased, their eyes reflecting admiration for Dalia’s confident delivery. However, one man in his early thirties stared at her with a cold, sharp expression, his face devoid of any emotion.
• “Thank you for your attention. If there are any questions, comments, or objections, please feel free to share them,” Dalia concluded her presentation, maintaining her warm smile and composed demeanor.
• The attendees began reviewing the handouts she had provided. Silence filled the room as they scanned the material—until a firm, icy voice broke the stillness.
• “I don’t like the concept,” the man said, his piercing gaze fixed on Dalia.