Chapter 5 In The Blink Of An Eye!

• “I’m the complete opposite of Mr. Elzar! I really like Ms. Dalia’s concept. It’s very innovative and aligns perfectly with the target segmentation we’re aiming for. I don’t see any weaknesses here. If Mr. Elzar doesn’t like it, perhaps he has other suggestions?” replied one of the meeting participants, their expression cold.
• “It is innovative and aligns with its segmentation, but isn’t there room for segment development? Is this product meant to target only one segment? Why not explore other segments? I didn’t expect my employees to produce results like this,” countered Elzar with a cold tone, his sharp, eagle-like eyes fixed firmly on Dalia.
• “I think we shouldn’t change the segmentation; otherwise, the outcome might fall flat,” added another participant.
• “In that case, there’s no need to develop anything. Growth doesn’t just come from packaging or the materials used—it also has to include segmentation. If Product A is exclusively for teenagers, and Products B and C are also aimed at the same group, then what’s the difference? Why wouldn’t they just buy Product A instead?” retorted Elzar without shifting his piercing gaze.
• Dalia remained silent as she absorbed Elzar’s words, stunned by how far-reaching his thoughts were. The meeting room grew tense and heated. Breaking her train of thought, the man who had greeted her earlier asked, “Dalia, do you have any counterarguments to Mr. Elzar’s statements?”
• Dalia smiled and replied, “Of course. Our marketing division anticipated this, which is why, ladies and gentlemen, you can refer to the blue folder over there. We’ve also prepared a Plan B for this collaboration project.”
• Everyone in the room was taken aback by Dalia’s response. Initially, they had assumed the blue folder contained nothing more than product images for the upcoming launch. To their surprise, it contained an alternative plan that Dalia had already prepared.
• “In the folder, we’ve outlined additional innovations with broader segmentation. We’ve also developed several products targeting the needs of people with disabilities. For example, for this moisturizer product, we’ve designed packaging with raised text to assist individuals with visual impairments. Additionally, the usability is tailored to those who have lost motor skills. For example, this face wash product comes in two versions with two distinct packaging designs…” Dalia continued explaining the innovations detailed in the blue folder.
• Elzar’s dark brown eyes remained intensely fixed on Dalia. He didn’t touch either of the two folders in front of him; his gaze never left her. This unnerved Dalia slightly, but she managed to maintain her composure, staying focused and unaffected by Elzar’s piercing stare.
• The meeting lasted over three hours as Dalia presented her innovations in detail. Finally, at 4 p.m., she stepped out of the meeting room with an expression that was hard to decipher.
• “Dalia, how did it go? Everything okay?” asked the receptionist, noticing Dalia’s neutral expression.
• Dalia simply smiled and replied, “I’m heading back to my desk now, Rose.”
• Dalia then walked past the receptionist’s desk and disappeared behind the elevator doors. Once she arrived at her office, she was immediately greeted by her colleagues.
• “Dalia, how did it go? Did they agree?”
• “No revisions, right, Dalia?”
• “They liked our concept, didn’t they?”
• Bombarded with questions, Dalia sighed and kept walking to her desk. She placed the meeting documents down and turned to face her coworkers.
• “Dalia, come on, tell us! How did it go? Don’t leave us hanging!” one of her coworkers urged.
• Dalia let out a deep breath and looked at her colleagues with a somber expression. “We... succeeded‼” she shouted, her face instantly lighting up with excitement.
• “Really?” one of her coworkers asked, needing reassurance.
• Dalia nodded, a wide smile spreading across her face. “At first, Mr. Elzar rejected our innovation, but I had prepared an alternative plan. And he approved it, on one condition—”
• “What! A condition? Wow, Mr. Elzar really is hard to please, so different from his father!” one of her coworkers interrupted, grumbling.
• “What’s the condition, Dalia?” another asked curiously.
• Before Dalia could respond, someone suddenly knocked on the office door. In seconds, the door opened, revealing a tall man dressed entirely in black. “Ms. Dalia, Mr. Elzar is waiting for you downstairs,” he announced firmly.
• Dalia nodded. “I’ll explain later. I have to go now.” She quickly grabbed her bag and notebook before leaving, her colleagues standing silent and puzzled.
• As she made her way to the company’s front entrance, many people stared at Dalia. Some looked at her with confusion, while others with pity. And how could they not? Dalia was now walking flanked by four of Mr. Elzar’s personal bodyguards, the son of the company owner, who was soon to be officially appointed as his father’s successor.
• However, Dalia paid no attention to their stares. What mattered now was fulfilling the condition and finishing their project. Upon reaching the company’s front yard, Elzar’s personal bodyguard opened the car door for her and gestured for her to step inside.
• Initially hesitant to enter, Dalia couldn’t bring herself to refuse when she saw the sharp gaze of Elzar from within the car. With awkwardness and confusion, Dalia sat next to him, who exuded an icy aura.
• The car sped off from the company grounds, the ride filled with silence. Neither Dalia nor Elzar spoke, each preoccupied with their own thoughts.
• After about an hour-long drive, they arrived at another company, just as grand as the one where Dalia worked. The car stopped directly in front of the company entrance. Elzar’s bodyguard stepped forward once again to open the door for him and Dalia.
• “Follow,” Elzar ordered curtly, without even glancing at her.
• Dalia quickly followed Elzar's long strides, struggling a bit to keep up but determined to stay right behind him. To her surprise, Elzar led her toward the production building. At the entrance, a middle-aged man and woman were already waiting, bowing respectfully. One of the bodyguards handed protective work attire to both Dalia and Elzar.
• After donning their protective gear, Elzar and Dalia entered the production facility. The loud hum of machines and the distinct smell of chemicals filled the air as they walked through. Eventually, they reached a room filled with various products displayed in glass cases.
• “Analyze these products and deliver the report to me in thirty minutes,” Elzar instructed coldly, gesturing toward several products on a table with a slight tilt of his chin. Without waiting for a reply, he walked over to a nearby desk and sat down, his sharp gaze fixed on Dalia as she began her task.
• With a focused expression, Dalia carefully examined each product, noting everything from the packaging to the composition, scent, and texture. She meticulously recorded her observations in her notebook, working through each product one by one.
• By 5 PM, Dalia had completed her task and promptly handed her notes to Elzar. “Make sure your work is accurate,” Elzar remarked in his deep, icy tone.
• Dalia nodded, a polite smile on her face. Afterward, Elzar led her out of the production area and into other sections of the factory. They toured every step of the process, from pre-production to post-production.
• However, as they neared the packaging section, Elzar suddenly stopped in his tracks. He reached into his pocket and glanced at his phone, its screen blinking with an incoming call. Swiping to answer, he brought the phone to his ear.
• “What is it?” he asked, his tone sharp and cold.
• “…”
• “I’m coming now,” he replied, his voice steady but tinged with urgency.
• He turned to Dalia and said, “We’ll continue tomorrow.”
• Without further explanation, Elzar quickly made his way back to the car, with Dalia trailing behind. The two got into the vehicle in silence, and the car pulled out into the busy streets of the evening rush hour.
• Dalia sat anxiously in the car, glancing at the clock. It was already past five, and she needed to pick up Amara from daycare. However, she didn’t dare say a word to Elzar. Instead, she took out her phone and sent a message to Amara’s caregiver, letting them know she’d be late.
• Moments later, her phone buzzed with a short notification. Dalia sighed in relief after reading the caregiver’s reassuring response about Amara’s well-being and acknowledgment of her delay.
• After a 20-minute drive, the car pulled into the parking lot of an upscale, luxurious hospital. Dalia, slightly dazed by the grandeur of the place, simply followed Elzar as he exited the car and strode toward the entrance.
• She continued to follow behind him until a loud, mocking voice rang out, stopping her in her tracks.
• “Well, well, look who we have here!” the voice exclaimed with exaggerated glee. “So now she’s with another rich man, huh? No wonder she had the guts to leave home like that—turns out she already had another wealthy guy lined up!”
• “Once cheap, always cheap!” another voice sneered venomously.