Chapter 28

Skai's POV

From beyond the door, I could hear a distant scrape of chairs, a murmur of voices. I entered into the already crowded conference room. My heels clicking directly against the black tiles. Quiet murmurs.

The whispers stopped when I entered the room with multiple eyes staring into my soul. If hands were eyes, they could definitely strangle me. I walked directly to the empty seat apart from the two chairs I assume was for the CEOs.

It seems I was the last to enter the room. I sat down; the sound died down. It was my heels that drew distracted attention in the room. Not even after what happened. I loved to be the centre of attraction. Even though I wasn't sure of what was going on in everyone's mind. I was still me. The unpredictable lady.

Mia was seated at the opposite side of the table. Gossips hit me that she was given just two weeks of suspension; the other information wasn't necessary. After blackmailing and theft. Corruption was a norm; I wasn't surprised. She was still calm, pretending as if nothing happened.

The marketing head of department was present, and I couldn't recognise a few people, or maybe our paths have never crossed.

The screen at the front of the room remained blank.

After what seemed like five minutes, the CEOs entered. Quiet murmurs stopped. They were flanked by two bodyguards. How serious could that be? Tillard isn't a fan of bodyguards, not until Giovanni resumed.

Their cold eyes commanding every breath in the room, they moved to the opposite end of the table, sitting across from each other.

Tillard sat down as he adjusted his tie and his upper button as if life was choking the hell out of him. This is about to get interesting.

He cleared his throat, “I hope we all know the reason behind this meeting.” Every head nodded, and he continued.

“The last three campaigns have failed. Sales are flat. Engagements are down. Our clients have drastically reduced. Profits are declining. “ He pronounced the profit in capital, clenching his teeth.

"And all I see is a team of highly paid employees looking confused", he said as his eyes travelled through the entire room almost maintaining eye contact with everyone.

Giovanni still sat down, his legs crossed over the other with his ankle resting on the opposite knee. Traits of mafias never leave his demeanour. He was silent with a normal expression, not angry or irritated, but he didn't look cool either.

“Maria, what do you have for us? Tillard said, finally looking in the direction of the marketing head

“I think we need to review the campaign performance, check customers feedback and complaints, evaluate competitors activities, and assess sales funnel drop-off points.”

“Find the difference between our old and current campaigns. Definitely, we can't use the old one anymore, but there must be something that marked a difference. We can also develop consistent messaging, logos, colours, and tone of voice. The company is already recognised, but we need to enhance our trust in the market." Her long straight hair falling on her shoulders.

I was sure Tillard would be thinking about a dubious way of enhancing trust.

"We can translate technical features into customer benefits. Then, collaboration with bigger companies would help."

And that was where the failed contract with the BER Corp crept in. They wouldn’t have faced this issue if the contract had been successful. Tillard looked lost for a minute, but he braced up immediately.

He said, “I don't listen to excuses. I need actions. Fast action. Remember I'll personally review them every quarter, his eyes dark with something primal. I blinked, trying to understand the cryptic warning he had given.

“Does anyone have additions?” Of course it was supposed to be of collaborated knowledge.

A lady raised her hand. “I think we need to identify customer needs and trends. And increase the quality of products, not the prices. These are complaints we get from some of our customers. We need to use it to our advantage. We need realistic ads. I believe that when someone with expertise does this, it will be more believable and encouraging.”

I didn't move. I was just watching.

Eyes zeroed in on her as she gave her opinion-like speech. She's the marketing head, and I understood she bore all the blame. She needed to make corrections.

Tillard looked at her, “You have only one week to restructure this department. Re alignment. Everything. Do anything it takes.”

She nodded, “Understood, sir.”

The moment I thought the meeting was coming to an end. Giovanni broke the silence.

“Sophia”, he said in a slightly husky voice, not clear

“Yes, sir.”

“You’ve been here only a few weeks. But I’ve read your analytics reports. You see things others don’t.” He leaned forward slightly. “Do you see the cracks in this team?”

‘You see things others don’t.’ It begged the question of how and why. Maybe it was true, but I never wanted it to be true to everyone. Not even Giovanni. He's very smart.I nodded slightly,

“Yes, sir.”

“Good, let's hear from you.” Only one word, perhaps, but that word would be the first wave of the deluge. One moment I believed I was dedicated, willing to lie on the blazing coals, doing anything to gain their trust.

I uncrossed my legs and sat up. Eyes turned on me like daggers. Guess I'll have to unleash my intelligence. Bit by bit. Page by page.

I kept my voice neutral. “We’re relying on outdated targeting systems. The content flow is not consistent. The user behavior models are six months behind. If you give me access to deeper data channels, I can build an adaptive targeting module to optimize campaigns in real time. We need to connect the dots between technical features of our products and customer advantage. Our product details should be included when marketing on website”

Giovanni studied me. Measured. Ostensibly – his eyes calculating.

He turned to Maria, “Give her whatever she wants.”

I was surprised at his acquiescence. His calculating eyes left doubts and probabilities. He'd surely do something of which I wasn't sure.

Maria, looking like a cat with its tail in a twist, she nodded

“Understood, sir.” She said, her southern drawl coming out thick.

“Keep your wits about you,” he turned to me, and I nodded at the conclusion.

The meeting ended.

Giovanni stood up, and Tillard followed. The guards hurriedly opened the door, and they left.

Doors shut.

I turned to leave, and everything I could picture was a marketing girl behind a screen, files under the radar.