CHAPTER 24: CHAPTER 24: A QUICK GUESS—HAWTHORNE CORPORATION?

"President Hawthorne, do you have some time later? There’s an interview in the design department. Could you attend it? It would just take half an hour."

Claire Carson cautiously asked.

Wyatt Hawthorne glanced at the day’s schedule on the table.

The 10 o’clock management meeting.

The 11 o’clock video conference.

Both had been crossed out just now.

Wyatt Hawthorne spoke coldly, "No time."

Claire Carson: ...

Serena Sinclair’s resume was fished out from the vast sea of resumes on the job website.

The reason was simple: back in those days at Aethelgard University, Serena Sinclair was the goddess of the architecture students, the "perfect child" from other people’s families.

Design is something that requires talent.

Many designers spend their entire lives honing their skills, and yet they can’t match the flash of inspiration of those born with the talent for design.

But Claire Carson also knew well that the six-year gap in Serena Sinclair’s resume was her biggest drawback at the moment.

Under normal procedures, she wouldn’t even pass the initial screening for an administrative officer in Hawthorne Corporation’s HR department, let alone get to the HR director or to her.

Unless Serena Sinclair’s presentation could be outstanding enough to convince everyone, hiring her into Hawthorne Corporation would be risky.

The plan was set, hoping Wyatt Hawthorne would be the one to share that risk.

After all, he was also a graduate of Aethelgard University and surely knew of Serena Sinclair’s great reputation.

But Claire Carson didn’t expect Wyatt Hawthorne to refuse so bluntly.

"Oh, alright."

Quickly adjusting, Claire Carson turned to leave.

A cold voice from behind stopped her, "The Syburg project was well done. Everyone in the project team gets double bonuses this month. You apply, I’ll sign! As for you as the director, you’ll receive five times."

???

Claire Carson blinked, surprised, and turned back.

Wyatt Hawthorne continued, "If Serena Sinclair passes the interview later, include her in the architectural design for Plot No. 3."

???

Claire Carson’s mind raced.

First, Wyatt Hawthorne knew that Serena Sinclair was the one to be interviewed.

Second, he said if she passes, Serena would immediately join the design department and start working.

How did he know?

Who told him?

And his confidence in Serena Sinclair was even greater than hers?

In a few short seconds, countless thoughts ran through her mind.

Regaining her composure, Claire Carson replied, "Understood!"

At Hawthorne Corporation, work seemed to be timed to the second.

Just as thirty minutes passed, the meeting room door opened, and Claire Carson entered with a few people.

"These are some managers from our project department, Manager Lynch from the design department, and Manager Warren from the construction department... this is Director Quincy from HR and Administration."

After introducing everyone to Serena Sinclair, Claire Carson turned to the big screen, "Let’s begin."

Serena Sinclair stood up, holding a laser pointer, and walked to the big screen.

"First, let’s look at this piece called ’Capital Tower.’ The advantages are obvious: prime location, high-end hardware facilities, and the entire building design uses new eco-friendly materials. But similarly, the shortcomings cannot be ignored. There is a severe lack of parking space, the cost is exorbitant, and... the floor area efficiency is too low."

"If modifications are needed, I would approach it from the following six points."

"..."

Six people sat in the meeting room, excluding Serena Sinclair explaining in front of the big screen, mainly the key heads of the project and administration departments.

After finishing one presentation, Serena Sinclair switched to the second piece, "Next, this one..."

"Wait a minute!"

Just as Serena Sinclair spoke, she was interrupted by Manager Warren from the construction department, "Can we pause for five minutes?"

Serena Sinclair looked anxiously at Claire Carson.

Claire Carson also seemed puzzled.

Before Serena Sinclair could respond, Manager Warren had already turned and walked out.

Following closely behind, Manager Lynch from the design department also went out.

There was a moment of silence in the meeting room, making Serena Sinclair’s heart, which had just calmed down, suddenly race wildly.

The progress bar in her mind sped backward. Serena Sinclair reviewed her earlier explanation and didn’t feel there was any problem.

But the unexpected situation caught her completely off guard.

Although only a few minutes passed, it felt as long as a century to Serena Sinclair.

The meeting room door opened again, with Manager Warren entering first, followed by Manager Lynch.

The door remained ajar.

A large group of people rushed in.

"Hello, Director Carson!"

"Hello, Director Quincy!"

The group greeted Claire Carson and the HR director eagerly, then each found a vacant seat and sat down.

Manager Warren looked at Serena Sinclair, "You may continue!"

With a faint suspicion in her heart, Serena Sinclair looked up, catching sight of Claire Carson’s broad smile.

Her heart beat rapidly, and the hand holding the laser pointer began to tremble slightly.

Serena Sinclair cleared her throat and began her presentation again.

The once one-sided explanation quickly turned into a one-to-many communication and exchange mode, as if this wasn’t an interview aimed at Serena Sinclair but a seminar at the start of a project.

The interview concluded just before one o’clock.

As the crowd dispersed, Managers Lynch and Warren began a fierce argument.

Manager Lynch stated that Serena Sinclair’s specialty was architectural design and therefore she should naturally belong to their design department.

Manager Warren argued that Serena Sinclair’s performance evidently suited overall planning and deployment better, so she should be under their construction department for centralized planning.

The two bickered back and forth.

Serena Sinclair realized she had passed the interview.

She left the HR and Administration Department at four in the afternoon.

In her hand was the newly signed employment contract.

Ringing in her ears was the salary Director Quincy from HR and Administration offered her: a probationary monthly salary of 12K, with post-confirmation adjustments based on performance.

There were also housing, transportation, and phone allowances, among others.

Serena Sinclair felt an unreal sense, as if she were floating on clouds.

Returning to the project department, Serena Sinclair knocked on Claire Carson’s office door before she managed to speak.

Claire Carson extended her hand with a smile, "Senior Sinclair, welcome to Hawthorne Corporation!"

"Today is Thursday. Go home and rest over the weekend. Come on Monday to officially start the onboarding process. Any questions?"

"None."

Serena Sinclair shook her head.

Leaving Hawthorne Tower, Serena Sinclair immediately sent a WeChat message to Una Hutton.

[Darling, I found a job!]

[Guessing based on intuition, Hawthorne Corporation?]

[...]

[Just tell me if I guessed right or not!]

Serena Sinclair admitted it.

Una Hutton sent a knowing smiley face.

[I told you I had a premonition, do you believe it?]

[...]

[Hawthorne Corporation has the best project design department, naturally offering the best benefits. Not to mention, that someone special, with perfect timing and setting. I believe everything is the best arrangement! Darling, go for it!!!]

Everything is the best arrangement!

Yes, that’s right.

Glancing up at the fiery clouds in the sky, just like her uplifting mood at this moment.

Serena Sinclair planned to invite Una Hutton for a good celebration.

The WeChat message had not even been sent.

The phone rang.

It was Adrian Lockwood’s call.

Hung up.

Rang again.

Hung up again.

Rang again.

Remembering she had already clearly told him yesterday not to call her again.

Adrian Lockwood was so persistently haunting her.

Serena Sinclair couldn’t help but feel a bad suspicion in her mind.

Was Miles Lockwood’s condition worsening, becoming more serious?

When Adrian Lockwood’s call came once more.

Serena Sinclair answered.

On the other end, Adrian Lockwood’s angry voice sounded, "Serena Sinclair, you didn’t return to the hotel last night? Where did you go?"