Chapter 161: Chapter 162: Waiting for Your Good News
"Next week? What day?"
"Wednesday, expected to return home in a week. You should be able to make it, right?"
Foreman Leigh nodded, "No problem for me."
He was the oldest here, already married with kids in school, no stress from family.
He laughed, "If I can’t go, then they definitely can’t go."
Thea Lynch chuckled back, "Then it’s settled, we’ll take the assistant and nail this task."
"Just our department going? That can’t be right."
Thea Lynch: "The second department might have people, their previous products are at the exhibition."
"True." Foreman Leigh nodded, then puzzled, "What are we responsible for?"
The recent focus of the first department was all on Valiant, and looking further back, they didn’t have any projects to showcase.
Almost all their focus was on chips. Unlike the second department, whose scope was much broader; the first batch of Stratus robots was a second department project.
One reason Foreman Warren from the second department was so arrogant stemmed from this.
Before Thea Lynch arrived, there was no manager in Stratus’s R&D department, but by default, Foreman Warren was the boss.
After Thea Lynch arrived, she became the default leader, and the first department also stood taller.
But Foreman Leigh still didn’t know what they were mainly responsible for this time.
It’s as if Foreman Lynch had to go, which puzzled him.
Everyone knows Foreman Lynch usually avoids business trips.
Thea Lynch understood what he was thinking. Meanwhile, Foreman Chandler was eager, eyes fixed on her.
Under their expectant gaze, Thea Lynch shrugged and smiled, "This time, we’re handling everything."
"!!!" Upon hearing this, Foreman Leigh and Foreman Chandler, seasoned veterans, understood right away.
After the meeting, several people excitedly slipped back to the office.
Once the door was closed, Foreman Chandler couldn’t wait to ask, "Is Foreman Lynch getting promoted?"
This time, she’s responsible for the entire exhibition, including managing those from the second department.
Isn’t that basically the R&D department manager?
"No, you guys are thinking too much." Thea Lynch opened the computer and explained, "The VP is taking a leave next week, can’t make it. The exhibition is at my alma mater, so I’m relatively familiar with the place."
Other departments in Stratus align with other companies, except the R&D department.
They didn’t have a designated "boss," that is, a manager or director. According to Silas Cheney, this position was always meant for her.
But externally, the idea was for everyone to progress together, with equality among everyone, hence no higher-level leader for now.
So usually, if the R&D department has issues, they directly liaise with the VP.
Two months into Stratus, Silas Cheney had been hinting various times to try promoting her and solidifying that position.
But she rejected it citing insufficient experience.
Honestly, apart from her slightly impressive educational background, she didn’t have other advantages to justify the position.
She wasn’t ready for that role.
And she didn’t want such "underhanded" situations as they could easily affect the colleagues’ mentality.
For Stratus, it’s not beneficial either.
It’s not a wise decision.
She temporarily suppressed this matter; Silas Cheney probably won’t "trouble" her about it again soon.
In the future, she had plans.
But it would depend on her landing a project, to convince everyone.
She had to climb up on her own, not always relying on Ian Preston and Silas Cheney.
"Next week, I will rely on all of you, especially Foreman Chandler." Thea Lynch: "Any issues, let’s connect over the phone promptly."
"Rest assured."
Foreman Chandler gave an OK gesture.
In the afternoon, Foreman Chandler ordered afternoon tea, treating everyone to coffee.
A group was chatting happily when the glass door was knocked from outside. Foreman Chandler looked up, raised an eyebrow at the familiar figure, "Oh, a rare guest."
It was Foreman Warren.
Presumably already notified by the higher-ups.
"Come in, come in." Foreman Chandler waved him in.
"Where’s Foreman Lynch?" Foreman Warren didn’t seem keen on engaging with Foreman Chandler, directly looking for Thea Lynch.
"In the lab." Foreman Chandler lounged back, with a smug demeanor, poking at Foreman Warren’s sore spot: "What, got the notification? Going on the business trip with Foreman Lynch next week, your second department better pull together, listen to Foreman Lynch’s arrangements, don’t drop the ball."
Upon hearing this, Foreman Warren got irritated, "Who’s dropping the ball? If you’re so capable, why aren’t you going?"
"Hey, hey, I’m not capable, don’t put words in my mouth. Our Foreman Lynch is the one." Foreman Chandler made a thumbs-up gesture.
The two outside exchanged comments, not exactly arguing, but the atmosphere wasn’t particularly friendly. Yet everyone was used to it, too lazy to intervene, leaving them to bicker.
"Looking for me?"
"Right..."
Thea Lynch glancing at the time, "Two minutes okay? I’ve urgent matters today, need to leave early."
"That’s not good, I also have urgent matters. It’s about next week’s exhibition."
"Discuss in the group chat? Haven’t you heard Foreman Lynch say she has an emergency." Foreman Chandler knew Thea Lynch wasn’t one to make excuses, her urgent matters meant top priority, particularly crucial.
"What urgent matters could be more important than mine?" Foreman Warren didn’t listen.
Foreman Chandler: "Probably family matters, why’re you asking so much!"
"No, it’s not." Thea Lynch interrupted, under their gazes, she contemplated and then said, "A date."
Foreman Warren: "???"
Foreman Chandler: "!!!"
"A date? You..." Foreman Warren had just started but was quickly silenced by Foreman Chandler, who covered his mouth and dragged him aside, "Foreman Lynch, go ahead with your business, important stuff comes first! Foreman Leigh and I will coordinate with him."
Thea Lynch glanced at them, "Is that alright?"
"All good, all good!" Foreman Leigh also helped control Foreman Warren, "This little matter, we can handle it, you go ahead with your work."
"Indeed, a date is no small matter!" Especially since it’s Thea Lynch’s date.
It’s like a dream.
Did the sun rise in the west today?
If not for delaying her, they really wanted to gossip deeply.
Now they could only wait till tomorrow.
"Good luck, Foreman Lynch!"
"Wish you success!"
"Awaiting your good news~"
They suddenly cheered her on, startling Thea Lynch, awkwardly twitching her mouth before forcing a smile, "Alright."
Carrying her stuff, Thea Lynch left the company, and back at the apartment, she began preparing.
At the end of work hours, Silas Cheney timely appeared at the R&D department, and upon learning that Thea Lynch had left two hours ago, his initial thought was that Thea Lynch had chickened out!
He tried calling, surprisingly getting an answer.
On the other side, Thea Lynch was still in the car, "No, no. I’m on the way."
"You went to the restaurant?"
"Yes."
"..."
