Jake walked spiritedly into the Shigella building, his handsome face and well-tailored suit drawing admiring glances from girls in other departments along the way.
He swiped his card and took the elevator upstairs in one smooth motion.
As soon as he reached his workstation, Cabel sidled up with a mischievous grin.
It was only 8:00 a.m., and the official start time was 8:30, but quite a few "workaholics" had already arrived early, likely aware of the upcoming selection news.
Jake had agreed with his team members to come in early, but Lena was nowhere to be seen. Just as he was about to ask, Cabel, as if reading his mind, said, "Don't bother looking, Lena isn't here yet."
"Oh." Jake wasn't particularly concerned. Lena wasn't as simple as she appeared on the surface. Given her attitude toward Cabel, even if she didn't like him, there was no need to badmouth him behind his back.
Moreover, her relationship with Director Brant was unusual—she was a classic "green tea bitch."
"Come on, Lily and I have been waiting for you for ages. Since there aren't many people around now, let's head to the break room and discuss properly," Cabel said, flashing a sly smile, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
Jake knew Cabel wasn't up to anything good, but after just a few weeks of working together, he believed Cabel was a reliable person—kind-hearted, helpful, and socially adept (thick-skinned), aside from being a bit of a pervert who loved to fantasize.
Lily was also a great girl, diligent and sweet. If Cabel could manage his figure a bit better, there might actually be something between them.
In a big company like Shigella, office politics were commonplace. Jake considered himself lucky to have met two people without ulterior motives, though it might also be because his presence had boosted their team's performance.
Lily, her arms full of documents, watched Jake and Cabel's odd pairing with a surge of happiness welling up inside her.
At the same moment, Jake sensed the joy, cheerfulness, and hopeful optimism radiating from Lily's heart.
He instantly felt more energized, his fatigue melting away. He playfully hooked an arm around Cabel's neck and teased, "You didn't even want to be alone with Lily?"
Cabel smirked. "Hmph, you should ask Lily that!"
"Shameless!" the other two retorted in unison.
Laughing and chatting, the three of them entered the break room and took seats at an empty table.
The meticulous Lily, worried Jake might not fully understand the selection rules, had prepared files from past competitions.
They detailed how the sales department evaluated team members and how each group could secure victory.
Given Shigella's size and structure, such a competition shouldn't logically exist. However, Manager Mina was a veteran in the sales department. Though young, she had been with the company longer than Director Brant.
The competition had been approved by the CEO, and its results were outstanding. Initially, there had been some opposition, but the sales department's overwhelming performance gradually silenced the critics.
Since then, the selection had become a signature event for the sales department.
After enduring Cabel's rambling and Lily's explanations, Jake finally understood the competition's details.
Sales Department—Internal Performance Evaluation
Scope: All sales department employees.
Rules:
All employees form their own teams. These don't have to be the original groups—anyone can form a temporary team with one or more colleagues.
The more members in a team, the final scores will be averaged, with the average serving as the final evaluation. The highest score wins.
Prizes:
Champion:
1% bonus on the month's performance commission.
$10,000 cash prize.
The highest-scoring team member gets to accompany Manager Mina on a business trip for training.
Runner-up:
1% bonus on the month's performance commission.
$5,000 cash prize.
Third Place:
1% bonus on the month's performance commission
$1,000 cash prize.
Timeframe: August 22 to August 30, with final results tallied on August 31.
The 1% commission bonus might seem small, but it was nothing to scoff at. Under the sales department's existing rules, only sales below $5 million qualified for a 1% commission.
For higher amounts, the percentage dropped. So, this 1% was a substantial reward.
Winning would also add a notable achievement to their company records. In short, there were no downsides.
But the competition's difficulty was obvious.
Lily's team had never made the cut before—not even the top ten, let alone the top three. It wasn't that they lacked skill, but the other teams were simply too strong.
Jake thoughtfully flipped through the competition files, the past champions' performance records jumping off the page.
There were also plenty of photos with top executives, indicating the competition's prestige.
Lily and Cabel were brimming with confidence this time, given Jake's proven abilities. Cabel, in particular, couldn't hide his sly grin, his beady eyes fixed on Jake.
Jake took the competition very seriously. He only had six months, and with one month almost over, the opportunity to learn from Manager Mina was a must-win.
Just as he was about to speak, he met Cabel's scheming gaze—his intentions as clear as day. Lily, too, looked at him expectantly.
Shrugging, Jake could only reply helplessly, "Don't look at me. I'll do my best. At first glance, it seems like a competition, but the core goal is still to benefit the company and boost sales!"
"In short, let's work together and win this championship."
Lily showed a shy smile: "Jake, this time I can also help out. I can't let you carry the whole team alone."
"Hey, what are you talking about? We're all in this together."
"Exactly, exactly, no need to be polite with my buddy Jake! This time, your brother Cabel will also have to use his connections!" Cabel seized the moment to chime in.
Lily nodded in agreement: "Yes, I also contacted my parents' friends. The uncle and aunt run a company, and it's quite large. They urgently need products, which正好 fits our needs."
Damn, Jake was genuinely surprised. These days, it seems you can't混 in society without some family background. Turns out these two have been playing dumb all along.
At this moment, Jake actually felt a bit sorry for Lena. This time, she chose another group over theirs, and by the end of the competition, she'd probably regret it to death.
With Jake's abilities, he had no shortage of ideas. He just needed to put in some extra effort to secure clients, and he knew exactly how to do it.
Being perfectly attuned to women's hearts, Jake could accurately identify potential customers, grasp their psychology, and uncover their key secrets. With that, breaking past championship records would be a breeze.
He could hardly wait.
The three of them chatted a bit more until 8:30, when they officially started work!