pdf-ebookys Page 51
Page 51
His eyes held a confident glimmer of victory in sight.
However, almost immediately, certain intuitions sounded a sharp alarm in Vivian's mind.
Who is Hawke Lane?
A ruthless and shrewd businessman who can mobilize the entire state apparatus to confront the CIA for the sake of criminals.
His recruitment was not simply because he admired her abilities!
What she saw in his eyes was less a thirst for talent and more a keen interest in a valuable, troublesome "trophy."
Bringing her, this "enemy," under our control is itself a declaration of victory.
Vivian took a deep breath, suppressing the inappropriate flutter in her heart.
This man is too dangerous!
507 This is blatant conquest!
Bringing her, the opponent he had just ruthlessly defeated, under his control and making her his "trophy" is itself the best proof of his ability.
Vivian took a deep breath, her eyes sharpening again, but this time, there was a complex scrutiny and... a barely perceptible hint of weariness and compromise.
She stated the fact calmly: "Hawk. It's a very tempting offer."
Hawke raised an eyebrow, seemingly somewhat surprised that she hadn't attacked him directly.
“But,” Vivian looked him straight in the eye, her voice clear and firm, “that doesn’t mean it’s my destiny. The temptation you’re offering is great, very great. Power, resources, freedom… no one dislikes that. But Hawke, you’ve overlooked one thing.”
"Oh? Which point?" Hawke asked with interest.
“I chose the CIA not because of its salary or comfort, and not even entirely because of so-called national security.” Vivian’s gaze passed over Hawke, looking at the blurry outline of the Statue of Liberty in the distance, with an almost religious steadfastness. “It’s because it gave me a ‘stance.’ A stance that I can endorse and am willing to take the risks and pressures for. Even if it has bureaucracy, stupidity, and failures… this stance belongs to me as an individual, not to be an appendage of Hawke Lane.”
She turned her gaze back to Hawke, a faint, self-deprecating smile playing on her lips: "Your offer was excellent, so excellent that I almost considered it. But it's like the finest gilded cage. And I..." She paused, her tone regaining its composure, "...have no plans to lock myself in it yet."
After saying that, she didn't look at Hawke's expression again, turned around and walked along the riverside path alone.
The sound of high heels clicking on the ground was still crisp, but her back view carried a hint of imperceptible loneliness... and a sense of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
She refused, but her wavering and attraction were real.
She didn't close the door completely; her words, "for now," left endless possibilities open.
Her final, candid declaration of "stance" clearly outlined her bottom line, which she would never back down from at this moment.
Hawke stood there, watching the stubborn figure gradually disappear into the sunset, his eyes swirling with emotion.
He recalled a few days earlier, in Vivian's dorm room at Columbia University, where he had been similarly manipulated emotionally. Thinking about it this way, it was definitely not some sophisticated spy technique, but rather that she truly possessed some qualities that ordinary people did not have.
"Standard? A gilded cage?" He murmured these two words, and finally, a helpless yet determined smile appeared on his lips.
My second time being humiliated in front of her!
“Teacher Vivian…it seems we’ll have to keep paying this ‘tuition.’ But next time, I’ll have to see what kind of ‘price’ the Ryan Group can offer to make you willingly come in.”
After two days of feeling down, the arrival of April, Nalan, and Stella cheered Hawke up a little.
Sunlight streamed in through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the spacious conference table until it gleamed.
Hawke sat in the main seat, his fingers tapping the table unconsciously. His gaze seemed to casually sweep across the doorway, but his heart felt like it was being scratched by a cat's claws.
Today's interview... was a bit too hot to handle.
The door was pushed open by the assistant, and the crisp "clack-clack" of high heels sounded like the beating of war drums.
Three figures, each with a distinct style yet equally dazzling, entered.
This was a group interview. Since most of the candidates had already been selected, with only slight differences in the specific positions, a group interview was a good option.
April O'Neill led the charge.
She seemed to be in full force today, wearing an extremely fitted charcoal gray suit skirt, with a silk camisole underneath that perfectly revealed a section of her snow-white neck and delicate collarbone. Her long legs, wrapped in her signature sheer black stockings, were strutting in pointed stilettos, each step seeming to tread on Hawke's nerves.
Her smile was bright, with a hint of provocation, and her gaze was fixed on Hawke: "Good morning, Mr. Hawke."
Hawke's Adam's apple bobbed almost imperceptibly, and he felt the warm air of the lounge instantly return.
"Ahem, Miss O'Neill, please have a seat."
He tried his best to maintain his boss's dignity, but his eyes couldn't help but linger for half a second longer on the other person's striking black-stockinged legs.
"Hello, Mr. Hawke." A gentle yet firm voice rang out, instantly easing the scorching heat in the air.
Na Lan followed closely behind and entered.
She wore a cream-colored Chanel-style tweed suit, elegant and poised. Her long hair was pulled back, revealing her smooth forehead and slender neck. Her smile was as gentle as a spring breeze, but her eyes were like glass that had been dipped in icy water, clear and sharp.
She nodded slightly, her posture impeccable, as if she possessed an aura purifier of financial elites.
Hawke's eyes lit up: "Then, Miss Lan, welcome."
This Cambridge graduate has a truly pleasant demeanor; his professionalism is immediately apparent.
93 Senior Sister Driving [Seeking Flowers and Subscriptions]
“Mr. Hawke, it’s been a long time.”
The third voice carried a natural languor, exuding the aura of a queen's arrival.
Stella strolled in unhurriedly.
Wearing a sleek, royal blue Max Mara coat with clean lines, paired with matching wide-leg trousers, she looked tall and elegant, exuding confidence and charisma.
She left her shirt unbuttoned, revealing a pure white silk blouse underneath, exuding a casual yet assertive aura.
Her gaze fell on Hawke's face, and a meaningful smile curved her lips, making Hawke's heart skip a beat.
His aura is even stronger than before.
“Senior Stella,” Hawke stood up, offering a polite smile to conceal his inner turmoil, “Please have a seat. I didn’t expect Andy to actually invite you.”
Three stunningly beautiful women with distinct styles took their seats, and the lights in the conference room seemed to brighten, but the atmosphere also became more complicated and tense.
April's fiery red lips, Nalan's gentle and intellectual demeanor, Stella's domineering senior aura... Hawke felt like he was sitting in the center of a battleground.
The interview officially began.
The process is standard: self-introduction, past experience, views on the social media industry, understanding of Snapchat, team collaboration examples...
On a professional level, Hawke secretly nodded in approval of the abilities demonstrated by the three.
Na Lan's ideas are clear and logical, demonstrating a profound understanding of internet user psychology, algorithmic recommendations, and content ecosystems. The framework she proposes is logically rigorous, clearly showing that she is an elite mind with formal academic training and experience honed in top investment banks.
She looked intently at Hawke as she spoke, her eyes clear and bright, giving Hawke a pleasant feeling of being completely understood, and even of sparks flying between their thoughts.
This professional charm itself carries a unique appeal.
Stella, on the other hand, was completely in control.
When she talks about crisis public relations cases, she exudes confidence, speaks sharply, and has rigorous logic, as if she is not conducting an interview, but holding a strategic meeting with her subordinates.
Especially when her deep eyes look over, there's always a hint of scrutiny in them, as if to say, "Do you understand what I'm saying, junior?"
Hawke felt immense pressure, but also inexplicably...excited?
The "senior's authority" setting unexpectedly struck a chord with him in this scenario.
It's April's turn.
Her resume is indeed slightly inferior in terms of media and practical experience, but the advantages she demonstrates are perfectly aligned with the core of social media—the ability to spread information and generate buzz.
Drawing on her experience as a journalist, she possesses an almost intuitive understanding of how to ignite trending topics, create viral spreads, leverage celebrity influence, and precisely target advertising.
Her expression was incredibly infectious, her gestures were varied, her eyes were bright, and she was like a vibrant, energetic flame.
Especially when she stood up and quickly sketched a timeline of public opinion ignition on the whiteboard, her exquisite curves, encased in her business suit, stretched with the movement, particularly the shape of her legs, subtly straining beneath her black stockings…
Hawke picked up his water glass and took a big gulp, his eyes looking at the whiteboard, but his thoughts drifted uncontrollably to the carpet in the lounge.
“Mr. Hawke,” April put down her marker, her bright smile tinged with a hint of slyness, “what do you think of this ‘scandal + twist’ marketing strategy? It’ll definitely make users remember our brand name on the same day! Of course, this is purely a business plan, and doesn’t involve any celebrity gossip~”
She drew out the last word, and gave Hawke a meaningful glance with her azure eyes.
Hawke: "Ahem... The idea is novel, but the execution details need further refinement."
He felt his ears getting a little hot.
Na Lan maintained her elegant smile, but her fingers, resting on the notebook, curled slightly.
Stella raised an eyebrow, her gaze sweeping back and forth between Hawke and April, the corners of her mouth curving into a deeper smile, as if to say: Ah, there's a story here.
As the interview drew to a close, the atmosphere was wonderfully balanced between professional exchanges and subtle undercurrents.
Hawke closed the folder, his gaze sweeping over the three: "All three of you are exceptionally talented, with complementary skills. Nalan has a profound understanding of users and products, Stella is impeccable in brand building and execution, and April has a unique knack for generating viral marketing. Ryan's social media platform needs a combination like yours."
He paused, then said with a hint of a joke, "Andy will discuss the salary and benefits with you in detail. I believe she will offer you a price that will satisfy you. As for the workload..." He gave Stella a meaningful look, "Senior Stella should know very well that working with me will absolutely squeeze every last drop of your potential out of you."
Stella chuckled softly, leaning forward slightly, her powerful aura enveloping the area: "Junior, are you sure you want to drain our 'potential'?"
She deliberately emphasized the last two words, her eyes carrying a playful provocation...
Na Lan picked up the water glass on the table and took a sip as if to cover up her actions.
April burst out laughing, then realized the situation was inappropriate and quickly covered her mouth. But her smiling eyes shone brightly as she stared intently at Hawke, as if to say: Squeeze dry? What kind of squeeze?
Hawke: “…”
He felt that the air conditioning in the conference room wasn't strong enough.
Senior, you're going way too fast!
Just then, there was a knock on the conference room door. Andy poked his head in, glanced around the room expressionlessly, and calmly said, "If the interviews are almost over, could the three ladies come with me to complete the formalities?"
The three beauties all looked at Hawke.
Hawke breathed a sigh of relief and immediately stood up, his voice utterly serious: "Of course! Andy will arrange everything. Welcome to Ryan! I look forward to seeing the three of you make your mark on the social media battlefield!"
He extended his hand and quickly and professionally shook hands with each of the three.
When he held April's hand, her palm seemed slightly sweaty, and her fingertips brushed against his palm almost imperceptibly.
Hawke felt a tingling sensation in his palm and released the pressure without making a sound.
When Stella grasped his hand, the senior's hand was firm and strong, but before letting go, the tip of her index finger lightly brushed across the back of his hand, bringing a slightly cool touch, like a silent warning: junior, there will be plenty of time to slowly "squeeze" you later.
When it was Na Lan's turn, her hands were cool and soft, and her smile remained gentle and generous: "Thank you for your trust, Mr. Hawke. We will do our best."