Chapter 65

65 65. Paula’s Move

Today was Paula’s first day at the office. She got off at the bus stop closest to the office after inserting a five hundred yen coin. She immediately got off, without paying attention to the change, because she was not used to taking the bus. However, the bus driver repeatedly called her to pick up the change in Japanese. Of course, she didn’t understand until a man took the change and chased after her to give the change.

“Miss!” shouted a young man, running closer in her direction.

Paula didn’t notice it. So the man sped up, chasing ahead of her and shoving three hundred yen coins at her. He gasped for air, plastering a friendly smile on her.

“Here’s your change, miss!” said the young man wearing a neat shirt with a friendly smile. “Next time don’t forget to take it! Check it first before you get off.”

Paula just smiled and nodded, feeling guilty for bothering others.

“Thanks!” Paula thanked him in Japanese.

“Welcome!” The young man replied in English.

The two of them walked together and talked awkwardly. The man tried to speak in English even though he was struggling. Turns out, they were both headed for the same building. Then, the two separated toward their respective destinations.

Unlike what everyone thought, Paula came and disguised herself as an ordinary worker. She came on behalf of Eva Morgan, the woman who was appointed as a new employee in the design department. While the original Eva Morgan was transferred to the main office on Fifth Avenue.

.....

No one knew what Eva Morgan looked like because Robert and the superior in Tokyo didn’t think it was important. She was an ordinary employee. In addition, no one knew Paula’s real face except for Miyuki because she had never directly intervened to handle this family business.

Therefore, Paula took advantage of this loophole to allow her to enter the Tokyo office by hiding her true identity. Only Miyuki knew of this plan. The others didn’t have any idea about it. Paula hoped that the problem would be resolved quickly if the traitor didn’t know he or she was being watched.

To be more convincing, she must live a simple life in Tokyo. Starting from a middle-end apartment without hiring a housemaid. She also humbly used public transportation or just on foot-for the sake of a convincing disguise.

As soon as she entered the building, Paula immediately met Miyuki who was waiting at the fast food restaurant downstairs. They shouldn’t be seen together too much by office people until the traitor was found. Even now, the two were sitting around two different tables. They turned their backs on each other and hid each other’s faces with magazines.

“Could you please tell me how the secret information leaked?” asked Paula as she devoured her meat sandwich. She didn’t eat breakfast at home because she woke up late this morning. Last night she had trouble sleeping again after a bad dream.

Paula already knew the story of the information leakage from her father. However, she wanted to know the more detailed one from Miyuki.

A month ago Anderson Jewelry (AJ) Tokyo branch and center held a meeting. They agreed on a concept with the theme of Winter Sakura to be launched in Japan only.

Unlike the usual ones that only follow AJ New York, AJ Tokyo this time would launch a product that was more suitable for the local market. AJ New York products would only be provided in a limited way-the number was adjusted according to the number of loyal customers.

The concept carried by Winter Sakura was jewelry with a white metal frame combined with high-quality pink Akoya pearls. For the price variation, they would produce jewelry made of platinum, white gold, and silver metal. The design was made with a simple concept because it was intended for daily use so it didn’t look too dramatic and flashy.

However, a week before the launching, suddenly, Akane, a jewelry artist who just made her debut this year, launched a new design similar to the concept of Winter Sakura. They called it Pinku no Yuki, which means pink snow. They used pink pearls combined with silver, white gold, and platinum. Of course, this surprised AJ’s side because the concept and design were too similar.

This made it impossible for AJ to launch its new products. Losses reached 200,000.00 dollars for initial production. Luckily they only produce in small quantities. However, they still had to prepare a new concept in a short time.

“Who else was involved in this project besides Freya and Kato?” Paula asked again. Freya was the head of the design team and Kato was the president of AJ for the Tokyo branch. Both of them were always present in meetings with the central AJ.

“Just everyone on the design team,” Miyuki replied casually. Paula nodded, understanding that secrecy had been kept quite a bit.

“Who proposed the concept of Winter Sakura? I like the idea. Too bad it’s a waste,” Paula asked again.

A month ago, when Paula read the concept, she fell in love immediately. She hoped that this time AJ Tokyo would be successful in making big profits and gaining popularity in Japan. However, her hopes were in vain when he heard of this incident.

“That’s Freya’s main idea with the help of the team,” Miyuki replied while checking left and right, afraid that someone would notice because currently the two of them were in a public place.

Paul nodded. Miyuki was a reliable person. She was an HRD employee who also had the role of a spy. Miyuki couldn’t possibly betray Robert because he was the one who helped Miyuki and her parents when they were in need.

“Thank you, Miyuki,” Paula said as she drank her milk. “I will need your help again later. Now I have to go to the office and meet Freya.”

Miyuki and Paula parted ways. Paula ordered Miyuki not to contact her via smartphone and the internet at the office just in case. They then exited the cafe separately.

Paula rushed to the office and met with the head of the design team, Freya Miller. The woman was a talented designer. However, it seemed that for the Japanese market, she still had to learn so that the designs she and her team created could attract local customers.

Freya greeted Paula in a friendly manner. She immediately took Paula into the design office and introduced her to Freya’s subordinates.

“She is Eva Morgan from AJ HQ. So sad that she had to join us while we were struggling to make a new concept in a hurry. Unfortunately, the welcome party will be postponed. Welcome, Eva! We need your help,” Freya said kindly.

“Hello, I’m Eva, I can’t speak Japanese very well. But I’ll try my best,” Paula said in poor Japanese.

However, that was fine as all members seemed not to care more about work deadlines than their new members. Reluctantly, they lifted their faces from their tablets to greet the newcomer.

As their bright faces appeared one by one, Paula discovered that the man she had been with on the bus this morning was one of Freya’s subordinates.

“Ah, you were the foreign girl on the bus earlier?” the man asked, suddenly becoming more friendly. “Hi, I’m Ken.”

“I’m Himawari.”

“I’m Misa.”

The other members also introduced themselves. Paula smiled, turning to Freya.

“We are used to calling by our first name because we feel like family,” Freya explained. Paula then smiled happily because there was such a warm thought in the work environment.

Paula then joined the others and quickly adjusted. Fortunately, Paula was not completely dumb when it came to designing. By noon, they had to finish the concept they wanted to offer the company. The main concept and at least five design examples. Furthermore, they could refine the concept together after the theme was agreed upon.

At noon, Paula promised to meet Miyuki in the toilet on the third floor, near the dentist’s clinic. Paula went into the toilet and found Miyuki’s red ankle boots under the toilet stall. That meant, Miyuki was already there.

“Miyuki?” Paula asked, confirming.

“Right. What was your first impression?” Miyuki asked.

“They are all very diligent and professional. I almost doubt that the traitor is one of them,” Paula complimented the team members.

“Then, what’s your first move then?”

“Have you investigated the background of the people involved? Do they have friends or relatives who work at Akane?”

“Not yet.”

“Do that and we’ll meet again here this afternoon at three o’clock.”

“You’re not giving me time to breathe, are you?” Miyuki protested, chuckling lightly. “But no problem. I will do it for you.”

After thanking Miyuki, Paula left to go to the meeting room. Freya suggested replacing the pearls with blue sapphires and diamonds.

“Disney-Frozen themes would be so pretty and perfect for winter, wouldn’t they?” Freya asked, seeking approval from the others.

“But, aren’t our target market adult women who earn above 8 million Yen per year? Do they still like that kind of thing?” Kato asked unsurely.

“Any other ideas?” The dizzy Kato took off his glasses and massaged his temples lightly. His hair was disheveled, looking like he hadn’t showered in days.

Kato was not usually directly involved in early discussions. Usually, the design team would present a refined concept, then they would report the result to Kato. However, right now, Kato wanted to push them because the deadline was approaching.

“Misa? Himawari?” Kato asked. “Are you the newcomer? Eva, huh?”

Misa and Himawari gave up. They would only help if the concept had been agreed upon.

Then, it was Ken’s turn to propose something else. He came to present his idea with confidence: Rainbow Winter.

“Rainbow Winter?” Paula whispered in awe.

“Right,” Ken said confidently. “So, we don’t need to change the previous concept. Just modify and add the metal type and pearl color. Look, this is the previous design with modifications. There’s no trace of Sakura Winter at all, right?”

Everyone was amazed. Ken looks very talented and his ideas were very convincing.

“But it will cost you more, won’t it?” Freya argued. She was not happy because Kato and the others seemed to prefer Ken’s idea.

“Freya, no matter what, we’re still going to spend money, aren’t we?” Kato defended Ken’s plan. “With your idea earlier, we should procure sapphires and diamonds.”

Freya felt cornered. She could only smile wryly.

Then, unexpectedly Paula said, “However, Freya’s design idea is no less interesting. Feminine and unique. I like it very much. We can combine them, right? I and the others will refine the concept and add more design. We’ll decide which one to execute later. What we need for now is quick action. Not much time left. Perhaps we need to postpone the launch as well. It’s better than losing a huge amount of money.”

Kato was momentarily stunned by Paula’s statement. He then smiled in relief and nodded happily. The others didn’t seem to oppose the decision. Freya was no longer surly. Finally, the meeting was dismissed and all returned to work as instructed.

When the others were out of the room, Paula still had to stay to sort things out. It was then, Kato noticed that something was strange. The woman claimed to be a newcomer, but she was too calm to be called a novice. She was also too controlling of the situation and could reconcile the unnecessary competition that should not happen.

With all those reasons, Kato finally asked, “Who are you?”