Beneath the Ice

Chapter 17

The day had finally arrived Lisa's first official day leading the expansion project for her dad’s company.

She’d spent the weekend prepping, going over her strategy, and running through all the potential scenarios she might face.

It felt like everything she’d learned during her time at Kim Industries had led her here.

And now, it was time to see if she could actually pull it off.

Lisa stood in the lobby of her dad’s company headquarters, looking around.

It felt familiar yet different. For so long, this place had been a background to her life, a future she had avoided stepping into. But now? Now it was hers to lead.

She adjusted the lapel of her blazer and took a deep breath. No big deal. Just leading a massive expansion project. I’ve totally got this.

Her phone buzzed, and she glanced down to see a message from Chaeyoung: First day as the big boss! Don’t forget to breathe. You’ve got this!

Lisa smiled at the message, feeling a little more grounded. She quickly replied: Breathing deeply. Will try not to trip in front of the team.

Steeling herself, Lisa headed toward the elevator, ready to start this new chapter.

---

The morning passed in a blur of meetings.

Lisa was introduced to the key team members she’d be working with department heads, project managers, and financial analysts. They were all experienced, efficient, and slightly intimidating.

But instead of feeling overwhelmed, Lisa found herself slipping into a role she’d been preparing for, thanks to the constant pressure Jennie had put on her at Kim Industries.

"You're the one leading the Southeast Asia expansion?" one of the department heads, a tall, serious-looking man named Mr. Cho, asked as they sat down for their first team meeting. His tone wasn’t dismissive, but it carried the weight of someone who had seen more than his share of ambitious ideas crash and burn.

Lisa nodded, feeling the weight of his gaze.

"Yep, that's me. We're focusing on sustainable tech, and the key to making it work is building local teams who understand the market better than we ever could. The projections are solid, and the market demand is high. We just need to execute it the right way."

Mr. Cho leaned back in his chair, studying her. After a long pause, he nodded.

"It sounds promising. But you know there are risks."

Lisa smiled, channeling Jennie’s icy confidence.

"I’ve already prepared a plan to mitigate the financial risks and resource allocation concerns. I’ve thought through every worst-case scenario I could come up with."

Mr. Cho raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed.

"Sounds like you've done your homework."

Lisa nodded, keeping her expression serious even though she wanted to jump up and shout YES at the top of her lungs.

"I’ve had a lot of practice."

The rest of the meeting went smoothly, and by the time it ended, Lisa felt a deep sense of satisfaction.

She had led her first major meeting as the head of the expansion project, and while she was far from being a seasoned executive, she was holding her own. This was her chance to prove herself and she wasn’t going to let it slip away.