The CEO Gets What He Wants

Presented on the slides was a majestic skyscraper standing out from the background of a star-laden sky.

The design was so outlandish that it looked like a building out of a sci-fi movie.

It exuded a mysterious yet modern vibe, whereas the repeating motifs of its surface relief would mesmerize anyone who saw it. More importantly, the building could move by spinning on its own axis.

With glass as its exterior, the building would reflect the city's skyline, resembling an exquisite piece of art.

The presentation consequently ignited the passion in the architects' hearts, causing them to sing its praises unreservedly.

It wasn't until Cayden knocked on the table that order was restored to the conference room.

As Cayden pointed at the slide with his pen, his deep and alluring voice echoed in everyone's ears.

Faced with the buoyant crowd, he explained, “I have personally designed this fantasy-like structure which reflects the future trend buildings are moving toward. Therefore, I would like to ask all of you here about its strengths and weaknesses. Who would like to be the first to share their thoughts?”

Upon learning that their CEO was behind the design, the architects were filled with admiration.

As one of the top ten architects in the world, Cayden never failed to impress with his works. However, he produced fewer designs in recent years due to his focus on running Trident Group.

In spite of that, his extraordinary talent was still evident in the design he presented.

At the same time, his words brought silence to the roomful of architects who, a moment ago, were discussing his design passionately.

Even though they felt the urge to impress their boss, they were concerned about disgracing themselves in front of their colleagues by giving the wrong answer.

For that reason, no one had the courage to be the first to speak up.

“Yulissa, since you're the head of the architecture design department, you go first.” Cayden began calling out names without hesitation.

As Yulissa timidly got to her feet, her mind simply drew a blank.

The stares of her colleagues still caused her hair to stand on end despite her being an experienced staff.

“M-Mr. Moore, I feel that your work is a masterpiece. Normally, such a technologically advanced design can only be seen in sci-fi movies. However, your design has not only surpassed them but is also down to earth. The building's main features are especially evident. Its towering three-dimensional shape and the countless connecting aisles inside are reminiscent of Gothic and futuristic architecture, forming a deep impression on anyone who sees it. In fact, the design looks so perfect to me that I can't find any flaws at all!”

Although Yulissa was someone selfish, one couldn't deny her in-depth knowledge of architecture. Without it, she wouldn't have climbed to the position of department head.

Even then, she couldn't help but feel nervous when faced with so many exceptional architects and only came up with a response after thoroughly racking her brains.

With regard to whether there were any flaws, Yulissa couldn't see any at all.

Even if she did find one, she wasn't going to point it out in front of everyone, especially since it was her boss' work being discussed.

She had barely finished answering when cold sweat began beading all over her forehead. Despite that, she didn't dare wipe it away at all.

Sneaking a glance at Cayden, she saw him sitting in his seat emotionlessly. His reaction, or the lack of it, served to deepen her anxiety as she wondered if he disapproved of her answer.

“Avery, what do you think?” Cayden's steady gaze shifted in Avery's direction.

Standing up hesitantly under everyone's watchful eye, Avery was even more nervous than Yulissa.

Nonetheless, when she saw the look of encouragement and trust in Cayden's eyes, Avery's pounding heart gradually calmed down.

Staring at the design, she took her time to explain concisely, “By utilizing digital, parametric, and MAD techniques, you managed to make your organic design look edgy. At the same time, by employing the principles of refraction, you transformed the glass on the exterior of the building into a giant mirror that captures the reflection of the bustling city, creating a visual feast. Consequently, when one stands inside the skyscraper, one can also admire a unique view of the city through the glass windows.

“Compared to other buildings that obstruct the view of nature, your design allows one an unblocked view of its entire surroundings from the inside. Secondly, your design uses plenty of malleable materials that are easy to cut and mold. Doing so allows you to significantly increase the building's stability in the face of an earthquake. That's also one of its advantages.

“That said, the skyscraper is just too tall. As the city's skyline and a building's height are closely related, a building that's exceptionally tall would stick out of its surroundings and create a visual breach of the horizon. Even though one might get an amazing view looking down from the top, looking up would instead generate a suffocating feeling. On top of that, the building's perfect appearance is actually its biggest flaw because...”

Once the discussion involved her expertise, Avery—who was in her element—seemed to have turned into a different person.

An indiscernible glint flashed across her eyes as she shared her unique insight in a crisp and melodious voice. By demonstrating knowledge that exceeded that possessed by a top architect, Avery shocked the famous architects in the room, including Cayden.