To Color Your Life

Christian was looking at the girl in surprise for a few seconds and then laughed out loud. He himself was surprised by such a reaction, but could not contain his emotions. It was the most absurd deal of his life. What is this cute dragon up to?

"What's going on over here?"

"Is Mr. Denver laughing?"

"This is the first time I hear him laugh."

The shareholders whispered among themselves, completely not understanding what was happening. Arthur Pitcher looked pleased as if he had eaten two servings of popcorn.

"Mr. Denver, you said that potential users cannot be considered an argument when planning such a large project," Emily began. "I agree with your view that taking care of the publisher's employees is a priority. But our team also believes in something else.

We also believe that those people, for whom we are doing all this, are no less significant and can provide the same support and dedication."

"And how are you going to prove it to me, Miss Hayes?" the man folded his arms over his chest, waiting for an answer.

Emily smiled enigmatically, "I will use my army."

"Your army?" Christian raised an eyebrow, "I respect the work of your team, but I'm not sure that such an army will be enough to convince me. Otherwise, there would be no need to vote."

The girl tilted her head to the side, "And who said that I am talking about my team?"

She turned to face the audience and said loudly, "Dear guests of the reporting meeting of Pharaoh magazine. As you can see, our department is not only distinguished by the creativity of our employees but also by our ability to surprise. Today is no exception."

"It can be seen already," one of the shareholder chuckled, now and then casting glances in the direction of one of the girls models.

"During a half-hour break, we have prepared a short performance for you, where will showcase the footage from the new issue of Pharaoh magazine. You will be the very first to see it. As well as our loyal viewers who have been following the broadcast of the meeting all this time."

The guests in the hall perked up and began to look around. What kind of broadcast was this young lady talking about?!

Emily assumed the reaction would be mixed, but they left this trick as a last resort. The moment of this very last resort has just come.

"Our team sincerely believes that Pharaoh's employees and clients are equally significant people.  That is why, on such an important and decisive day for our project, we invited these people to take this major step with us."

Emily raised her hands and pointed to the Egyptian statues located around the perimeter of the room. "These statues have video cameras that are broadcasting this event live on our server. At the moment, in addition to us, who have gathered in the hall, more than three hundred thousand people are watching this meeting. Let's welcome them."

The girl clapped her hands, thanking the online viewers for their time. The shareholders timidly joined her in greeting one by one. Have they been watching them all this time?

"Hi, Dad. Don't forget to give me the Alpha's bracelet that I won," a message snapped on Mr. Seymour's phone, whose daughter, according to Emily, won one of the magazine's contests. He raised his hand in embarrassment and waved to one of the cameras.

"Victories in great battles were not only possible thanks to the generals who were thinking out strategies," Emily gestured at Catherine and Barkens. She nodded to them, noting their contribution to the common goal. "These victories also owe much to the brave army, where each soldier fought desperately for what was important to him."

The girl turned to Christian, "Mr. Denver, I want to demonstrate to you the power of the army that Pharaoh magazine has created over these three years."

Emily took a short breath. Come on Hayes, it will work out!

"The million users that we planned to attract in six months, we will attract right now. Before your eyes. In half an hour."

The man was a little taken aback. He assumed that the girl was up to something extraordinary, but not to something that was possible in the parallel reality only!

"How will you do it, Miss Hayes?! You said that the broadcast is watched by no more than three hundred thousand people."

Emily nodded, "Right. But you said that behind every employee of the Pharaoh there is a family for which he is responsible. So behind each of our clients, there are family and friends with whom this person will want to share something good."

"Emн, well done! Keep it up! Second camera on the right, close-up!" Kelly suggested to the girl where to look.

Hayes turned her gaze to the right camera and smiled, "Dear viewers. You have seen the presentations of two worthy projects. Now is your time to decide how you want to see the future of Pharaoh magazine.

Now a link to the beta version of our new application will appear on the broadcast page. If you liked this idea, go ahead and download the apps to your smartphone. Share this link with your family or friends and invite them to install it as well.

If in half an hour besides you, this application gets installed by three more people, then we will be able to show how powerful a weapon our family can become! One million users is just the beginning!"

Emily's palms trembled with excitement, but her voice was confident and calm, her eyes were burning with eagerness and enthusiasm.

"Mr. Denver, if in half an hour we have a million users, you will abandon your project and give the Pharaoh to me. If we don't, then I will give all my shares in your favor. That's the bet," Emily smiled at him kindly.

"Wait Miss-" Christian wanted to stop her, but he couldn't.

Emily raised her hand up and commanded, "The clock starts now!'"

The hall was instantly filled with solemn music. On the screen behind the girl, the red numbers of the countdown lit up. The light became muffled.

Several men with flares came out to the center of the hall and began a live performance.

Instead of presentation slides, the projector brought out the new cover of Pharaoh magazine.

In the center of the luxurious hall depicted on it, there was a throne. Around the throne, like loyal pets, men were sitting on the floor - the leading models of the magazine. And on the throne itself, with her head held high, was sitting their new queen - Alpha.

"God, you're out of your mind," Emily heard Denver's voice, which sounded either regretful or admiring. She was endowed with the second.

The man nervously fiddled with his already short hair. "What were you thinking when you decided on this?!"

Hmm, it looks like some people will now consider her crazy. And he is not the only one.

"I'll check how things are on the other side," Justin whispered in Emily's ear, kissed her quickly on the cheek, and, with a warning glance at Denver, left the stage.

According to the rules of the meeting, they did not have the right to communicate with guests during the break in order to avoid influencing the voting results.

Justin went off to check on the new user registrations, while Christian and Emily remained on stage and watched the show, which was prepared for the rest.

"Emily, to be honest, I've never felt as stumped as I am now," Denver continued. He did look a little confused.

The girl patted him lightly on the shoulder, "Have you forgotten where you are? This is Pharaoh magazine. Just relax and have fun with what is happening."

Yeah, relax, she said. Very soon, her teeth will begin to chatter with such intensity of emotions!

"Why did you do this? Wasn't standard voting enough?"

If Denver were not naturally reserved person, then Emily could easily imagine how, with these words, he would grab her by the shoulders and start shaking her, shouting, "You idiot! What have you done!"

"Christian, stop looking at me with such compassion as if I've already lost," Emily grumbled in response, "There are still twenty minutes left."

"Do you seriously think that strangers will easily agree to help you and will also attract their loved ones to help the magazine?!" From the man's lips, such an outcome of events sounded like a complete absurdity.

"Yes, I seriously do think so. Because this is exactly what happened to me when I got into this company. The staff of the magazine accepted me and supported me in any situation. They were not even embarrassed by the rumors that were spreading about me and Justin. Therefore, I am sure that our readers are just as great. Otherwise, they would not be our readers," said Emily in a firm voice.

Denver sighed, "I admire your faith in people, but now it resembles naivety more. In big business, the sharks like those present here would swallow you for your beliefs, and would not even choke."

What's the matter with him?! Isn't it possible to build a big business with a human face? Is it really necessary to be a cold-blooded robot to achieve a goal?!

For all the obvious merits, this man was too closed. As she used to be.

Emily lifted her head and looked the man straight in the eyes, "Mr. Denver, if you are so worried about my naivety, maybe you can become my business mentor? Then we will check, whose hypothesis turns out to be correct. What do you say?"

He fell silent, apparently unsure of what to say.

"Think about it, Christian. You have fifteen minutes."