Leo arrived at 7:00 a.m. on Monday, showered, changed, and radiating a preternatural calm. He printed a single, perfect copy of the presentation, bound it in a simple black cover, and placed it precisely in the center of Ms. Reed's otherwise immaculate desk. Then, he went to his own cubicle, sat down, and waited.
The office slowly filled, the usual Monday morning groans and coffee-fueled chatter creating a low hum. Sarah gave him a worried look, whispering, "Did you finish it?" Leo simply nodded, his expression unreadable.
At exactly 8:30 a.m., Evelyn Reed swept into the office. She moved with a silent, predatory grace, her presence immediately sucking the casual warmth out of the room. She didn't acknowledge anyone. She walked directly to her office, saw the document on her desk, and picked it up. Through the glass wall, Leo watched as she began to read, her face a neutral mask.
For thirty minutes, she didn't move, her eyes methodically scanning each page. The entire department was on edge, pretending to work while stealing glances at the silent drama unfolding in the executive office.
At 9:01 a.m., her voice came over the intercom, sharp and clear. "Mr. Zhang. My office. Now."
Leo stood and walked the long aisle, each step feeling deliberate and heavy. He entered her office and closed the door behind him. The presentation lay open on her desk.
"This is your work?" she asked, her voice devoid of emotion. "Yours alone?"
"Yes, Ms. Reed." Poker Face was active but barely needed. He felt no fear.
She tapped a finger on a chart depicting the declining ROI of their flagship marketing campaign. "This data contradicts the last three quarterly summaries. It suggests we've been throwing money into a sinking ship. Are you accusing the marketing department of incompetence, Mr. Zhang?"
This was the first attack. A test of his conviction.
"I am not accusing anyone, Ms. Reed," Leo replied, his voice steady. Calm Mind was a fortress. "I am presenting the data as it is. The previous summaries focused on gross engagement metrics. My analysis focuses on cost-per-acquisition relative to customer lifetime value. The conclusion is not an opinion; it's a mathematical reality."
She turned the page. "Your proposed strategic pivot into emerging markets is aggressive. It carries significant financial risk and abandons established pipelines. It's a gamble."
Attack number two. A test of his foresight.
"It is a calculated risk," Leo countered smoothly. "The data shows our current pipelines are not just established; they are stagnating. The cost of maintaining them will soon exceed their returns. The emerging markets I identified show a 200% lower entry cost with a projected growth ceiling that is five times higher. The greater risk is inaction."
She closed the binder with a soft snap. She leaned back, her eyes narrowing into slits. "This is the work of a senior strategist, not an intern. The insights, the narrative, the sheer polish of it… it's too good. Who helped you?"
The final attack. A test of his integrity. An accusation of fraud.
Leo met her gaze without flinching. A faint smile touched his lips. "No one helped me. You provided the data, the deadline, and the motivation. You wanted to see if I would drown. I chose to swim."
A long, heavy silence filled the room. Ms. Reed stared at him, her analytical gaze searching for any crack in his composure, any hint of deception. She found nothing but cold, unshakeable confidence. She had set an impossible trap, and the prey hadn't just escaped; it had returned with a solution she knew, deep down, was correct.
Slowly, a look of profound, almost dangerous, respect dawned in her eyes.
She picked up her phone and dialed a three-digit extension. "Cynthia, it's Evelyn. I'm sending an intern over to you. His name is Leo Zhang. I want you to process his promotion to Junior Associate, effective immediately. Pay grade B. Yes, I'm sure. Find a desk for him in the Strategic Analysis department. Thank you."
She hung up. As she did, Leo's phone buzzed in his pocket.
[BOSS DEFEATED: Senior Executive Evelyn Reed - The Gatekeeper] [You have successfully overcome a trial of intellect, endurance, and will. Your performance has shattered expectations and forced the hand of a superior.] [Quest Complete: Project Doom] [Reward: +2,500 EXP, +10 Intelligence Stat, Promotion to Junior Associate.] [Item Acquired: TitanCorp X1 Laptop (Legendary Grade)] [Description: The newest, most powerful laptop in the company's arsenal. Grants +20% efficiency on all data-related tasks and immunity to system crashes.]
Ms. Reed stood up and extended a hand. "Congratulations, Mr. Zhang. You are no longer an intern. Go to HR. Your new assignment starts this afternoon."
As Leo walked out of her office, the entire department stared in stunned silence. A moment later, a technician from IT arrived at his old cubicle, holding a sleek, black, carbon-fiber laptop. "Leo Zhang?" the tech asked. "This is for you. Welcome to the team."