"Good morning, you're full of energy today too!" Early in the morning, Vivian sauntered into the Mr. Sharpe's office naturally, her hand reaching out to playfully slap Hayden's backside.
"Thank you for your compliment, Mrs. Sharpe, but I won't increase any budgets just because of your praise," Hayden nimbly avoided her, responding with a professional secretary's smile.
Since Vivian became the Security Director, entering the Mr. Sharpe's office had become a daily routine.
"Hayden, I've submitted the report as per your request. You wouldn't deny such a minor budget increase, would you?" Vivian leaned on Hayden's desk with one hand, tapping lightly.
"I've thoroughly reviewed your report, and my conclusion is – it's unnecessary at this time," Hayden sorted the documents requiring Ethan's decision by priority and placed them on the Mr. Sharpe's desk before turning to address Vivian, who had been persistently arguing for budget increases since her first day.
Ethan sat behind his desk, pretending not to hear, quietly attending to his own affairs. Interdepartmental budget allocations typically went through Hayden's scrutiny before reaching him for final judgment. He trusted Hayden's judgment and wouldn't overstep by making decisions based solely on his authority as the CEO. Even Vivian, as the nominal Mr. Sharpe's wife, had to go through Hayden for budget approvals.
"Did you really read it? Then you must have seen the comparison between the old and new systems. Obviously, the new one is better!"
"Vivian, we're just a private company. There's no need to elevate our cybersecurity to military levels. The current old system is more than adequate!"
"The security level should be as high as possible. The current old system can be easily hacked by a seasoned hacker, say, a black hat, in no time."
"We're already using the best system available. Are you talking about the ones used by the National Intelligence Bureau? Ordinary companies don't need that kind of thing!"
"But..."
Ethan listened quietly to his wife and his secretary argue about work matters, a scene that had become a daily spectacle.
As they argued, Ethan sensed they were developing a sort of unspoken understanding.
"In any case, upgrading the system is out of the question! If we change it here, all the other branches will have to follow suit, and we don't have a national-level budget for that!" Hayden glared at Vivian, pausing before adding, "However, within the existing budget, if you want to upgrade the security personnel's equipment, that can be considered."
"Alright, if that's the case, I'd like to purchase…" Vivian half-lay on the desk, turning Hayden's computer around and began typing, searching for the items she wanted to acquire.
This way, they always found a compromise that both could accept, quickly reconciling afterward.
While this was just a mode of working, Ethan couldn't shake off a feeling of unease, as if he was being excluded.
Especially when Vivian got close to Hayden to explain her purchases, fluctuating between arguments and laughter when they reached consensus, Ethan felt a dull, awkward sensation.
He thought Vivian's openness about her time-travel story was because their relationship was somewhat unique, but now it didn't seem to be the case.
Holding files awaiting his decision, Ethan's gaze wandered from time to time to the conversing duo, his mind elsewhere.
He anticipated another argument between the two.
Sure enough, soon Hayden slammed the table, his face stern. "Vivian Shaw, you can't want everything to be the best! We don't have that budget! No way!"
Hayden normally addressed Vivian in three ways, depending on his mood. Calling her Mrs. Sharpe was somewhat teasing, indicating a good mood; addressing her as Director meant business mode; and using her full name, like now, meant she had truly annoyed him.
"What do you mean by the best? I've already compromised as much as I can! Don't you realize how long it's been since the security equipment was updated! We've been lucky not to have incidents before!"
"Director Smith managed perfectly well with these. Didn't he?"
"I said it was luck. If we encounter armed terrorists, these won't last a minute!"
"What scenario would involve terrorists? We're not in a warzone; how could there be terrorists in the city? Besides, I've already arranged for twice-a-year enhanced training courses for your security personnel. If I increased your department's budget again, other departments will feel imbalanced, do you understand?"
"Isn't it reasonable to allocate a special budget for the security department to ensure the upcoming jewelry exhibition goes smoothly in two months?"
"We don't have a special budget. Everything stays the same!"
Hayden rarely raised his voice at anyone, but Vivian always seemed to bring out his genuine, unguarded self. Perhaps because she had seen him at his most disheveled, there was nothing else to fear.
