Chapter Twelve

It had been a week since Zoey Scandova took her bold move to put the McKrapper promotional strategy on pause—and in that time, she didn't just revise the plan. She reinvented it.

After diving into a targeted consumer survey, Zoey uncovered something even the company's marketing team had missed: over 60% of McKrapper's loyal buyers were kids or families with children under 13. And what do kids love more than crispy chicken? Gifts. Games. Giggles.

So Zoey did what a visionary does. She flipped the entire narrative.

"Instead of buy-five-get-one-free, we'll give them an experience," she told the board midweek, laser pointer in hand and a sparkle in her eye. "Let's make our packaging interactive—stickers, card games, QR codes for mini-play apps. Every kid's meal becomes a memory."

The room had gone quiet.

"Parents aren't just buying food," Zoey added, her voice calm and persuasive. "They're buying happiness. Let's brand it."

It didn't end there. By Friday, Zoey had sealed a major proposal—McKrapper Foods as the official sponsor of the upcoming Philippines Children Play Awards, a nationwide televised event known for drawing millions of viewers. And just to raise the stakes, another big food brand, Onyix Pelix Edibles, had submitted a similar sponsorship bid. But Zoey's plan? Flawless. Interactive. Fully branded. And they won.

By that same weekend, a new billboard was mounted at the central roundabout in Manila: bright colors, smiling cartoon mascots, and bold letters—"McKrapper Foods: Every Box Comes With a Smile and a Surprise!"

The advert drop came with a kid-friendly jingle that instantly went viral on TikTok, and just like that, sales boomed. McKrapper didn't just bounce back—they exploded.

By Sunday night, the Food News Billboard updated their rankings.

From number 22, McKrapper soared to number 4.

@PRIVATE LOUNGE |MCKRAPPER HQ

The warm lights cast a golden hue on the glass walls as Zoey stepped into the private lounge. Leslie was already there, two champagne flutes in hand, dressed in a sleek charcoal suit and no tie—casual, but sexy. He turned with a smile.

"You're late," he teased.

Zoey smirked, loosening her ponytail and sitting across from him in the plush velvet seat. "I had to finish reviewing our international shipping deal. No rest for the queen."

Leslie chuckled and handed her a glass. "To Zoey Scandova, the woman who turned a soggy campaign into the next big media headline."

They clinked glasses, the sound crisp and satisfying.

Just then, Corelle burst in, nearly tripping in her heels. "Zoey! Check IPR's Insta!"

Zoey blinked, pulling her phone out. The post was already up, 80k likes and counting. A black and gold teaser read:

"IPR Awards Nomination List Coming Soon. Could the fastest-rising food brand in Southeast Asia be up for Best Business Turnaround? "

"Holy shit," Corelle gasped, flopping into the nearby chair. "That's us, right? Right?!"

Leslie grinned. "Unless another company soared 18 ranks in one week, yeah. That's us."

Zoey stared at the screen, lips curling into a slow, confident smile. "We're not just up for it," she said coolly. "We're taking it home."

Mr. Dominic entered just then, having overheard the last bit. He looked unusually relaxed, his signature scowl replaced with pride.

"I've been in this industry twenty-seven years," he said, walking to the bar. "And I've never seen a rebound like this. Zoey, I owe you more than a thank you."

"You owe me a bonus," she said sweetly, raising her glass.

He laughed. "You'll get that and more. The board's already talking long-term strategy. They want you leading the next three quarters."

Corelle squealed. "Zoey, you're literally a boss now!"

Zoey leaned back, swirling her drink. "I've always been a boss. The world's just catching up."