Chapter 437
I won’t leave! Not unless you make me!
This was the promise Penelope made to Theodore. In the end, she couldn’t bear to let him carry this burden alone.
News of Mrs. Stapleton’s illness had spread, coming at a critical time of transition for the company. However, Theodore had already proven his capabilities, so he still had strong support from within the company and among its partners.
If all went well, Theodore was poised to take full control of the Zenith Group at this pivotal moment.
But, of course, something went wrong.
A food delivery robot developed by Stapleton Tech, a subsidiary of the Zenith Group,
was involved in an accident where it injured a guest during a trial run at a Bishop Group hotel. Before Zenith Group could even investigate, the Bishop Group unilaterally canceled its massive order for ten thousand robots.
The fallout from the canceled order spread quickly. The market lost confidence, other major orders began to waver, and Stapleton Tech found itself mired in a public relations crisis.
While Stapleton Tech was just one subsidiary, it was the one Zenith Group had invested in most heavily, their vanguard for breaking into new markets. If Stapleton Tech were to fall, it would be a blow that could shake the entire Zenith Group to its core.
“Our company has signed the contract with the LUNA Group, and we’ll be starting on-site in a few days,” Hannah James reported, giving Penelope an update on their collaboration.
Penelope felt a pang of guilt. “I’m sorry, I haven’t been to the office at all lately.”
As a partner in their joint company, it wasn’t right that she was so rarely there.
Hannah patted her arm. “Our company is stable. You don’t need to worry about a thing.”
Anyone in their circle knew at least something about the situation at the Zenith Group.
“We came out to relax. Let’s put work aside. No more shop talk.”
Natalie raised her glass, motioning for the other two to do the same.
Hannah smiled. “Exactly. Tonight is for drinks and gossip only. No business.”
Penelope let out a long breath. It wasn’t just Theodore who had been stretched to his limit; she’d been on edge as well. It was a rare chance to unwind. She picked up her wing glass but, after a moments thought exchanged it for juice.
Even though Mr. Olson had deceived her and the damage to her uterus was irreversible, making pregnancy nearly impossible, she felt that since she’d been trying for so long she should keep at it. Just in case.
The three of them clinked glasses. Then, Penelope brought up Norton. She had asked Natalie a while ago to let them know if Norton ever contacted her or if she happened to see him.
“I’ve been keeping an eye out, but nothing,” Natalie said with a sigh. “That kid really made a clean break.”
“So you haven’t heard anything at all either?” Hannah asked Penelope.
Penelope shook her head. “Nothing.”
Theodore had used all his resources to search for him over the past few months, but they hadn’t found a single trace.
To lighten the mood, Natalie shared some funny stories from her film set, which had Hannah and Penelope laughing nonstop.
Just then, a commotion erupted outside.
Penelope was sitting by the window.
She looked out and saw that a pipe in the pond in the restaurant’s courtyard had burst. Water was shooting six feet into the air soaking several guests who were walking by.
The restaurant staff rushed to shut off the main valve, and the geyser of water subsided. They apologized to the drenched guests, who were understandably complaining.
Penelope assumed the pipe was old and had burst due to wear and tear. But when the restaurant owner checked the security footage, he discovered that a seven or eight-year-old child had smashed it with a brick.