Chapter 700
Jarrod Silverstein’s eyes softened as they finally settled on Watts Aldridge’s face.
Watts had moved to stand on Elodie Thorne’s other side, his brow furrowed as he addressed Klein Whitaker. “I really don’t think Elodie would do something so reckless,” he said. “Just as Mr. Silverstein pointed out-even if the numbers look seriously off right now, the materials Mr. Silverstein submitted all meet the standards. If Elodie wanted to negotiate better terms for Mr. Silverstein’s company, she’d have plenty of other ways to do it. She wouldn’t risk everything on an issue this big.”
He was clearly speaking in Elodie’s defense.
Turning, Watts offered her a reassuring glance, his tone calm and steady. “Don’t worry. The higher-ups will get to the bottom of this.”
Klein, too, was inclined to believe Elodie wasn’t at fault. After all, she was Charlie Sterling’s prized student-her character had always been beyond reproach.
“Head office assigned you full responsibility for this project, right? All the data passed through your hands?”
“Yes,” Elodie replied evenly. “I recorded every data point myself. My team consolidated the information, but I reviewed every final report.”
Klein’s frown deepened.
“It’s okay. I’ll cooperate with the investigation,” Elodie added, keeping her composure.
There was no sign of panic in her voice-she was still steady and in control.
Klein nodded, his brows still knitted. “Given what’s happened, we’ll have to follow protocol and question everyone involved. The execs will make the final call.”
Falsifying data was a serious matter within the organization. Even the smallest discrepancy was absolutely intolerable.
“Ms. Thorne’s always so cool-headed at work,” Patricia Aldridge chimed in as she crossed over from the observation area, her tone light and breezy. “I doubt she’d let her personal life cloud her judgment. I trust her.”
Elodie met Patricia’s gaze, eyes dark and unreadable.
Jarrod leaned in and murmured to Elodie, “Don’t worry.”
He kept his voice low, for her ears alone.
Both of them were about to be questioned-not just Elodie. As husband and wife, any hint of preferential treatment was strictly forbidden, no matter the circumstances.
If the investigation found evidence of improper conduct, the consequences could be limitless.
Elodie understood something had gone wrong somewhere. She nodded briefly. She and Jarrod were taken to separate rooms for their interviews.
Klein watched them go, still troubled.
This didn’t make sense. He’d always seen Elodie as rational and level-headed. How could something like this have happened on her watch?
Watts stared after Elodie for a long moment before turning to Klein. Mr. Whitaker, if this really turns out to be Elodie fault, what happens then Would she be suspended if she’s found to have falsified data?”
Klein’s frown deepened, his tone grave. “If there’s conclusive evidence, yes-
she’d be suspended while we investigate further.”
Even if the fallout wasn’t
catastrophic, the fact that the data
was compromised meant the company’s reputation had already taken@ hit. No matter that the field results were fine-once suspicion of data manipulation was raised,
Jarrod’s other submissions would all
have to be re-examined from
scratch before anything could move forward again.
It would be a huge setback.
So even if Elodie’s mistake was a careless oversight rather than deliberate fraud,
the disruption to the project was real and unavoidable.
The ripple effects would be messy.
A mistake had been made, and someone would have to take responsibility. That someone would inevitably be Elodie.
Suspension was definitely a possibility.
Only then did Watts’s expression shift, a flicker of uncertainty passing through his eyes.
Across the room, Patricia caught his gaze, an ambiguous smile curling on her lips. No one said anything more.
Elodie and Jarrod were questioned separately.
By the time Elodie finished her interview, Alexander Sterling had already heard what happened and rushed over to pick her up, intent on taking her back to the Sterling family home.
She hadn’t seen Jarrod come out yet, so she climbed into the car alone.
Charlie called just as she settled in. “I know you wouldn’t make a mistake like this. Falsifying data is strictly forbidden-if you’re innocent, the truth will come out sooner or later. But you’re facing another problem now.”
“This is about your professional reputation, Elodie-your competence and integrity. If the higher-ups lose trust in you, it could affect your future in ways you can’t anticipate.”
In other words, no matter how many unanswered questions remained, this incident could have far-reaching consequences for Elodie. The impact on her career was far from trivial.