Chapter 707
It all happened so suddenly.
Even Jarrod narrowed his eyes.
At a moment like this.
What a “coincidence.”
Klein’s face shifted. “Is it spreading?”
The secretary nodded. “I don’t know how, but the news is moving fast. Word’s already reached the public that Mr. Silverstein’s company is about to partner with our national research project. There’s already an uproar-accusations that….. someone’s died, that this company is a hazard.”
The truth was, the rumors were even uglier than that.
Some were even questioning oversight from the top.
A fatality isn’t a trivial matter.
It meant that not only were the materials under scrutiny, but the factory’s reliability and safety were now in question, too.
Two disasters landing at once.
A double blow.
Elodie’s mind raced, stringing together the key issues.
Data, at least, could be retested given time.
But factory hazards, a death, and the public already in a frenzy-this had escalated to a whole new level.
She frowned, glancing across at Jarrod, who sat composed and unruffled.
Jarrod’s eyes lowered, lost in thought. He sat with his legs crossed, hardly moving, voice casual and almost amused: “News spreads this fast, yet as the CEO, I haven’t heard a thing. Seems the whole world’s in an uproar.”
He knew.
The moment trouble started, Jeremiah’s team would’ve tried to suppress and handle it first.
But clearly, someone was pushing things from behind the scenes.
Clifford’s face was now ashen. “Our flagship project is about to start using these materials, and now all this? Mr. Silverstein, you’ll be labeled a hazardous partner. Every aspect will be investigated, and even after the dust settles, it’ll take ages to restore confidence. Our project can’t wait for that!”
That was the crux.
And the fatal blow.
Klein’s expression had darkened.
Elodie studied Jarrod’s reaction. She couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d expected something like this.
Suddenly, the conference room door swung open.
Someone hurried in from the engineering bay, rushing to Klein’s side. “Mr. Whitaker, there’s a decision that needs your attention.”
Klein turned.
The man from the bay looked rattled, struggling to compose himself before saying, “It’s about the specialty single-crystal material. We’ve found another potential supplier.”
At that, Elodie’s eyebrows shot up. Such convenient timing?
Jarrod’s eyelid flickered, a wry smile ghosting across his lips.
Klein was visibly surprised, slapping the table. “What? Which supplier?”
“It’s ” the man started.
“It’s me, Mr. Whitaker.”
A laid-back voice drifted in from the doorway, just as the doors opened again.
Watts strode in with long, confident steps.
He paused, his gaze lingering on Jarrod for a heartbeat, the slightest smirk at the corner of his mouth.
Then he turned to address Klein net
“Mr. Whitaker, I have the relevant materials and the technology I can help resolve the issue right now.” Cóntent
Klein was taken aback. “You do?”
Watts nodded, speaking slowly. “I do. The process was still in testing a while ago, but it’s finally stable. Our main market was North America, but with M. Silverstein’s troubles Here—l doubt that’ll be resolved anytime soon. The negative press will hurt everyone, including our own staffing. up top. For now, I can redirect most of our resources here. None of our defense projects will face delays.”
Elodie fixed her eyes on Watts.
In a single night, everything became clear.
A perfect rescue at the eleventh hour.
Just as Jarrod’s company faced suspicion and crisis, Watts suddenly announced his own monopoly over the production of this key
ovel.ne
material-offering the perfect solution to the higher-ups’ headaches.
Given a choice between a scandal-ridden Jarrod and the unblemished Watts, it
was obvious who would come out on top.