Chapter 44

The receptionist glanced at the bag again, unable to make out its contents. After a moment of hesitation, she decided to call Theodore’s secretarial office.
Soon, a female secretary came down to the lobby.
“Thank you for making the trip,” the secretary said, extending her hand. “You can give the items to me, and I’ll make sure Mr. Stapleton receives them.”
Penelope smiled and handed her the bag. “Of course, but Dr. Olson mentioned that some of these herbs have to be added in very specific amounts. Too little and it won’t work, too much and it could be toxic.”
The mention of poison made the bag suddenly feel ten times heavier in the secretary’s hands.
She quickly handed it back to Penelope. “In that case, perhaps you could come up to the 33rd floor with me. Mr. Stapleton has a meeting in ten minutes, but he can spare a moment to see you before then.”
Penelope’s smile widened. “That would be perfect.”
The Zenith Group tower was a colossal structure that pierced the clouds, a landmark of Orenth. If the Sullivans were considered elite, the Johnsons were a tier above them. But the Stapletons existed in a realm of their own, looking down on all the other super-rich dynasties. Zenith Group’s portfolio spanned from commercial real estate and pharmaceuticals to gaming, artificial intelligence, and even military technology. The Stapleton name carried immense weight, not just in the country but globally.
Though Stone Group had collaborated with Zenith Group before, this was Penelope’s first time inside their headquarters.
As the elevator ascended to the 33rd floor, she took a deep breath, praying she wouldn’t be thrown out by security. When the doors opened, she felt for a moment like she had stepped into the future. The lobby was designed with a sleek, futuristic aesthetic, resembling the interior of a spaceship.
As she took in the stunning view, a robot glided towards her. Unlike the clumsy machines she had seen before, this one moved with fluid grace and even had a surprisingly expressive face.
“Valued guest, welcome to Zenith Group,” it said, its synthesized voice an eerie, ethereal hum that sent a shiver down her spine.
The secretary seemed unfazed, even engaging the robot in a brief chat about the weather. The robot responded flawlessly, even cracking a joke.
“If it rains, hope you have not brought an umbrella. My The source of this content ɪs
programming indicates that being
caught in the rain can induce a stare
humans refer to as ‘happiness.’ A concept I cannot compute.”
The secretary replied dryly, “Of course you can’t. If you got caught in the rain, you’d short-circuit.”
As the robot moved away, it helpfully reminded Penelope that rain was in the forecast and she should remember her umbrella.
“This robot Penelope began, still amazed.
“It’s one of our company’s latest models, already on the market. If you live alone and get lonely, Ms. Laurier, you could always buy one to keep you company.”
No, thank you, Penelope thought. I’m quite happy living in the early 21st century.
They arrived at Theodore’s office.
The secretary went in first to announce her, then gestured for Penelope to enter. In stark contrast to the high tech lobby, the office was Spacious, bright, and refreshingly conventional. It was an ordinary space, but one that felt comfortable.
Theodore sat behind a massive desk, dressed in a crisp black suit. His slightly long hair was slicked back, revealing a high forehead. He was engrossed in a document apparently unwilling to waste even the second it would take to look up.
“Please inform Dr. Olson not to send me any more of his bizarre concoctions.”
Penelope pressed her lips together. He was a sharp one.
But delivering the package wasn’t her main objective. With limited time, she had
to get straight to the point.
“Mr. Stapleton, my name is Penelope Laurier. I’m the head of the project department at KINY Group.”