Joseph answered in the affirmative, “Yes. Since she is the director of the development team, she will need to verify the lost instruments. Rachel and the team have spent two years doing the research, and those instruments for the exhibition are their successful inventions. It is a pity that some of them are stolen.”
I fell into silence. We could only have a clearer picture of the losses suffered when we arrive at the base.
Rachel was already there by the time we arrived. An air of despondency surrounded her as she looked at the damaged instruments.
Meanwhile, Armond was speaking with a policeman. Upon Ashton’s arrival, he went over to him and apologized, “I’m sorry for the losses suffered by Fuller Corporation. We will get to the bottom of this incident and give you an explanation for this.”
Hearing that, Ashton nodded. He cast his eyes over the crime scene before asking, “Have you verified the lost items?”
“Mm-hmm,” Armond uttered a response. “Ms. Zimmer is currently verifying them.”
Just then, Linda trotted toward us. Steeped in guilt, she apologized, “I’m sorry. This is all my fault. Actually, there are twelve security guards responsible for looking after the AI instruments. I came here last night and decided to stay a little longer since I found the AI instruments interesting, so I asked them to leave for their dinner. The head of the security guards has reminded me to lock the door when I leave, but I forgot about it.”
There was a total of four lines of defence to access the technology museum. Apart from the main door, the remaining three doors were all equipped with password locks and infrared sensors. Linda turned off the infrared sensors yesterday before she entered the museum. Since prolonged infrared exposure was harmful to the human body, they would usually turn the sensors off when there were visitors. Even without the infrared sensors, the security was tight as there would always be security guards on guard.
Unfortunately, the instruments were stolen at night, so the thief had more than enough time to bring those instruments out of the museum.
Just then, Rachel stomped out of the base, her face purple with rage. “Do you know how much money and effort it costs us to invent the instruments? I have worked days and nights for this project. Your apology means nothing!”
Seething in anger, she turned to face Armond. “Mr. Murphy, you must give us an explanation for this and hold the negligent employees accountable. I hope you won’t cover up for any of your employees. Please do not disappoint us.”
Armond nodded firmly. “Ms. Zimmer, I will investigate this incident thoroughly and give the Fuller Corporation an explanation.”
Then, Rachel shifted her fiery gaze to me. “Ms. Stovall, you are the person in charge of this project. Such a disaster has happened. Aren’t you going to say or do anything about it?”
Hearing that, I couldn’t help furrowing my brows. I knew Rachel had always disliked me. Yet, it was understandable that she was now in a bad mood after losing those inventions.
Thus, I softened my voice while reassuring her, “Don’t worry, Ms. Zimmer. I will take responsibility, and I’m willing to receive any penalties from the company, but that’s not the important thing now. What we need to do is to try to minimize the losses.”
“Minimize the losses?” Rachel snorted, “Almost all instruments are damaged, and they are unusable. The project is officially launched, and the inauguration is scheduled a month from now. What are we going to show in the museum? How are the visitors going to think of the Fuller Corporation?”
Just then, Linda spoke up, “We all know about the consequences. Ms. Zimmer, you’re too caught up with your emotions. Losing your temper won’t help solve the problem; it will only make the matter worse. Fuller Corporation is not the only one that suffered losses, but Murphy Corporation as well. We are in the same boat, and you’re not the only one who is worried about the project.”
Rachel let out a snicker. “The two companies are now paying the prices for your negligence. How could you still behave in such a brazen manner? I am truly impressed by your brazenness. The Murphy Corporation is indeed full of talented people.”
Linda was already eaten up by guilt for what happened. Hearing Rachel’s sarcastic and spiteful remarks, her face turned as pale as a ghost.
“Ms. Zimmer, there is no need for you to keep rubbing salt in her wound. No one wanted this to happen. Linda has admitted her mistake, so why do you keep picking on her? Should she kill herself to show how remorseful she is? Is that what you wanted?”
“You…” Rachel was at a loss for words, glowering at me.
Ashton called out, “That’s enough!” Facing Rachel, he asked, “Have you calculated the losses?”
Rachel nodded. “Yes.”
“I need a detailed list of the losses. Also, get K City’s AI Department to produce the next batch of templates. Get someone to communicate with the press not to publish anything about yesterday’s incident. Make sure to keep everything that happened in the base confidential. We’ll stick to our original plan.” Then, he turned to face Joseph and instructed, “You’ll need to communicate with the Murphy Corporation’s Finance Department with regards to the exact number of losses.”
Joseph complied as he took the documents from Rachel and entered the base.
Just then, Armond said to me, “You will have to stay here and liaise with Mr. Fuller.”
Then, he shifted his gaze to Linda. “Be more careful when you’re handling the project. I don’t want this to happen again.”
