Chapter 187
On the day of the press conference, dark clouds gathered as if it might rain.
Kenneth, Emma, and Aiden arrived early. Reporters gradually filed in. The three stood nearby, not wanting to face the reporters just yet.
Emma saw Josephine get out of a car and immediately rushed over with an umbrella. "Josephine, Haven didn't come. How exactly do you plan to resolve this?"
"I have my ways. Don't worry." Josephine patted Emma's shoulder. "After this is over, I'll temporarily put Kenneth in charge of the department."
Hearing this made Emma uneasy. "What about you? Where are you going?"
"I'm not going anywhere. Don't overthink it."
But how could Emma not overthink? Hearing her say this made her anxious. "You're not planning to take the fall yourself, are you? This matter has nothing to do with you! Yes, you're the supervisor, but you can't sacrifice yourself! What's more, you're the backbone of our lab. We can't lose you."
Emma urgently nudged Aiden and Kenneth.
Aiden frowned, his face full of disapproval. "I think Emma's right. Haven is pitiful, but at the end of the day, she really did mess up the data. She bears responsibility."
Kenneth said only one thing. "I don't agree either."
The four of them were the core members of the lab, the initial team Josephine had assembled. She wasn't an authoritarian supervisor—everything was discussed and decided by vote.
Emma and the other two trusted her completely. They'd never imagined opposing her, but this was the first time all three simultaneously stood against Josephine.
"If that's your plan, I won't let you enter this press conference today." Emma stubbornly blocked the entrance, clutching Josephine's arm tightly. "You can hate me, blame me—whatever. I won't let you go."
Aiden and Kenneth were men and couldn't physically restrain her, so they blocked the entrance together
This scene quickly caught the attention of reporters inside the press conference.
Josephine didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She pulled Emma behind a nearby pillar. "Don't argue here. If those reporters capture this, who knows what nonsense they'll make up? You don't want the company's reputation to get worse, do you?"
"Then promise me you absolutely won't go on stage!"
"How can I not go on stage? I'm the supervisor. I have to speak." Josephine tapped her head. "I know you care about me, but some things have to be faced. You know Haven's temperament."
If Haven really had to go on stage, she'd probably attempt suicide again. Josephine could save her once but couldn't keep saving her. If someone died, the impact on the company would only be more severe.
Emma understood this logic too well. Watching Josephine walk into the press conference, she sighed despondently. "I've always felt that having a supervisor like this is our good fortune."
But for Josephine herself, this was probably not fortunate at all.
Inside the press conference venue, Josephine's entrance immediately attracted many reporters' attention. Someone eagerly thrust a microphone toward her. "Ms. Kennedy, we heard you're the lab supervisor. Your employee made such a huge mistake—how do you plan to resolve it?"
"Is this press conference meant to give the public an explanation? Who will ultimately take responsibility for this accident?"
Reporters crowded forward with questions, blocking Josephine's path.
The questioner's eyes held a great deal of curiosity and malice.
During this period, people from the Getty Group had never directly answered these questions. Starlight Group hadn't either. Reporters had tried every method but couldn't glean any inside information.
Now that they'd finally caught someone, they desperately wanted to pry some words from Josephine's mouth.
Josephine glanced at the person. "The press conference starts in 20 minutes. All the questions you want answered will be addressed then. But I'm sorry—I can't answer you now. Please be patient."
She tried to leave, but the two reporters didn't plan to give up easily. Following her steps and blocking her path, the male reporter on the left reached out to grab Josephine's arm.
Before Josephine could move, Kenneth caught the male reporter's arm, his expression stern. "Weren't her words clear enough? The press conference starts in 20 minutes. You'll get your answers very soon. Don't put your hands on a lady."
The male reporter looked embarrassed and withdrew his hand.
Kenneth and Aiden escorted Josephine into the venue. The male reporter fiddled with his camera, muttering, "Who does she think she is? I want to see what she says at the press conference. If I'm not satisfied..."
He'd have to give this a good "report" when he got back.
As time ticked by, Cedric still hadn't arrived. Emma grew anxious. She felt the only person who could stop Josephine was Cedric.
But he hadn't shown up at all.
The start time was approaching. Emma pulled Aiden aside. "Call Mr. Getty quickly. I have a bad feeling about today. This press conference might not be as simple as we think. Only he can control the situation now."
"I already called Mr. Getty. He's not picking up." Aiden was helpless.
Emma's eyes widened. "How can he not pick up?"
"Cedric probably won't come." Kenneth appeared behind them at some point. His opening words startled them both.
Emma and Aiden exchanged glances. The uneasy feeling in their hearts intensified.
"Could Mr. Getty be completely unaware of this?"
Kenneth's expression was grave. "Mr. Getty certainly knows about the press conference—after all, he advocated for it. But today he's receiving a client, supposedly very important. He won't be at the scene."
Private club.
A middle-aged man in a suit sat across from Cedric, an elegant smile on his face. "I really didn't expect that after so many years away, coming back this time, I'd find the city seems completely transformed—completely different from how I remember it."
Cedric lifted his coffee and took a sip. "Times progress, society changes."
"Originally I should have visited your grandfather at Getty Manor when I returned, but your grandfather insisted you receive me and help me get reacquainted with this city..." Xander Mitchell said with a smile.
"You're my elder. This is my duty." Cedric lowered his eyes, his manner gentle. "After all, our two families have always had good relations."
The Getty family and Mitchell family were old friends. When the company faced turmoil years ago, Xander had taken his family abroad, thinking they'd never return.
Who knew—fifteen years later, he'd suddenly come back.
Xander was full of sentiment. "Yes, back then we even talked about a marriage alliance between our families. Then we left. The year we left, you were only in your teens."
Cedric smiled without responding.
Xander changed the subject. "I heard your company is holding some kind of press conference today. Does it matter that you're not there?"
"If they can't host a press conference without me there, it proves they're all freeloaders."
And Cedric never kept freeloaders.
Xander nodded. "I appreciate your attitude. How about accompanying me for golf? I haven't had a worthy opponent in a long time."
Clearly, Xander didn't plan to let him leave.
Cedric had no plans to leave either. He couldn't—David had specifically assigned him to receive this guest as a small punishment for the company's problems.
"Alright."
The two left and arrived at the golf course. Xander was an expert at this—his first ball went straight in.
Noah came over with a towel for Cedric. Watching Xander swing, he said quietly, "Mr. Getty, everything has been arranged according to your instructions."