Chapter 194
[What the hell? The data had to be reviewed?]
[Actually, I thought something was off before. For AI medical data this critical, it shouldn't be handled by just one person. Someone had to be checking it.]
Cedric hadn't spoken a word the entire time. Ryder glanced at him, his face ashen, and finally let it all out in one breath. "I saw the error in the data. I meant to report it to my supervisor, but in the end, I didn't."
"Why?" Josephine couldn't understand. "Don't you realize that even a subtle mistake in data could affect the AI medical system's performance? Today it hurt a volunteer, but if we'd already launched to market, can you imagine the damage?"
This one issue alone had already buried the Getty Group in negative press for days, leaving every employee on edge.
And now, she was hearing it wasn't a mistake at all—someone had spotted the error from the beginning and deliberately covered it up.
"What was your goal? What did you gain from this? Were you a corporate spy sent by someone?"
Ryder's face flushed crimson. He rushed to explain, "I'm not some corporate spy!"
That was a crime. He could go to prison.
"I just couldn't stand her. We both competed for the same position, but the deputy director gave it to Haven. Why should a woman get to lord over me? Why does she get to be the lead on the data while I'm just backup?"
Ryder dumped all his resentment out in one go. "I refuse to accept it!"
"A project's success is never about one person's contribution. It's everyone's," Josephine said, enunciating each word.
Ryder sneered. "Ms. Kennedy, do you even believe that yourself?"
If the project succeeded, everyone would remember Haven's hard work. And what would he be? His job was just to review data she'd already finished.
Tedious. Boring.
No one would remember his contribution. Hell, he hadn't made any real contribution at all.
Emma couldn't take it anymore. "Haven got the position because of your attitude and narrow vision. You're too eager for quick results and can't work methodically. Data work is tedious and boring—you can't settle down and focus. Of course, the deputy director couldn't give you that responsibility."
"Then I shouldn't have been put on this project at all!" Ryder shouted furiously. "You're all some tight little clique of talented people. Why didn't you just finish the project yourselves? Why drag us in? Are we lower-level employees not even human? We have to do whatever work you assign, we can't protest, can't voice opinions, we just have to live by your orders. Why? And how did you get to be directors and deputy directors anyway? Didn't you also—"
Cedric's eyes narrowed as he watched him. "Also what?"
Ryder's heated emotions instantly cooled. His lips twitched several times, but no words came out.
Josephine pressed him. "Also what? You can finish what you were saying."
"I have nothing more to say. That's how it is." Ryder lowered his head, adopting a defiant, nothing-left-to-lose attitude. "Punish me however you want. I already resigned anyway. I don't care."
This shameless, nothing-left-to-lose attitude was infuriating.
Emma fumed. "You've got some nerve! This whole mess is your fault, and now you're acting like you've given up. You resigned early because you planned this all along, didn't you? No wonder you ran so fast!"
Having laid everything bare, Ryder no longer cared what anyone thought. "Think whatever you want."
Emma's fists clenched.
She wanted to punch him.
But Josephine knew this wasn't the time to focus on him. There were more important matters. She walked to the camera. "I'm sorry you all had to witness this scene. To be honest, we as leaders failed to truly understand our employees, which led to today's situation. Our leadership bears responsibility. But I hope you'll give the Getty Group one more chance. We absolutely will not let errors like before happen again."
[Honestly, for leadership to admit fault this quickly is pretty rare.]
[Yeah, my company's leaders just exploit us and act all high and mighty.]
[Leaders are usually there to let employees take the fall. This is the first time I've seen leadership step up themselves.]
[That male employee is truly awful! Because of him, those girls had to come out and speak.]
Reading these comments, some were pleased, others worried.
Josephine and the other women exchanged smiles and bowed to the camera. "Thank you all for your tolerance and understanding. From now on, we'll devote ourselves fully to this project. Please watch and see."
Before the livestream ended, Cedric added one line. "I believe my employees won't disappoint me."
Then the stream ended.
Emma, Lily, and Haven immediately glared daggers at Ryder.
"You shameless bastard!"
"Morally bankrupt, zero integrity. People like you should be fired!"
"Not only did you run when things went wrong, but you came and stirred up trouble in front of me. How can you be so awful?"
Haven's hands trembled with anger.
Just then, Josephine had a sudden realization. Her gaze on Ryder turned colder. "Don't think that just because you resigned, the company can't touch you. Making a data error and seeing an error but ignoring it are two completely different things."
Cedric nodded. "Good point."
His support made Ryder's face go even paler. He tried to say something else, but Cedric didn't give him the chance—he had someone "escort" him out.
"Josephine, this whole thing's wrapped up, right? Should we grab dinner tonight to celebrate?" Emma suggested.
Josephine looked at Lily and Haven. "I'm in. If you both want to go, my treat. Let's go out for dinner tonight."
"We're in!" Lily and Haven both chorused. The group buzzed with happy energy.
But while some celebrated, others stewed.
On the other side, Briana had just finished watching the livestream. She furiously shut off her phone. "You said Josephine would definitely be ruined this time!"
Lorelei bit her lip slightly. "I didn't expect Cedric to protect her like that."
"You didn't expect?" Briana slapped her hard on the arm, fuming. "What can you expect? You're useless—worse than useless! If I hadn't believed you, I wouldn't have leaked this to the press. Now Gideon’s investigating, and if he finds out it was me..."
Briana knew her son too well. He would be furious. He hated anyone making decisions without him, even his own mother.
"No. He absolutely cannot find out," Briana muttered to herself, then her eyes suddenly lit up as she looked at Lorelei.
Lorelei's scalp prickled under her gaze. "Don't worry, I won't let Mr. Getty find out... I won't let you two turn against each other..."
But Briana wasn't listening. "I only did this because you told me the press conference would definitely fail, that Josephine would be ruined. When you think about it, you're the one who leaked the information."
Lorelei couldn't believe it. "What are you saying? This has nothing to do with me!"
Briana grabbed her wrist, her voice threatening. "You're pregnant. Gid won't really blame you. After this blows over, I won't let you down. I'll find a way to get you married to Gid. But if you don't help me..."
A vicious gleam flashed in her eyes. "You'll never marry into the Getty family."