Chapter 53
The clear winner of this conference was undoubtedly Gideon.
Their research theory was so innovative that, although it hadn't faced market testing yet, it held tremendous development potential.
But Oscar left an opening: "I'm interested in your project, but it needs validation. Theory alone won't convince me."
Which meant there was still time.
This was both a probation period for the project and a window of opportunity for Josephine's team.
"Don't worry, Prof. Carter. I promise we won't disappoint you."
Gideon radiated confidence.
Frank practically vibrated with excitement when he saw Oscar. "Could I possibly get your autograph?"
"I'll pass on the autograph—I'm not a celebrity."
Oscar declined politely. "But if you're interested, I'll be teaching at Silvergate Polytechnic University in a couple days. You're welcome to sit in."
"I'll definitely be there!"
Research was an endless pursuit—you couldn't rest on your laurels just because you'd achieved results.
Frank never passed up a learning opportunity.
Oscar glanced around, noticing that Josephine and Kenneth had disappeared.
……
Josephine was convinced today was cursed.
She and Kenneth had left the conference in a hurry, but on the highway back to Clearwater Ridge, the car broke down.
To make matters worse, it started raining. Stranded on the highway, she couldn't even flag down a cab.
"Don't panic. I'll call someone to tow the car."
Kenneth pulled out his phone, but no matter how many times he pressed the power button, the screen stayed dark. He'd worked late last night and forgotten to charge it.
This morning, he'd grabbed his phone and rushed out without noticing the dead battery.
Now his phone was completely dead.
"I'm so sorry..."
"It's fine. My phone's charged."
Josephine's phone still had power. She'd just started dialing when a car pulled up beside them—a deep blue Rolls-Royce.
Familiar and impossible to miss.
"Get in, Mrs. Getty."
Noah stepped out, black umbrella in hand, and ushered both Kenneth and Josephine into the car.
They were both damp from the rain and sat stiffly in their seats.
After all, this was a luxury vehicle—they didn't want to mess it up.
"How did the conference go?"
Cedric asked.
The two of them immediately straightened like students called on in class.
Josephine's expression darkened at the question, but she told the truth: "My professor said he's more interested in Gideon's project."
Kenneth quickly added, "But the professor said their project needs validation."
In other words, there was still time.
"How much time? Can you develop a new project with enough value to impress Oscar?"
Cedric's question cut straight to the bone.
Josephine wiped raindrops from her cheek. "We can't. Not right now."
She was drowning in regret.
She'd had similar ideas initially, but completing brand-new, unprecedented research in half a month was pure fantasy.
She'd abandoned the notion, never imagining someone else would use it.
"Actually, something fishy's going on here."
Kenneth spoke up.
Cedric's gaze shifted to him. "Explain."
Kenneth glanced at Josephine, and Cedric followed suit, his attention landing on her.
Josephine hesitated. "I can't confirm this yet. I need to go back and find something. But I'll have an answer for you as soon as possible. If what I'm thinking is true... we still have a chance."
Cedric studied her for a long moment. "Alright."
Once again, he didn't press for details, question her motives, or express any dissatisfaction.
That level of unwavering trust made Josephine's guilt intensify.
If it was true...
The first thing Josephine did when she got back to Evercrest Manor was tear through every document in the study.
Bookshelves, cabinets, drawers, and filing folders.
Nothing.
Then she returned to Clearwater Ridge and conducted another frantic search.
When Kenneth entered the study, he found it ransacked like a tornado had blown through, with Josephine sitting on the floor against the desk.
"Didn't find it?"
Josephine shook her head slowly.
"Could Gideon have taken it?"
"When I was at Evercrest Manor, Gideon and I each had our own study. Mine was always locked. No one could get in except me."
When she'd moved to Clearwater Ridge later, she'd brought all her belongings with her. She never would have left behind something this important.
Although she'd briefly stepped away from research, she'd always maintained proper security protocols.
Kenneth frowned. "But that was your idea. Did that Lorelei woman somehow steal it straight from your brain?"
Josephine buried her fingers in her hair, leaving it thoroughly disheveled.
"Besides those two places, is there anywhere else you might have stored your materials?"
At those words, a lightbulb went off in Josephine's head.
"There's one more place."
"Where?"
"Starlight Group Building."
……
Josephine was stopped by security at the building entrance.
"Sorry, Ms. Kennedy. You're no longer an employee here. If you want to enter, you'll need an appointment."
"I'm not here to see your CEO," Josephine said. "When I left, I didn't take some of my things. I'm here to collect them today."
The guards still wouldn't let her through.
"What's going on here?"
Rex Allen, Gideon's executive assistant, stepped out of the elevator and spotted the commotion at the entrance.
Seeing it was Josephine, he rushed over to intervene.
"You can stop strangers from entering the building, but what are you blocking her for?"
Rex thoroughly chewed out the two guards before quickly ushering Josephine inside.
Josephine wasn't in the mood for pleasantries.
"I'm just here to get my things. Then I'm gone."
She swept toward the office area like a woman on a mission. Rex felt like he was watching a storm roll in—her expression was absolutely grim.
And where she was headed would definitely cause problems.
Because her office...
This was going to be a disaster.
Rex rushed toward Gideon's office.
……
Josephine strode to her office door and shoved it open to find a woman in a red dress sitting behind the desk, admiring herself in a mirror.
Lorelei looked up in surprise. "Mrs. Getty, you're here. Unfortunately, this isn't your office anymore. Shouldn't you knock before entering?"
"Done pretending?"
Josephine crossed her arms, standing in the doorway. "You play the gentle, considerate sweetheart in front of Gideon, but with me, you're showing your claws and your true face?"
"That's a bit harsh." Lorelei smiled coquettishly. "Everyone has different sides to them, don't they? Actually, if you hadn't come to me, I was planning to find you."
"You were looking for me? Not worried, I'd slap that smirk off your face?"
Lorelei casually set down her mirror. "If you actually slapped me, Mrs. Getty, Mr. Getty would feel terrible. He'd definitely think you were being crude..."
"You think I care what he thinks?" Josephine cut her off impatiently. "Where are the things I left in this office?"
Lorelei's smile widened. "Why ask when you already know the answer?"
The day after Josephine resigned, Lorelei had pestered Gideon until he finally gave her the office, then immediately set about redecorating it to her taste.
But during the renovation, she'd discovered a document—the exact research project she'd handed to Frank.
She walked up to Josephine, malice gleaming in her eyes. "Thanks to those ideas you left behind, Mr. Getty's been treating me exceptionally well since I helped him score this win. He even promised to take me out for a candlelit dinner tonight. You know from all those lonely nights what happens once Mr. Getty gets me into bed—he won't be able to leave me..."