Others saw Deanna's attitude and walked past the researchers like a victorious rooster, head held high.
The researchers looked very displeased, but they couldn't leave. Like Brent, they were sent by Gunner to assist Deanna.
Those who followed Deanna into the elevator started chatting noisily.
"I feel like Deanna's status in the institute isn't great, not even as good as that old man we just saw."
"What's so strange about that? Even though Deanna is the owner of the institute, she is also the mistress of the Mercer family and probably doesn't come here often. With the power handed over, who would listen to her?"
"If you ask me, since this woman is already married with children, she should just stay at home and be a housewife. Look at her trying to work outside, causing trouble for everyone."
These words were spoken loudly, as if they were afraid she wouldn't hear them.
Deanna frowned slightly, knowing they were deliberately saying this to upset her. But she wasn't a pushover and retorted, "If you look down on women so much, you might as well die. After all, you were all born of women, so that would uphold your principles."
"Hey, how can you talk like that?" A man glared at Deanna, clenching his fists as if he wanted to hit her.
Deanna glanced at him coldly, as if looking at an ant.
Shannon stepped in front of Deanna, protecting her and intimidating the others. "If you don't want me to throw you out from the second floor, you'd better behave!"
To emphasize her point, Shannon kicked the handrail in the elevator, denting it.
Seeing this, the previously angry crowd quieted down. Although they outnumbered her, it was clear this woman was not to be trifled with. If a fight broke out, they might end up dead.
With everyone subdued, Deanna said nothing more. Just then, the elevator reached the second floor.
Deanna led the group out of the elevator. Perhaps having received advance notice, the staff on the second floor only glanced at them curiously before continuing their work.
Maybe it was Shannon's earlier intimidation, but everyone followed Deanna quietly. The two reporters were thrilled to get the footage they wanted. With this material, their annual bonuses were secure.
However, one reporter wasn't satisfied with just this. As they prepared to leave with Deanna, he remembered what she had said downstairs about a major secret being leaked and couldn't contain his curiosity.
"Miss Jones, earlier when we were coming upstairs, I heard you mention that the most important secret had been leaked. What did you mean by that?"
"I thought you wouldn't ask about that," Deanna said with a slight smile and a glint in her eye.
She had mentioned it downstairs on purpose. Since those behind the scenes wanted to drag Mercer Group down by slandering her, she wasn't going to hold back.
The reporter didn't notice the change in Deanna's expression and scratched his head. "I meant to ask earlier but got caught up gathering material. Can you explain it?"
"It's not hard to explain. You know the news about the laboratory online. We are indeed conducting research there-developing a special drug for Abla. For years, we've been constrained by Abla's special drug, and our patients have had to spend a lot of money on it. So my team and I decided to develop our own special drug. But this threatened many interests. Even though I have Mercer Group's protection, those people aren't afraid and keep plotting against me. Fortunately, those above trust me; otherwise, I might not be standing here today. You saw what happened afterward."
Deanna ended with a sad expression. She looked at the reporter with melancholy eyes. "Honestly, I'm very tired now. I wanted to develop a special drug so we wouldn't be at anyone's mercy anymore. But... never mind."
Even so, what was unsaid was easy to guess.
The two reporters and the eight people who had come to cause trouble looked ashamed.
"Ms. Jones, why don't you hold a press conference and explain everything?"
"Are you stupid? If she explains everything, it will only alert those with ill intentions, making things even harder for Ms. Jones."
"But whether she hides it or not, she's being targeted. If she doesn't hide it and we help protect her, let's see who dares to go after her!"
Some disagreed and supported Ms. Jones in making the experiment public.
Deanna nodded in agreement with this sentiment.