Abigail actually had an idea, but she just wanted Dennis to prove it.
“Tobey Kitsch, the former deputy director,” Dennis said.
Abigail glowered—she was not surprised, but she was unhappy about it too.
As she took a seat on the couch, Dennis asked, ”Have you decided what to do about this?”
“You’ve been here for a while and you know the people here,” Abigail countered.
“What do you think?”
Dennis took the single-seat couch then, musing his words before saying, “It’s not Finn Cook’s fault.The boy is naive, and he’s only sharp when it comes to academics.He made it here because he was the top of his class, and his score was much higher than the second -placer.Tobey instructed him after he arrived, though Tobey was still a head of department at the time, not deputy director.”
“He’s from the sticks, but he got a state scholarship, so he’s the type who’s studious but not good with people.He’s only being terrible partly because he was used, and because Tobey used to take good care of him.You can tell that he’s not well-liked around here, and his own family was poor.Since Tobey was nice to him, he thinks that what he’s doing is repayment for owing Tobey.”
Then, after hesitating for a while, Dennis asked, “Could you be lenient? He has genuine talent and I think it would be a waste to dismiss him.Not that what he did was easily forgiven, of course…”
Abigail had listened quietly to all that without deciding what to do immediately, and actually hesitated when Dennis asked.
She did not have a change of heart—she would not easily forgive someone who tried to hurt her, but did not want Hotmesh Research to lose a valuable employee like Finn.
“How about I visit Tobey’s home, and talk to everyone there to not try anything against you—”
“No.”
Abigail refused right then.
Decisions made in the heat of the moment were anything but rational, and she did not want to make the wrong choice.She had been out for blood when she found out that someone tried to hurt her yesterday, but Dennis’s words changed her mind a little.
“Give me a day to think about it,” she said, rising to her feet.
“I’m going back to work now.”
“Okay.”
Dennis was hoping that she would go about it calmly as well, although Finn would have to be punished either way.
Meanwhile, James had found the person who called Abigail.
“It’s not Harvey Gooding.He fled to Franconia, but there’s no telling where he’s hiding for now.”
Pausing, he then added, “Stan Hill could take over the search since he’s there.”It was certainly more convenient, and with their network, a search would be easy.
“Good,” Diarmuid said.
“As for the unknown caller, it’s Finn Cook from Hotmesh Research, “James said.
“I haven’t found out why he called Abigail, but it must be about work since they work in the same building.”
Diarmuid did not think so—if it was about work, Finn would not have hung up when he heard his voice.
“Should I keep looking into it?” James asked.
“Just do a background check,” Diarmuid replied.
“Alright.I’ve already got someone on it.”
In fact, the man he sent had not returned yet.
Still, just as James was about to turn to leave, his phone rang in his pocket.He answered it, and it happened to be the man he sent to investigate Finn Cook.
James frowned after hearing the man’s report.
“Got it.”
“Do I need to find out more?”
“No, you can come back now.”
“Okay,” the other man said, and James hung up.
Turning back and walking up to Diarmuid’s desk again, James said, “We’ve got something.”
Diarmuid put away the document he was holding and reclined in his chair.
“So? Who is he?”
James said, “When Finn Cook first started to work at Hotmesh Research, it’s Tobey Kitsch who mentored him.”
Diarmuid understood right then.
Since things ended badly for Tobey, he must be aiming for revenge against Abigail.
So that was the reason for that phone call? Diarmuid sprang to his feet at the thought—Abigail was in danger at Hotmesh.
“Get my car…”
Diarmuid began as he put on his jacket, but changed his mind.
“Forget it.I’m driving there myself.”
James wanted to say something, but Diarmuid already left his office.
He simply shrugged and smiled, and mused to himself that people do change.He used to think that Diarmuid would never get worried.
But these days Meanwhile, Abigail ran into yet another disgruntled colleague who wanted to mess with her soon after leaving Dennis’s office.
Yolanda King was in her forties, and also unhappy that Abigail was airdropped as the next director.
Still, she was pompous, and always pulled rank and threw her weight around just because she had seniority, and she certainly loved to be the center of the attention! Abigail was still pondering what to do with Finn and accidentally stepped on Yolanda’s toes, so she began to hound Abigail relentlessly, not stopping even after she apologized.
“Are you blind? I’m right here, and you’re saying you didn’t see me? You obviously did it on purpose!”
Abigail listened quietly as Yolanda rambled on.She had already apologized, but there was nothing she could do since Yolanda was not accepting her apology.
Since they were not far from Dennis’s office, he found out immediately and tried to reason as well.But Abigail has already apologized…”
“She obviously doesn’t mean it, and I just put on these coveralls.How am I going to enter the lab now?”
“Just get changed!”
Dennis snapped, pulling her aside.
“I’m retiring soon—why are you trying to upset the next director? What good would it do you? Aren’t you afraid that she would make life hard for you because of this?”
Yolanda thought about it, but she said, “Director, shouldn’t you at least tell me who’s her backer? She looked like a fresh graduate, and her competence aside, do you think people would be satisfied when she becomes director, given her age and resume? I’ve worked here for more than ten years and I started in my twenties.I’m forty -one now, but I’m supposed to work for her…Like, what the hell?!”
She certainly could not accept this, but she would not have said a word if it was someone superior.
However, the entire hospital knew that Abigail had a bigwig backer— that was how she got the job.
Abigail lowered her gaze at Yolanda’s words.
She always knew that everyone believed that she was succeeding Dennis by backdoor means and was inevitably frustrated to have to hear it twice in one day.
Even so, Dennis tried to reason.
“She has what it takes.She used to work at Mead Clinic, and she was the one who got the research data we published earlier—”
“That’s not her work.It was just theft in the end.”
Yolanda certainly did not consider the research data a contribution, and she found Abigail simply unsavory.She was also convinced that everyone in Hotmesh could have done it too! “You really don’t know what’s good for you…stay on that high horse all you want,”
Dennis snorted and turned toward Abigail.You can go now.Just ignore her, or fire her if she keeps this up when you take my place.”
Yolanda became flustered right then and grabbed Abigail as she blurted, “You only slept your way to the top! You’re not making me leave, whoever your backer is! Not everyone can work here, and if you dare fire me, I’ll make it so that you won’t get to stay either! Test me if you dare!”
“And how do we test you?”
An utterly intimidating deep voice boomed from the walkway.
Abigail looked up when she heard the voice and saw him.
His towering figure, and the presence he carried—honed after weathering trials and tribulations, seemed to strike like a powerful gust as he made his way towards her.
But although Abigail felt a moment of security from Diarmuid’s arrival, she soon felt a headache —rumors that she slept her way to the top were all but proven now.
She took a deep breath and asked, “What are you doing here?”
Diarmuid remained silent, but he was leveling a sharp look at Yolanda.
On the other hand, Dennis might be upset with Yolanda, but he did not want her fired.
In fact, most of the employees there were quite competent.
Knowing very well that Diarmuid was far less tender than Abigail, he was really worried Diarmuid would want Yolanda fired! Smiling apologetically, he said, “Oh, it’s just a little misunderstanding—”
“Really?”
Diarmuid’s lips curled up as he turned sharply toward Yolanda.
“Was that a misunderstanding?”
Utterly dwarfed in presence alone, Yolanda tried to hide behind Dennis, but she put on a brave face although she was obviously cowed.
“She stepped on my foot.I was just talking things out…”
At the same time, Dennis turned toward Abigail with a pleading look, hoping she would help Yoanda out —it would just get worse if this escalated, not to mention that Abigail’s work would be affected.
Noting the cue from Dennis, Abigail locked arms with Diarmuid and pulled him along.
“Come on, let me show you around.” Diarmuid lowered his gaze at her.
“Don’t you need my help?”
Abigail shook her head.
“Nope.”
He still did not budge.
“Are you sure you can handle this yourself?”
“I’m going to work here.Why would I stay if I can’t? Time to go,” she said, pulling him along nonetheless.
Diarmuid understood that if she could not straighten things out with her colleagues, work would just be more troublesome later.He once again became reluctant to let her work.
What was wrong with staying home? Why did she have to toil herself out here? Meanwhile, Abigail did not actually take him on a tour, but instead headed to a quiet place and released his arm.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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