Meanwhile, the third batch of Flora Verba Group’s products had gone through its consumer trial and received feedback for it. After some improvements were made, production started accordingly.
Roxanne consequently rushed to the factory to conduct a quality inspection to ensure that the ratio of ingredients within the products was correct.
At the same time, the quality control department conducted its own tests. Many of the female employees in the factory bought the products too. They were given an employee discount and were limited to two sets each month.
Inside the office of the research institute, Elektra was having a meeting with Roxanne. She talked about distribution to affiliated stores and raised the matter of hiring a few brand ambassadors who were willing to endorse for a reasonable fee on the account of their friendship with Elektra. In return, they simply asked for priority access to the company’s future products.
Given the favorable conditions, Roxanne agreed without hesitation. Elektra is really a genius when it comes to marketing. She has also put a lot of effort into the partnership. That’s why I think she deserves to be given the right to distribute the profits we gain from the third phase.
Unfortunately, Roxanne didn’t notice the insidious glint that flashed across Elektra’s eyes. I’m sorry, Roxanne. I was forced to do this. I don’t have a choice. Deep down, Elektra had made her decision.
The real reason she recruited the A-listed celebrities as brand ambassadors were to further escalate the impending controversy.
“I’ll head over to the factory to see if they need any help. Don’t worry. I’ll keep a close eye on the employees and make sure they’re not overworked.” With that, Elektra left the office. On the way to the factory, she took out her phone and gave Christina a call.
“Production has begun. From tonight onward, trucks will pick up the goods and distribute them all over the country for three consecutive days. Our plan can now be set into motion!”
Elektra proceeded to calmly elaborate on her plan. Upon learning of it, Christina was ecstatic. “I’ll fly back from Hawen tomorrow just to witness this beautiful moment. In terms of the people you need, I have made the necessary arrangements. Just use them to your heart’s content.”
Witness? Elektra scoffed in her heart. The real reason she’s coming back is to share the spoils. Upon arriving at the factory, Elektra saw that two lorries were already filled with goods and ready to leave. She contacted the factory manager at once to have him stop the trucks so that she could check the goods.
The factory manager was named Leroy Leeson and used to work at the research institute. When Roxanne noticed his talent for management, he was subsequently transferred to the factory.
“Ms. Lane, what’s the reason for doing so? No one told me about any tests. These products are good to go, as they have passed the checks of the quality control department.” Leroy was puzzled by the request.
As Roxanne had full faith in him, she had never requested another test once the goods had gone through him.
“Yes, it’s true that there were no issues with the first two phases’ products, but this time is different. This is a requirement set by the authorities. Don’t worry about it. It’s just an examination. It won’t take much time.”
Elektra had already come up with a reason to persuade him. Only by convincing Leroy could she avoid him notifying Roxanne.
“In that case, I won’t stand in your way. However, you had better compensate the driver, as they’re paid by the hour. Any delays in transportation are our fault.”
Influenced by Roxanne, Leroy would always take others into consideration. Elektra nodded with a smile. “That goes without saying. Don’t worry about it. Get the two trucks to follow my car. I’ll pay them five hundred each.”
Nodding in acknowledgment, Leroy went out to talk to the drivers. He returned a few minutes later to report, “It’s done. Do we have to do this for every truck from now on?”
Elektra nodded to confirm. “Yes. Every single one of them will have to go through a quality inspection. On top of that, I’ll still need to assign them their destinations, but you don’t have to worry about those.”
Without another comment, Leroy got back to work in the factory. Thereafter, Elektra drove and led the two trucks to a newly built factory nearby. As there was no equipment inside, the factory was largely empty.
Upon her arrival, Christina’s men were already in place. There were almost a hundred of them. All of them were wearing the white uniforms of quality inspectors, similar to those worn by the employees at Flora Verba Group.
Nevertheless, all of them held a syringe in one hand and a glass bottle that contained an unknown liquid in the other. Upon alighting from the car, Elektra gestured to the truck drivers and led them to receive their compensation.
“Since the two of you are driving the first two trucks, the sampling process might take a little longer. How about this? I’ll compensate you a thousand each. On top of that, I’ll arrange for your food and accommodation for the night. All you need to do is come back the next morning to continue with your journey. How about that?”
The moment the drivers heard about the generous offer, they nodded eagerly in agreement. With that, Christina’s men began their work in the factory.
Firstly, they unloaded all the goods from the trucks. Thereafter, they opened the product packaging and injected the unknown substance into the facial essence and cream. The substance was odorless and was added in small quantities. Hence, it didn’t change the appearance of the product at all.
Once they were done, they resealed the packages. As Elektra had provided them with Flora Verba Group’s unique packaging machine, they managed to repackage the product and made them seem good as new.
After everything was done, Elektra examined the products and broke into a smile when she could see no traces of tampering.
“We’ll need four to five hours to go through two trucks if we speed up, so hurry up and get it done!” Upon receiving Elektra’s orders, the men nodded and swiftly got to work.
Until twelve midnight that day, Elektra had intercepted a total of thirteen trucks from Leroy’s factory using the same modus operandi.
The load of all thirteen trucks in total was a single day’s production of the third phase’s products. Moreover, there would be more coming the next day as production had commenced at the other factories.
When Elektra called Christina to inform her that they didn’t have enough manpower, the latter let out a sneer and promised to send three hundred more men the next day. “How did you manage to recruit so many people?” Elektra was worried about future repercussions.
“Don’t worry, other than a core group who are my subordinates, the rest were hired legally. Once they heard that they’re working for Flora Verba Group, put on the uniforms you have provided, and see the address of the new factory, none of them will suspect that this is a sham.”
There were plenty of such temporary workers in the market, and most importantly, they didn’t cost much to hire.
“All right then. We’ll continue doing this for the next three to four days. At this rate, more than a hundred thousand products will be made defective!”
The subsequent period filled Elektra with anxiety. Fortunately for her, Roxanne was bogged down by her wedding preparations and had no time to pay attention. Nonetheless, Elektra felt it necessary to distract her still.
Therefore, she headed to the research institute the next morning and dragged Roxanne along to attend an official press conference. The event was long and tedious, as matters of safety were the topic of discussion. It started at nine in the morning and only ended at three in the afternoon.
After the press conference, Elektra invited Roxanne for afternoon coffee. It wasn’t until Roxanne had to go try on her wedding gown that they went their separate ways. On that day, three hundred thousand sets of products carried by sixteen trucks were tampered with.
When Roxanne returned to the mansion in the evening, Elias and Sonya were playing games with the children downstairs, while Lucian was in the living room, reading an architectural magazine.
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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