?


    Ruby nodded in understanding. "Alright, I understand. Thank you."


    Paul stood up after she spoke. "I still have some work to finish. I''ll take my leave now."


    Once Paul left, Ruby gazed at the box in her hands, feeling puzzled.


    She pondered over it for a moment before trying her birthday as the password, but it didn''t work. She tried several other possible passwords rted to Sullivan, but each attempt resulted in an error.


    Eventually, after too many incorrect tries, the lock disabled itself for two hours.


    Unable to think of any other possibilities, she decided to set the box aside for now and left the café.


    News of the Sumner Group''s alleged use of substandard construction materials had begun to spread quietly within thepany.


    Huxley was in the middle of a meeting with his team to discuss next month''s work ns when his assistant suddenly rushed over.


    "Mr. Lightner, y-you need to see this!" the assistant eximed, handing him a phone.


    Huxley''s face darkened as he read the screen, but he quickly regained his neutral expression. "I''ve got it. Let''s not worry about that for now and continue with the meeting."


    The others in the room were visibly curious about what the assistant had shown him but didn''t dare to ask.


    Huxley''s serious, no-nonsense demeanor often left his subordinates feeling intimidated.


    ...


    When the meeting concluded over an hourter, Huxley hurried out of the room with uncharacteristic urgency. Curious eyes turned toward his assistant, Dillon Feek.


    One employee couldn''t resist asking, "Mr. Feek, what happened? Why is Mr. Lightner in such a hurry?"


    Dillon calmly gathered his documents before looking up at the curious faces and answering with a smile, "It''s something unrted to us. Just focus on your own tasks and don''t worry about it."


    With that, he left, leaving the room full of bewildered employees exchanging confused nces.


    Back in his office, Huxley locked the door and immediately called Tom.


    "Mr. Genge, those substandard construction materials are already in use, and the issue is starting to spread internally. I think Brandon is already aware of the situation," he informed.


    "It doesn''t matter if he knows. It''s toote now. The market supervision department has already sent investigators to the site," Tom replied, his voice calm and detached.


    Initially, Tom had nned to strike at


    the Sumner Groupter, when the


    et


    construction project was further along. But now that Brandon had caughton so quickly, Tom had no choice but to elerate his timeline.


    After a brief pause, Huxley''s tone turned anxious. "Mr. Genge, do you think this will get traced back to me?"


    If it did, not only would he lose his job at the Sumner Group, but his reputation would be ruined as well. Nopany in Saintornia would hire him.


    Although Tom had previously


    promised him a high sry if he helped with inside information on the Sumner Group, Huxley didn''t fully trust him. That was why he had asked for 700,000 dors upfront.


    What worried him more was the potential fallout for his uncle, a shareholder in the Sumner Group who had helped him secure his job in the first ce.


    If this situation implicated his uncle, their families might be bitter enemies.


    The more Huxley thought about it, the more he regretted agreeing to cooperate with Tom.


    Tom chuckled. "Even if it does, so what? You cane work for the Genge Group. I''ve already promised you double your current sry. What''s there to be afraid of?"


    Grinding his teeth, Huxley replied, "Mr. Genge, I''ve reconsidered. This situation is too risky. I''ll return the money you gave me. Find someone else for this. I''ll act like I never knew anything about it."