Chapter 355
Matthew made a call to the research center’s director, Jennifer’s father, Dr. Roberts.
Dr. Roberts? It’s Matthew Hayes.” He kept his voice low but firm. “We’ve got a situation with Irene’s research data being deleted. Someone wiped her files during lunch.”
He paused, listening to the calm voice on the other end.
“That’s right. Her son actually recovered everything, but we need to see who was at her computer.” Matthew watched the hallway traffic as he spoke. “The security team won’t release footage without your approval.”
“Got it. Thanks.” Matthew hung up and headed back toward the lab.
Meanwhile, Roberts sat alone in his office, staring at his now–dark phone. He rubbed his temples and let out a deep sigh. The conflict on his face was obvious even without an audience. After a moment, his eyes drifted to his desk phone.
In the lab, a crowd still surrounded Alex and the recovered files. The tension was thick enough to cut with a scalpel. Jennifer hung back from the group, arms crossed tightly over her chest, her face cycling between fury and barely hidden panic
A lab tech appeared in the doorway. “Irene? Director wants to see you upstairs.”
Irene squeezed Alex’s shoulder. “James, can you keep an eye on him? She turned to her son with a proud smile. “Amazing work, kiddo. Back in a few.”
The whispers started the second she walked out.
“Ten bucks says Roberts already knows everything.”
“Jennifer’s toast.”
Irene followed the tech upstairs, running through what might be waiting for her. At the director’s door, the woman nodded politely
“Go ahead in.”
The office was neat and modern with plants blooming on the windowsill. Behind the desk sat a middle–aged man with a solid build and calm demeanor. Irene could see traces of Jennifer in his features, though the resemblance wasn’t as strong up close.
“Hello,” Irene said simply.
Roberts looked her over from head to toe before his face settled into a professional smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Irene, good to finally meet properly,” he said. “Having someone with your reputation join us has been a real boost for the center.”
Irene stayed silent, just watching him. The quiet stretched between them like a rubber band.
Roberts shifted in his chair, clearly thrown by her silence. “I called you up because I heard about what happened with your data files.
“Yes,” she said, keeping her guard up.
“Look,” he leaned forward, ‘I hope we can handle this quietly. Team leader or not, you don’t want bad blood with colleagues, right? It’ll just slow everything down and mess up the whole group dynamic.
Irene’s eyes went cold. Like father, like daughter, she thought. The family resemblance went beyond looks.
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“What exactly are you getting it?” Her voice stayed level despite the heat building inside.
“I could put you in charge of Silver City’s official neural research project, he said, like he was offering her the moon. “We just landed it. Normally goes to tears with at least three years here. Lead something like this, and your name would be all over the medical journals. Not an opportunity that falls in everyone’s lap.
He spoke confidently, but Irene caught the slight twitch in his eye–offering up his hard–won project clearly hurt.
“So,” Irene’s voice dropped to ice, “you’re buying my silence to cover for your daughter.”
Her eyes flashed. “Keep your project! Jennifer went after me for no reason, deleted my work, tried to make me look like an idiot in front of everyone, then demanded proof while your security team conveniently blocked the footage. She’s wrecking my reputation and slowing down the whole team. I refuse to work with someone who’s openly trying to push me out.”
Irene leaned in, each word razor–sharp. “Even kids know when you mess up, you say sorry. Your grown daughter screws up and runs to daddy? Seriously?”
She shook her head in disgust. “My kid found the proof, and you want me to pretend nothing happened? Why should 17 Being my boss doesn’t give you the right to walk all over me.”
Her voice stayed quiet but cut like a knife. “If this is how you handle things, I quit.”
What she didn’t tell Roberts: with her credentials, she could go straight to Silver City officials and get that project herself. His bribe meant absolutely nothing.
Back in the lab, Irene stormed in with her face like thunder. Without a word, she started throwing her things into her bag.
Matthew hurried over. “What’s wrong?”
Irene barely looked up, hands busy packing while she gave him the bullet points in clipped sentences. When she finished, she grabbed Alex’s hand and walked out with her head high.
The room went dead quiet. Matthew let out a long breath, his fists clenching as “cover–up” echoed in his head. He looked at Jennifer, his usually kind face hardening into something she’d never seen before.
In quick, angry movements, Matthew started emptying his desk. He didn’t have much personal stuff there–just a few photos, a coffee mug, and some notebooks. Everything else belonged to the center. Within two minutes, his space was cleared out.
Jaw set, Matthew headed upstairs to Roberts‘ office. He walked in without knocking and dropped a hastily scribbled note on the desk. Just one line: “Letter of resignation, Matthew Hayes.”
Roberts gaped at the paper. “What the hell is this?”
His face shifted as it clicked. “Wait, we can talk about this. I haven’t actually done anything about Irene yet–nothing’s official!”
His voice had completely changed from how he’d spoken to Irene–almost begging now.
Matthew clutched his bag, eyes narrow. “What you did today makes me sick. I can’t work in a place like this.”
He’d thought Roberts was one of the good ones–fair, principled, focused on the science. Finding out he’d trade integrity for family favoritism hit like a slap in the face.
“Matthew, please,” Roberts‘ voice dropped. “Jennifer’s my daughter. I can’t let her lose her job–how would that make me look? How
would it look for the center?”
The plea just made Matthew’s stomach turn. Research was supposed to be about merit and truth, not family connections and power
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games. If Roberts wanted to torn the center into his daughter’s personal playground, fine–Matthew was out.
“This is our choice,” he said, ice in his voice. “Since nobody outside knows yet, your precious reputation is safe. We’re done here.”
Without another word, Matthew walked out, leaving Roberts staring after him.
As the door clicked shut, Matthew felt weirdly light despite everything. Standing up for what was right had never felt more
necessary.
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