Chapter 408 Meeting Two Mysterious Individuals
Stumbling over his words, he hurriedly tried to explain himself.
Sam: [I mean, Phillipe is going to be around forever. If we can make some money now, we could expedite those medical initiatives—"Abella: [Too late. You've upset him.]Sam: [It's over, it's all over. Is he going to kill me? Boss, you have to save me!]
Sam's rapid-fire pleas were tinged with a comedic desperation. He had complimented Phillipe in the past. Why hadn’t he noticed...Phillipe, ever the gentle soul, ruffled Abella's hair. "Don't frighten the boy," he said softly. "Where's the meeting? I'll accompany you."Abella sought more information, but both clients remained guarded, promising to disclose the location the following day.It was as if they were thieves in the night...There hadn't been any significant social events or birthdays among the elite recently, so who could these secretive clients be?As the day faded into the evening, Sam reached out once more."Boss, is Phillipe still angry?""Did you call just to ask that?" Abella hadn't expected to unsettle Sam so much and couldn't suppress a smile."Just tell me if he's still fuming. I'm worried he might take it out on you..." He remembered the boss mentioning that Phillipe was not easily placated. Surely, the boss wouldn't be appeasing him from afternoon till night? If so, he'd only be causing more trouble."I'm out of juice," Abella admitted."Really?""Yes."Relief washed over Sam, and he quickly shifted the conversation back to business. "Oh, by the way, someone else wants to commission a piano piece from you. They're only offering thirty million, though...""Are you serious?"With her reputation as "Anika Moses," she could easily demand more than thirty million.Was this person trying to undercut her, or was that the best they could do?"They clearly didn’t do their homework. They increased their offer from ten to thirty million. It seems they're not familiar with the market.""Do they need it by tomorrow as well?""Boss, how did you know?""I'm not accepting it." Abella glanced at the clock. She still had to review the research data Grandpa Wilson had sent over that night. There simply wasn't enough time to take on additional work."I'll decline on your behalf then. Boss, make sure to rest soon.""Alright."After ending the call, Abella was cross-checking data in the lab when she encountered a problem. The cocktail of fourteen drugs Grandpa Wilson had concocted produced a new toxin post-synthesis.Although the toxin was present in low levels and existed separately, its complete extraction would be a formidable challenge.Abella attempted several methods, but all were fruitless. At that moment, Phillipe, who had been outside the lab, noticed her struggle and knocked on the door."Phillipe?" Abella's voice was heavy as the man entered bearing a midnight snack. "I've hit a snag.""What's the problem?"She shared her discovery with him. "I've never seen this toxin before. If you hadn't brought in this advanced equipment, we'd never have detected it with our old methods."The toxin's effects on the human body were unknown without successful isolation."Let me give it a shot.""You?" Abella was taken aback and doubtful. In all the time she'd known him, she had no idea he had any knowledge of pharmaceuticals."Just theoretical knowledge." Phillipe had once envied Dr. Smith and the junior surgeons for their hands-on work and patient interactions.He wasn't adept with a scalpel, nor did he understand drug manufacturing, but equations – that was his forte.
Abella's admiration for him swelled as she observed him meticulously entering a sequence of characters. Not long after, Phillipe beckoned her over to the screen. As she scrutinized the final equation, a sudden realization sparked within her. "I've got it," she declared, a newfound inspiration fuelling her determination. With renewed vigor, she immersed herself back into her separation experiments. In the midst of her intense focus, Grandpa Wilson's calls came through twice. He video-chatted with her, discussing the intricate process and inquiring about her progress. Working relentlessly until the early hours of the morning, Grandpa Wilson finally intervened. "Alright, that's enough for today. You may not require sleep, but spare a thought for this old man. And don't overlook dear Phillipe. Without his assistance, we would have hit a dead-end earlier. Now off you go, get some rest.""Just a little longer," she negotiated. "Enough of this! Phillipe, escort her out. She used to practically live in this lab, camping out for days on end! I had to resort to cutting the power to evict her!"Phillipe responded with a chuckle, "Alright, Grandpa.""Remember not to indulge her too much. Youth is no excuse for neglecting one's health. Now, I'm hanging up."After the call, Abella resumed her experiment, undeterred by Phillipe's lack of urgency. Instead, he quietly kept her company.It took Abella some time to notice the change in Phillipe's behavior. Why hadn't he tried to rush her?"When inspiration strikes, work through it," Phillipe encouraged.Feeling a twinge of guilt at his indulgence, Abella glanced at the clock. Dawn was fast approaching."We'll continue tomorrow," she decided, taking his hand willingly. "Come on, it's time to sleep."Caught off guard, Phillipe abandoned his tablet and allowed her to lead him, his grip on her slender fingers tightening unconsciously.The following morning, Sam delivered the times and locations for the upcoming meetings.The artwork meeting was scheduled for 8 p.m. in an old warehouse, while the composition meeting was set for 9 p.m. in a private club's VIP room."Boss, we're unable to find any information on these two. Should Tony and I accompany you for protection?" "No need," Abella dismissed, "Back home, there aren't many who can challenge me.""Boss, I'm just concerned they might belong to one of those factions... perhaps using this as a trap," Sam voiced his frustration. "I was blinded by the money last night and didn't think it through. Boss, should I try to delay the handover?""Do you think they've guessed that Abbott and Anika Moses are one and the same?" Abella countered."It's... it's unlikely..."After all, no one would easily link Abbott with Anika Moses. Their boss had always been discreet, and her true identity was known to very few.But... better safe than sorry!Sam had encountered those factions before. They weren't a concern individually, but if they set a collective trap, even the formidable boss could fall into their snare..."Don't worry, I can handle it," Abella reassured, brushing off his concern as she descended the stairs.At 7 p.m., Phillipe asked, "Are you sure you don't want me to accompany you?""Yes, I'll be fine on my own."If the opposition was simple and unaffiliated, Phillipe's presence would be unnecessary. Abella didn't need him for protection.Phillipe couldn't comprehend dealing with any faction, let alone the multitude out there. His involvement would only invite danger. From every perspective, it was best for Phillipe to stay away. With this thought, Abella reassured herself, "It was always like this with past jobs. I'd go and be right back."
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