Chapter 209 Suspected of Leaking Company Secrets
"Partly for that reason, but mainly because I've got more important things to do."
Ashley felt a bit down. "I don't know if the new researcher will be easy to get along with after you leave."
Sharon smiled and gently comforted her. "Whether they're easy to get along with or not, just focus on doing your job well."
"Alright. That's all I can do."
In the afternoon, Sharon went to Silvercrest Group to pack her things.
The new drug researcher hadn't arrived yet, and Ashley paused her experiment to read some literature in the office.
As Sharon finished packing and was about to leave, Ashley couldn't help but hug her tightly. "Sharon, even if you resign, we must keep in touch often!"
Seeing Ashley's reluctance, Sharon nodded. "Alright, I probably won't be able to help you with pursuing Leo anymore, so you'll have to work hard on your own."
"Okay."
After saying goodbye to Ashley, Sharon was about to leave when the office door suddenly opened.
Both of them looked towards the door and saw Paul walking in with a serious expression, followed by two men in suits.
Seeing Paul's unfriendly gaze, Sharon looked puzzled. "Mr. Harris, what's going on?"
"Ms. Wright, you are suspected of leaking company secrets, so you cannot leave yet."
Sharon frowned. "What secrets?"
Ashley chimed in, "Mr. Harris, you must be mistaken. Sharon isn't even an employee of Silvercrest Group. We're just in the lab all day, and we don't interact with any Silvercrest employees. How could she possibly leak any company secrets?"
Paul looked at Ashley expressionlessly, in a businesslike manner. "It's not just Ms. Wright. Miss Martin, you also need to cooperate with our investigation because the leaked data is from your experiments."
Ashley widened her eyes in disbelief and angrily said, "You suspect us of leaking the experimental data to others?"
"It's not a suspicion. The Pacific Wellness Institute has already publicly shared their latest asthma drug research progress, and many of their data highly overlap with yours. This experiment is under your charge. Until we uncover the truth, you cannot leave and must come to the company every day to await the investigation results. Otherwise, the company has the right to call the police and hold you accountable."
Hearing the word "police," Sharon's face turned extremely serious.
No one but her and Ashley knew the daily experimental data.
But it was impossible for someone else's data to match theirs exactly, so the data must have been leaked.
Ashley, beside her, also turned pale with fear and said in a trembling voice, "Mr. Harris, Sharon and I couldn't have leaked the data. We are checked every day when entering and leaving the lab. We couldn't have taken the data out."
"Miss Martin, I can't say for sure what's going on yet. You both need to prepare for the investigation."
Sharon was silent for a few seconds before speaking, "Mr. Harris, please call the police."
Paul was stunned, not expecting Sharon to agree to call the police.
"Ms. Wright, think carefully. The company is only conducting an internal investigation now. If the police get involved, you might face imprisonment."
"I didn't leak the data, and I believe Ashley didn't either. That means someone obtained our data through improper means. Of course, we need to call the police to find out. I don't want to leave Silvercrest Group with the stigma of leaking data!"
Moreover, she trusted the police more than the people at Silvercrest Group.
After a few seconds of eye contact, Paul said, "I need to consult Mr. Smith about this."
He stepped aside, called Seb, explained the situation, and then hung up.
"Mr. Smith agrees to call the police."
The police arrived quickly. While Sharon and Ashley were giving their statements, Leo walked in. Seeing the police, his eyes widened briefly, but he quickly composed himself.
"Sharon, Ashley, what's going on?"
Paul stepped forward. "Mr. Wendy, Ms. Wright's experimental data was leaked. Have you seen any suspicious people around the lab recently?"
Leo thought for a moment and shook his head. "No, it's usually just the three of us in the lab."
Paul nodded. "Alright, you'll need to give a statement later too."
After giving their statements, two hours had passed.
From then on, Sharon, Ashley, and Leo were not allowed back in the lab and had to wait at home for the investigation results, ready to be summoned by the police at any time.
Leaving Silvercrest Group, Ashley suggested they grab a meal and review their recent experiments to figure out when the data might have been leaked.
Sharon agreed, and since Leo was also part of the lab, he joined them.
After sitting down in a private room, Ashley spoke first, "Sharon, I swear I didn't leak the data, and I believe you didn't either. I think someone is trying to frame us!"
Ashley's face was full of anger and resentment.
Sharon's eyes flickered, and she said softly, "Yes, the key is how the data was leaked."
The Pacific Wellness Institute publicly sharing data almost identical to hers meant all her previous progress was in vain. If they couldn't find out who leaked the data, she would have to take the blame.
No company would want a researcher who leaked data, and this could also ruin her graduate school applications.
So, Sharon had to find out who leaked the data!
While the two were talking, Leo quietly listened on the side.
Neither Sharon nor Ashley noticed the calculating and cold look in his eyes.
In the Silvercrest Group president's office, after the police and the others left, Paul went back to report the progress.
After listening, Seb said indifferently, "The person who leaked the data is definitely not her."
Paul thought Seb's statement was too absolute and couldn't help but retort, "Mr. Smith, the final investigation results aren't out yet. Any of the three could be suspects."
"Go back to work. Report any progress to me."
Paul hesitated for a moment but couldn't help asking, "Mr. Smith, if it is Ms. Wright who leaked the data, what will you do?"
"If it is her, I will bear all the consequences."
Paul frowned but said no more, bowing his head and leaving.
After Sharon and Ashley finished dinner and returned home, it was already past six in the evening.
Sharon took a bottle of cold water from the fridge and sat on the couch, pondering who could have leaked the data.
Besides the three of them, others at Silvercrest Group who could know the experiment's progress were also possible suspects.
But in terms of likelihood, the three of them were the most suspicious.
After all, she and Ashley were in the lab every day, and Leo, who stayed in the office, could sometimes hear them discussing the data.
Sharon trusted Ashley, but Leo was another matter.
Sharon pondered, 'Could he be the one who leaked the data?'
As Sharon was deep in thought, the doorbell rang.
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