Chapter 142 A Movement of Her Hand
Upon administering the antidote, Sullivan's gaze shifted to Paige. She sat on tenterhooks, her heart pounding with anticipation, uncertainty clouding her thoughts about when the medicine would stir Mrs. Sackler from her slumber. Regardless of the precise moment, they all held the collective understanding that Mrs. Sackler's awakening was inevitable.Sullivan discarded the syringe and proceeded to examine Mrs. Sackler's eyelids, scrutinizing her pupils. He then turned his attention to the other data. As he lifted his gaze to meet Paige's, he offered a comforting reassurance, "Don't worry, she should wake up soon."Paige responded with a nod, "The antidote was just administered; reactions aren't immediate. We just need to wait." That day, her sole desire was to remain by Mrs. Sackler's side, ready to welcome her back to consciousness the moment her eyes fluttered open.Not long after the antidote's administration, Pearl and the others returned from the airport. They briefly checked in with Paige in the patient's room before attending to their own affairs. Pearl stationed herself by Paige's side, poised for instructions. Yet, today, there were no work-related updates to report.Paige's absence from the country for several days had resulted in a backlog of work, an overwhelming mountain of tasks looming ominously. However, Pearl understood the significance of Mrs. Sackler to Paige.Time seemed to crawl as Paige sat vigil by the bed, her gaze never straying. Five minutes... she thought, convincing herself that Mrs. Sackler would awaken any moment now. Ten minutes... she attempted to reassure herself, rationalizing that the wait was normal. Fifteen minutes... anxiety began to gnaw at her, and she sought Sullivan's gaze."Don't worry," Sullivan said, "after all, your aunt has been asleep for five years, and she suffered a head injury back then. Now that the antidote has been given, with our abilities, can't we expect her to awaken? Be patient!"Sullivan's words managed to instill a sense of calm in Paige, albeit temporarily. However, as half an hour slipped by, her tranquility began to fracture. Both Sullivan and Pearl could see the creeping doubt in Paige's eyes, the fear that the antidote might not work. Sullivan shot Pearl a knowing glance, and being the sharp woman she was, Pearl instantly understood his silent communication."Don't worry, Xanthe," Pearl reassured, "your aunt is surely going to be alright. You've been out of the country for a few days now, and you’ve got a mountain of official business piled up. Why not take care of some of it?"Paige turned to her and said, "I'm not in the right state of mind for that right now."Pearl then set about diverting Paige's attention. "You know, before Andrew left for M country, he met with quite a few top executives here. I wonder what he's really up to. Also, there's been some buzz coming from the Sackler family."Paige furrowed her brow. "What’s up with the Sackler family now? What kind of spectacle are they planning to cause? Didn't they embarrass themselves enough at the Hawke Corporation anniversary celebration? They want the whole world to know now?"Pearl had successfully diverted Paige's attention away from Mrs. Sackler. Although Sullivan was a bit anxious, he was much more composed than Paige. The closer the relationship, the easier it was to be thrown off balance."The Sackler family is probably looking for new partners," Pearl speculated. "Guess who they've set their sights on, Xanthe?"Paige cast a glance at the unmoving Mrs. Sackler on the bed, responding listlessly, "I don't know." Normally, Paige would have taken the time to seriously analyze the situation,but at the moment, her mind wasn't willing to do any guesswork. She could rely on Pearl's insights, as Pearl was likely already informed."I don't need to guess. Just tell me what you know," Paige said.Pearl had the answer ready. "Well, it turns out the Sackler family has their eyes on none other than our own Universe Group. They've already made connections with a top executive at Universe, and who knows what they're planning next."Now, Paige was truly engaged by Pearl's information. With a cold laugh, Paige responded, "What? They've connected with a Universe Group executive? Who is it? Give me the details."
Paige had yet to make her official debut as the CEO of Universe Group. Despite her active involvement in the company's affairs, the majority of her subordinates remained oblivious to her ascension to the top position. Upon discovering that a senior executive from her team had established contact with the Sackler family, Paige found the situation rather amusing. The project she had wrested from the clutches of the Sackler family had not yet been unveiled within the Universe Group. Coupled with her preoccupation with managing Mrs. Sackler's affairs, Paige had no immediate plans to launch the project. It was therefore unsurprising that the Sackler family had managed to forge ties with the Universe Group; there was a reason behind it all. Had she made the project public sooner, the Sackler family might have unearthed her connection to the Universe Group with a bit of investigation. Her hectic schedule had prevented her from disclosing this crucial information, thus emboldening the Sackler family to brazenly approach the Universe Group's executives without fear. Pearl swiftly retrieved a tablet and pulled up the profiles of the executives in question. "Elowen Frost, Leander Hawthorne. Are these the two?" Paige inquired. Pearl nodded in affirmation, "They're a close-knit duo within the company. The Sackler family aims to forge strategic alliances with the Universe Group through them. I suspect they see profitable opportunities in the Sackler family's projects, hence their persistent contact." Having scrutinized the backgrounds and professional histories of the two employees, Paige responded with a touch of nonchalance, "Keep a close watch on them. The Universe Group will never collaborate with the Sackler family. I don't want to be caught off guard and discover a deal has been brokered without my knowledge." Paige was determined not to let the Sackler family exploit the Universe Group. Despite the Sackler family's array of notable projects, Paige would certainly reject any partnership if she couldn't directly secure those projects. The Sackler family's representatives were far too restricted. The previous leader, Margaret, was already in her seventies. She lacked the decisiveness and resolve she once possessed in her youth. The prospective heir, Xena, was hardly noteworthy. Whether in terms of experience, character, or even her approach and vision, she simply didn't meet the mark. With a future leader like Xena, what could one expect from the Sackler Group's future? Pearl retrieved the tablet from Paige, "Yes, I've assigned someone to monitor the situation. If there's any activity, I'll report to you immediately, Xanthe." Pearl was well aware that Paige would never permit the Universe Group to collaborate with the Sackler family. Fortunately, she was astute and had been closely observing the Sacklersevery move. Had she only begun her surveillance now, it would have been too late. As soon as she finished speaking, Sullivan suddenly exclaimed, "There's movement... a hand, the hand moved. Boss, you've got to see this." Upon hearing that, Paige instantly turned her attention to Mrs. Sackler…
