Chapter 526 Desperate Struggle
Andrew Roberts's words were cutting, leaving no room for Patricia's dignity.
Patricia was unfazed. Before coming here, she had already braced herself for all sorts of possibilities. His words were harsh, but they weren't the worst she had imagined facing.
Afflicted by the worry, Alan was about to defend her when she stopped him with a hand gesture.
With a calm smile, Patricia said, "Your concerns are valid, Mr. Roberts, but I assure you, although my husband has passed, his team remains as strong as ever. The Langley Group's microchips continue to lead the global market. Even if you ceased collaboration with us, it would be quite a challenge to find another company with technology that matches ours, wouldn't it? Searching for a new partner could be a lengthy process. Instead of wasting time, why not give each other a chance? I'll admit I'm new to the business world, but sincerity is the currency of trade. We approach each partnership with integrity, and in turn, we hope you place your trust and support in us."
Alan watched her, once again mesmerized by her eloquence. He had yet to brief her on this, as did her cousin the previous night.
Under the pressure of time, they had focused solely on discussing the history of the Langley Group's development and why it was irreplaceable, teaching Mrs. Watson only the most essential information. The rest was to be tackled on the spot today.
Andrew raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure it's still the original team?"
"I can absolutely assure you it's the same team," Patricia said. "We will maintain our strict quality control standards and won't allow any issues."
Andrew just smiled and pulled out his smartphone. He tapped on it for a moment, then handed it to Patricia.
Patricia gave Alan a puzzled glance then looked at the message displayed on the phone screen. Her expression turned grave.
Alan felt a sense of foreboding as the phone was passed to him. When he read the contents, his face turned ashen.
Lying leisurely on a fold-out chair by the pool, with his hands behind his head, Andrew casually said, "I received word before you arrived yesterday that, last night, the lead engineer at the microchip development lab defected to HT Corporation, along with their top two protégés and three other engineers. HT Corporation announced the news officially just ten minutes ago; they made a big show out of the signing ceremony."
The blood drained from Patricia's face, leaving her paler by the second. Alan didn't look much better. They hadn't anticipated this trap lying in wait. It was obviously a well-orchestrated scheme. Otherwise, why would the news break right when they found Andrew Roberts? It was a blatant attempt to corner the Langley Group into a dead end.
Andrew waved a dismissive hand. "Enough, no need to continue. I partnered with you because of Mr. Langley's talent and the technical prowess of your core team, but now, with Mr. Langley gone and the team falling apart... Sure, you've still got some engineers, but with the chief engineer gone, your top-notch tech goes with him. So, tell me, should I continue partnering with you, or should I go talk to HT Group?"
Patricia and Alan apologized curtly for disturbing him and made a sad exit.
Back at the vacation house, Riley could tell by their faces that the negotiation had failed. He said, "I saw the news."
Alan collapsed onto the sofa, hands cradling his face. "It was my mistake. I didn't anticipate their intention to jump ship."
"It's not on you," Riley said. "The Langley Group has been under fire from all sides; you're stretched too thin. They clearly wanted to blindside you, so don't blame yourself."
Patricia slumped onto the couch. "With Martin gone and now the chief engineer, we've lost all our edge. How about we negotiate with Cosmos Electronics or Robinson Group?
Alan remained silent.
"It does look like a checkmate," Riley said, "Unless..."
They turned to him expectantly.
Riley pondered, "Unless you can secure an even more renowned engineer. But with just one week to fulfill your bet with Max and already two days down, time is not on our side."
Patricia's hope dimmed once again. She lowered her gaze to the floor tiles, then briskly lifted her head. "Alan, why don't you ask Luke if he knows any engineers?"
Luke Harris wasn't a lab engineer, but his work as a programmer was closely related to microchips.
Her suggestion lit a spark in Alan, who immediately whipped out his cell phone and dialed Luke.
The call connected quickly, and before Alan could even speak, Luke vented, "Does that jerk even remember who believed in him when he was at his lowest, who valued him and gave him opportunities?! Would he be where he is today without Mr. Langley? Now, when he's made a name for himself, he turns his back on us. It's bad enough he walked out, but to poach the team, too! That ungrateful bastard..." He paused, fuming. "I'd murder him if it weren't a crime."
Alan chuckled at Luke's outburst, the gloom from his mind dissipating somewhat.
"What's done is done. Cursing him out won't change anything," Alan said. "Listen, do you know any well-known engineers in chip development?"
"Why are you asking?"
"The best way to fix our current mess is to find a new head of engineering. We need someone with a solid reputation and status."
"Let me think..." Luke angled his head, pondering for a moment. "There is someone! The problem is he currently works at MicroCore Technology in Country M and already has a great setup. Plus, the guy's incredibly arrogant and difficult to deal with. Actually, maybe don't waste your time on him."
Alan was familiar with the individual Luke referred to. Indeed, he was tough to handle.
When the Langley Group was in a tough spot, their boss had sought him out, only to be bluntly refused. The boss had tried to meet with him several times after that, with each encounter ending with no success.
Their situation was once again in dire straits, a seemingly bottomless abyss on all sides, leading to a dead end.
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