Chapter 537 Longing to See Martin
Patricia tried for a while, going to bed full of hope, only to wake up disappointed each time.
"Could it be because of the booze?"
To see Martin again, Patricia had a drink before bedtime, but it bore no results.
Jade saw her getting a little obsessed these past few days and couldn't help worrying.
Patricia was utterly lost in her thoughts, sitting alone in her office, unresponsive to the world around her. She couldn't figure out where she had gone wrong. Why, despite all her efforts, she still couldn't meet with Martin.
She racked her brain, completely tuning out Alan's words – not catching a single one.
"Mrs. Watson..."
Though Patricia was now the CEO of Langley Group, he still preferred to call her Mrs. Watson. To him, Martin was the only boss.
"Mrs. Watson?"
Still, there was no reaction from Patricia.
Losing his patience, Alan gently tapped her shoulder, raising his voice slightly, "Mrs. Watson, did you hear me? Mrs. Watson?"
Patricia snapped back to reality, realizing this was not the time to be distracted, and quickly apologized, "I'm so sorry. What did you say?"
Noticing her pallor, Alan asked with concern, "Mrs. Watson, are you feeling alright? Or have you been overworking and not resting well? Maybe you should take a day off tomorrow? Don't worry; I've got the office handled."
Patricia knew the reason for her distraction, shaking her head. "No need. The company is at a crucial juncture for restructuring; I can't be absent."
Although Alan was reluctant, he didn't press further and handed a folder to Patricia, "Here's the agenda for the upcoming meeting. It's mainly about the upcoming chip launch. I've personally tested Charles' chip, and it's outstanding, surpassing all others currently on the market. With this chip, we can solidify the Langley family's status in Ivara City. So, we can't afford to slip up at this launch."
"Got it." Patricia took the folder, examining its contents thoroughly.
Alan continued, "Also, regarding the system Charles mentioned, it's fully featured and addresses all the shortcomings of existing systems on the market. Pairing the chip with this system is a brilliant concept. However, since the system hasn't been widely adopted yet and people haven't had the chance to experience it, I suggest offering it for free trials first. People need to see the benefits firsthand, and that realization will add value to our system."
Patricia skimmed through the contents of her folder, nodded in agreement, and looked at Alan. "You're right," she said, "I've been using the new system for the past few days, and it truly is the best I've ever worked with. Once everyone tries it, they'll never want to go back to the old one."
Alan replied, "You got that right. So, if we want to reel everyone in, we've got to dangle the bait."
"I couldn't agree more!" Patricia exclaimed. "I'll make sure to emphasize that in the meeting room later."
After discussing for a bit more and as the time drew near, they finally grabbed their laptops and file folders and, along with Patricia's assistant, headed to the conference room.
The meeting was scheduled for nine o'clock, but the usually full conference room was eerily quiet, with only a sparse group of four executives seated inside.
Not giving it much thought, Patricia took her place at the head of the table and asked, "Where is everyone? Don't they know what time the meeting starts?"
A middle-aged man in the room whispered, "There's a lot of people out today."
Patricia's brow furrowed slightly.
Then, the man added, "One's hospitalized and can't leave."
Her brow tightened a little more.
"The other had a nasty fall this morning, sprained his ankle, and can't make it out of the house. One's daughter fell ill. She had to take her to the hospital. Another's car broke down on the way to the garage, and there's more…"
Each absent executive had somehow concocted an excuse or reason for their absence.
Some seemed plausible, others outright ludicrous.
An ankle sprain from a fall? Car troubles? In-laws in the hospital demanding personal care?
By the time she heard the last of the man's words, Patricia's brows were knitted in sheer frustration.
Dozens of executives, yet only four showed up. Was this a collective act of defiance? A strike?
Patricia crossed her arms and chuckled. "So, today's meeting is canceled, huh?"
The man who had spoken earlier lowered his head, saying nothing.
Patricia shook with rage, slamming her folder down on the conference table.
"If nobody's going to show up, then this meeting is pointless—adjourned!" she announced and stormed out, fuming.
Alan cast a brief look at the remaining executives and quickly followed her out. As for the four executives left in the room, they exchanged meaningful glances and shared a knowing smile.
Patricia marched back into her office, hands planted firmly on her hips as she paced back and forth, trying to walk off the frustration that was building up inside.
The more she tried to calm down, the angrier she seemed to get, as if a bomb was about to explode in her chest.
"They did this on purpose! I refuse to believe it's a coincidence that they're all busy on the same day."
Alan said, "Someone's definitely pulling the strings from behind the scenes."
Patricia scoffed. "Who else but Max, that sneaky little snake? They think they can walk all over me because I'm a woman with no experience. Max must've promised them something sweet for them to be this bold."
Alan fell silent for a moment, then said with concern, "If they're set on opposing us, we're in for some real trouble. The chip launch is just around the corner, and their stance could seriously hinder progress."
His words only added fuel to Patricia's fire. While she knew it was all intentional, she felt completely powerless against it.
Here she was, running herself ragged for the company, networking over drinks every night. And not only were they not helping but also actively sabotaging her.
The resentment stayed bottled up inside Patricia; at the evening's soiree, she accidentally drank too much yet again.
Just like that night not so long ago, Alan, worried for her safety, had the driver take her home first while he stayed behind to handle the rest.
Bag in her left hand and holding her shoes in the right, Patricia walked barefoot over the cobbled path, mumbling under the influence of alcohol as she staggered home.
"They all bully me. I'll figure something out. I won't let them look down on me."
Her steps were wobbly and uneven, and she lost her balance, twisting her ankle and crashing to the ground.
"Ouch... that hurts..."
Patricia sharply inhaled as she attempted to get up, but her body was too limp to support her. Barely managing to rise, she collapsed again.
This time, her forehead struck hard against a protruding cobblestone, making a distinct 'thud' in the quiet of the night.
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