CHAPTER 382: CHAPTER 382: UNDERSTANDING

At this moment, he was pleading pitifully with Mrs. Chambers for money. Mrs. Chambers felt quite heartbroken and softened immediately, asking, "How much do you need?"

Burt Chambers initially intended to ask for more, but he was afraid that if he asked for too much, word would get to his dad and older brother, so he said, "Ten thousand bucks..."

Nowadays, when Mrs. Chambers gives Burt Chambers money, it usually doesn’t exceed a hundred bucks at a time.

Burt Chambers suddenly needed so much, Mrs. Chambers hesitated a bit, wondering if her son was doing something bad outside.

"Why do you need so much? What trouble have you gotten into outside?"

"No, no, mom, it’s just that it’s my classmate’s birthday. I want to buy him a birthday gift. You know, they all gave me gifts on my birthday, and if I don’t return the favor, they won’t play with me anymore..."

Mrs. Chambers listened and thought it seemed reasonable, as it is common for peers to reciprocate, and she didn’t want her son to be isolated.

So she nodded, "Okay, I’ll transfer it to you right away."

Burt Chambers received the transfer from Mrs. Chambers and was extremely happy, "Mom, you’re the best! I’ll go buy the gift now..."

Slinging his backpack, he ran off.

Paige Sterling squinted her eyes, "Auntie, I’m heading out."

Mrs. Chambers tried to keep her, "Oh, Paige, stay and have dinner..."

Paige Sterling chuckled, "Auntie, maybe next time, I have some matters to attend to."

Mrs. Chambers knew Paige Sterling was busy, so she didn’t insist and saw her off to the door.

Paige Sterling drove quickly and soon caught up with Burt Chambers.

She followed Burt Chambers and saw him arrive at the airport, where he met up with a few other boys.

Are they trying to run away from home again?

Paige Sterling entered the airport just as Burt Chambers and the boys had bought their tickets and were heading for security checks.

Paige Sterling walked over, "Burt Chambers."

Burt Chambers was startled by the voice and turned to see Paige Sterling, his legs went weak.

"Sis, sis... how come you’re here?"

Paige Sterling took the ticket from his hand, "Turkey? What are you going to do in Turkey?"

Burt Chambers was still feeling guilty, stammering and unable to speak.

His so-called friends scrambled to betray him.

"We’re planning to go to romantic Turkey first, then head to Tokyo for BP surgeries together."

Paige Sterling, "..."

In the bustling airport, the boy’s loud voice attracted strange looks from the surrounding people.

Paige Sterling thought it might be the boys’ childish manifesto, yet their expressions were too serious to be joking.

Paige Sterling’s expression became quite unspeakable for a moment.

"So you needed money for BP surgeries?"

Burt Chambers nodded numbly; discussing BP in public, did he not realize how embarrassing it was?

"Why go to Turkey first, and why Tokyo for the surgery?"

The boys looked at each other, "Everyone online says so, it’s probably because going around Turkey first increases the BP surgery success rate in Tokyo."

Paige Sterling, "...," were you brainwashed by the internet?

Simply foolish.

Paige Sterling coldly and ruthlessly stopped a group of teenagers from going to Turkey, dragged them all back, and called their families one by one to rush and get their kids’ BP surgeries, seeing how these boys were so troubled over BP...

Penson’s new product, the pet chip, was ready—now they just needed Chambers Group to provide the toy’s appearance.

Yet Paige Sterling didn’t anticipate that at this critical juncture, Chris Swift would propose leaving Penson.

Chris Swift was among the first batch of college students she recruited, offering not only a hefty salary but also a villa.

It had been nearly over a year now, and Chris Swift had become the technical backbone of Penson.

Initially, Paige Sterling had all technical staff sign contracts, a five-year term, renewable or optional for departure upon expiration.

With more than three years left until the contract expiration, Chris Swift’s departure meant paying hefty penalties.

Yet Chris Swift had already prepared the money.

At that moment, Paige Sterling realized that Chris Swift had betrayed her.

They say people gravitate towards higher grounds while water seeks lower levels, yet Paige Sterling believed Penson had not mistreated Chris Swift.

Since he was a key person she cultivated, Paige Sterling wanted to persuade him to stay.

But Chris Swift was resolute, and seeing this, Paige Sterling let him go.

She had no reason to forcibly retain him.

Moreover, keeping someone whose heart wasn’t in Penson was not beneficial for Penson.

With Chris Swift’s departure, other lab members were somewhat concerned.

"President Sterling, Chris Swift possessed so much of Penson’s core research data. Aren’t you worried about his leaving?"

Paige Sterling was silent for a moment and then said, "What’s there to worry about?"

A monopoly isn’t a good thing.

Originally, Paige Sterling thought the process would take at least five years—by then, as contracts expired, Penson would inevitably experience an exodus because departing with Penson’s confidential talents, other companies would offer enticing conditions to win them over, there’d always be someone who couldn’t resist...

But now, after just over a year... someone had already left.

It was within Paige Sterling’s expectations; she had to leave some willing to work with her, and for those who weren’t, they could leave.

Seeing Paige Sterling’s broad perspective, other members became more concerned, "President Sterling, not just former confidential materials, but Chris Swift also participated in the new product development—if..."

The new product was yet to launch, and if Chris Swift refused to honor his commitment by selling the new product data to other companies, it’d be a significant loss for Penson.

"I know, but whether it’s a rainy day or a daughter getting married, I can’t stop it," Paige Sterling said. "If he truly can turn around and sell Penson’s data, it only means his departure is my blessing."

Others glanced at each other; they couldn’t be as optimistic as Paige Sterling.

What’s even more shocking was that Paige Sterling announced another decision, allowing anyone who wishes to leave Penson, as long as they move out of the island villa, pay the penalty and sign a confidentiality agreement, they could leave at any time.

This move was unexpected, and those loyal to Penson thought surely no one would be as foolish as Chris Swift to leave Penson.

However, reality showed that people were stepping forward.

When the first person successfully signed the contract and left, a second and third soon followed...

In the end, almost half the researchers left.

They left so decisively, clearly having already secured other opportunities.

Several veterans were furious, "How could you do this? Without President Sterling, would you be where you are today? How dare you betray President Sterling like this?"

When they first entered the lab, everyone was clueless, weren’t they?

What they learned in college was just basic knowledge, while the lab focused on developing what they had never touched before. To be blunt, without entering Penson, they’d never reach their current level in their lifetime.

Without Paige Sterling, they wouldn’t be who they are today; they were always planning to work with Paige Sterling for life.

Yet now so many were leaving Penson, something they hadn’t imagined.

Paige Sterling remained surprisingly calm about this.

Those leaving were somewhat ashamed, "

President Sterling, don’t blame us. We have families to support, and since others are offering better terms, we can only leave."

Paige Sterling nodded, indicating her understanding.