CHAPTER 69: CHAPTER 69: OPEN PLUNDER

Serena Holloway was both angry and anxious: "Boss, you need to get here fast! When I arrived at the company this morning, I saw that they had opened a new Research and Development Department 2 across from us! Cindy Lynn has become the manager of Research and Development Department 2, and she’s not only poaching people from our R&D, but she’s also trying to take our lab equipment!"

Tanya Sinclair’s expression subtly changed, and she said in a low voice, "I’ll be there in five minutes."

Tanya hurried back to the R&D department, and as soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she saw that the previously vacant office opposite had been cleared out and a sign for Research and Development Department 2 had been hung up. A group of employees was busy moving things in.

Among them, a few employees by the window noticed Tanya but guiltily averted their eyes as if they hadn’t seen her.

Tanya’s eyes turned slightly cold.

Vincent Hawthorne truly favored Cindy Lynn to the extreme; overnight, he had already set up Department 2 for her.

Tanya withdrew her gaze and walked towards the lab. Before reaching the door, she first heard Nina Leslie’s arrogant and harsh voice.

"Serena Holloway, you really are a good dog by Tanya Sinclair’s side! Do you think you alone can stop us? Move aside, our two departments are sharing the lab now! It’s just you two hogging all this equipment; what is Department 2 supposed to use?"

Serena’s eyes were red with anger.

"You’re going too far. You know our boss is working on a very important project right now. If you take the equipment away, what are we supposed to use for our research?" Serena clung tightly to the doorframe, her small frame contrasted by Nina, who was accompanied by several security guards.

Nina looked disdainful, "What are you waiting for, drag her away!"

Just as two security guards were about to move forward, a woman’s cool and stern voice rang out abruptly.

"Stop!"

Nina looked back at the approaching Tanya Sinclair, her face still faintly stinging from the slap.

Meeting Tanya’s sharp gaze, Nina felt a shiver run down her spine.

As if afraid of getting hit again, she retreated several steps and hid behind the security guards.

"Manager Sinclair, it’s President Hawthorne’s orders. Don’t make things difficult for us workers," Nina peeked out from behind a guard, sarcastically adding, "Ah yes, President Hawthorne really does take special care of our Cindy!"

Vincent Hawthorne’s orders?

Tanya coldly questioned, "Did President Hawthorne instruct you to move my lab equipment?"

"Of course!" Nina replied confidently.

Tanya didn’t believe it.

Not because she thought Vincent Hawthorne had any deep affection for her or would go out of his way to protect her, but because the current project she was working on was Vincent’s biggest collaboration card with Westgard Pharmaceuticals!

She figured Vincent wouldn’t be so foolishly indulgent towards Cindy Lynn to this extent.

"Nina, what’s going on?" Cindy Lynn approached with a composed and radiant appearance.

Tanya’s eyes slightly narrowed, cold and sarcastic.

It seems last night, Vincent took good ’care’ of her.

"Manager Lynn, you’re just in time!" Nina deliberately emphasized "Manager Lynn," casting a triumphant glance at Tanya.

Now, Cindy and Tanya were equals!

"Manager Lynn, this Manager Sinclair won’t let us move the lab equipment! Some people treat company assets like their own!" Nina complained in a singsong voice.

"Stop talking nonsense!"

Serena was so furious she wanted to hit her.

Cindy looked at Tanya with a helpless expression, "Ms. Tanya, it’s indeed President Hawthorne’s decision. The equipment for our Department 2 is still being procured, so we’re temporarily using yours. But rest assured, I’ll return them in two weeks."

Two weeks...

Vincent had originally given her a deadline of one week; by two weeks, it would be too late.

"What if I say no?" Tanya showed no sign of yielding.

"Cindy, don’t waste time talking to her!"

Nina was about to call the security guards to act when Cindy cast a reproachful look at her.

"Nina, Ms. Tanya is after all Mrs. Hawthorne. You should show some respect." Cindy mildly chided.

Tanya watched the two of them play their act with a blank expression.

She took out her phone, "I’ll call Vincent Hawthorne and hear it directly from him."

Cindy smiled, "Feel free, Ms. Tanya."

At this point, quite a few employees who had gone to Department 2 had returned to watch the spectacle, all eyes on Tanya making the call, each harboring personal thoughts.

Apart from watching the drama, they also wanted to see what President Hawthorne’s attitude toward his legitimate wife was.

Though Cindy Lynn had been favored by President Hawthorne for years, she was ultimately just a secretary, while Tanya was legally protected, the legitimate Mrs. Hawthorne.

If Tanya still held some place in President Hawthorne’s heart, they would need to reconsider which side to take between Tanya and Cindy...

Tanya dialed Vincent Hawthorne’s number, and a profound silence followed as everyone listened to the ringing, repeating again and again.

However, after a full minute, Vincent Hawthorne still hadn’t answered.

Finally, a cold automated voice came through.

’The number you have dialed is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later...’

Nina snickered, "Oh my, Manager Sinclair, why isn’t President Hawthorne even answering his wife’s call?"

"Nina, stop talking nonsense," Cindy Lynn’s lips curved slightly as she thoughtfully offered Tanya a way out, "Ms. Tanya, President Hawthorne is probably just busy and didn’t hear. Let me try calling him!"

After speaking, Cindy pulled out her phone from her bag, dialed Vincent’s number, and placed it to her ear, waiting for him to pick up.

Everyone held their breath, even Tanya looked over.

Unconsciously, she tightened her grip on her phone.

She didn’t have high expectations for Vincent, but she thought, after seven years of marriage, at least at the company, he wouldn’t disgrace her so.

But in the next second, a familiar, rich male voice sounded from Cindy’s phone.

"What’s the matter, Cindy?"

"..."

Tanya closed her eyes in heartbreak.

Three seconds.

It only took Cindy three seconds to get through to him...

Nina’s eyes brimmed with smugness, flaunting her power like a dog backed by its master’s authority.

The other employees gathered to watch understood the situation clearly in their hearts.

The double standard from President Hawthorne was too blatant!

Clearly, Tanya as ’Mrs. Hawthorne’ held a much lower position in his heart compared to Cindy Lynn!

It seems they hadn’t chosen the wrong side by supporting Cindy Lynn, and before long, Tanya would be swept away!

"President Hawthorne, here’s the situation." Cindy deliberately turned on the speaker, bringing the phone closer to Tanya so she could hear clearly, "This morning in the car, I consulted with you about temporarily borrowing the lab equipment for Department 2, but Ms. Tanya seems to doubt my words and wants to hear it directly from you."

In the car this morning... those few words clearly told everyone she had arrived in Vincent’s car!

There was a moment of silence over the phone, and when Vincent spoke again, a hint of impatience and coldness seeped through his usually gentle voice.

"Such a trivial matter, do I really need to issue a special notice?"