Chapter 68
I made two breakfasts, started the robot cleaner, and put dirty clothes in the washer dryer. I eat in the living rooms reading, waiting for Kaleb to wake up, wanting to thank him. Time passed slowly. Just after eight, the phone rang 1 glanced at it; it was Giana.
I answered softly, “Good morning. Giana.”
Giana sounded tense, Katrina, come back fast, something’s wrong at the institute.”
I panicked, hung up, and grabbed my bag to leave. A ten–minute walk took me five minutes. I stood breathless at the Drug Development Institute. Giana was escorting two firefighters, holding a form that listed items needing improvement. “Sorry, we’ll make changes and be more careful next time.”
After they left, Giana sighed and gave me the form. “Luckily, it’s minor; some adjustments will fix it.”
I looked at the form. “It’s just a fire inspection. Why did you say ‘something’s wrong? You scared me.” Giana let out a frustrated snort, exhaled, and suppressed her anger. The fire safety issue isn’t a big deal, we just need to move the clutter from the fire exits. But before the fire inspection, the industry and commerce people came. Our finance team is at the tax bureau for a tax check. The most annoying thing is, there’s a group inside the office who have been causing trouble non–stop.”
My heart sank, and feeling pressured, I asked, “What group?”
Giana gritted her teeth. “The Animal Protection Association.”
This organization seemed official but not really. I felt mentally exhausted and restless. “Why did they come here?” Giana took a deep breath. “I want to know too. I argued with them. Luckily, the fire department came, or it could have been worse. Now the sales staff is handling them. Our experimental animals have proper documents and approvals. They accuse us of cruelty and want us to release all but the white mice, threatening to sue.”
Giana was so angry her face turned livid. She paced in front of me, unable to calm down, then asked, “Did you offend someone?”
- Chapter
Chapter 69
