"Did you hear? Roseanne's team opted to set up their own lab off-campus 'cause their spot on school grounds got flagged for a fire code overhaul?" The phrase "fire code overhaul" had Babur's heart skipping a beat.
Edna, trailing behind him, felt a chill run down her spine.
Slater, along with Sybil and Hertha, suddenly clammed up, not daring to utter a word.
Gritting his teeth, Babur managed, "Yeah, there's... there's some truth to that..."
"Is there more to the story, then?"
"Well, that's..." Babur's eyes darted around nervously, "I'm not entirely up to speed. Need to dig a bit deeper into the specifics..."
"Not up to speed? As the Deputy Dean of the Life Sciences Department, you're telling me you're clueless about the only lab in the department being ordered to make changes? Who was liaising with the city's fire department? Who approved the modification plans? Was everyone properly informed? How was it explained to those involved... Aren't these tasks you should be overseeing and ensuring they're completed?"
With each question Sinclair Nelson threw at him, Babur's head sank lower.
By the end, he was practically bowing in apology.
Hancock, always one for drama, chimed in: "Looks like Director White's got more going on here, huh?"
Sinclair's
s gaze hardened, "If there's more to it, I expect a written explanation on my desk. And Ms. Payne will want an explanation too, considering her student got kicked out and had to fork out her own cash to build a lab."
"People outside the loop might praise our Kingswell University students for their initiative, but those in the know will wonder how the country's top institution can't even provide a lab space for its students!"
"The Life Sciences Department has been living off government and university funds for years with little to show for it, lurching from one mishap to another. Seems like some have gotten too comfortable, rotting from the roots up."
As Sinclair Nelson walked away, Babur was drenched in cold sweat, barely able to stand straight.
"Director White..." Edna began cautiously.
But Babur whipped around, glaring at her fiercely: "Idiots! Idiots!
Who told you to trip up Roseanne, leaving her without a lab?!"
"After the CPRT fiasco, we've been e through this once already. You dared to pull the same stunt with the fire inspection? Where do you get the nerve?!"
Edna was shell-shocked by the outburst.
By the time she gathered her wits, realizing her students had overheard everything, she was mortified.noveldrama
But more pressing concerns were at hand-
"What did the principal mean by all that? Has he caught onto something? Did Madeleine snitch?!"
She was frantic, seeking some reassurance from Babur.
But Babur was too preoccupied with his own worries to offer any comfort.
"What do you think?! The mess you've made was bound to surface!"
His offhand remark nearly sent Edna into a panic.
No... she couldn't just sit back and do nothing!
Suddenly, an idea struck her. She turned
was and put on a smile, walking over-
os kon o ewards where Roseanne et
swno
"Ms. Cole's quite the go-getter, huh? Setting up a lab just like that! it pass all the necessary
inspections?" Content belove
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