Chapter 1866: Respecting Each Other
Roxanne, planning a weekend with her children, rushed to the research institute after Peregrine's call. A researcher had collapsed after working excessive overtime, likely suffering from myocarditis. Institute staff were administering first aid and had summoned an ambulance, but Roxanne, being closer, arrived first.
She quickly provided emergency treatment, restarting the researcher's heart, though they remained unconscious. Concerned about potential long-term effects, Roxanne used acupuncture, successfully waking the researcher before the ambulance arrived.
Recognizing the researcher as one of Peregrine's team, Roxanne reprimanded him, "Old Mr. Lomax, didn't I tell you to monitor their hours and prevent excessive overtime? This includes you. Don't overwork yourself. We're profitable now; the situation isn't desperate."
Peregrine apologized, admitting his oversight and accepting responsibility. Roxanne nodded, understanding the severity of myocarditis. She then instructed, "Let the researcher rest, but they'll receive their full salary, and their medical bills will be reimbursed. Also, we're holding a performance recognition event in a few days, splitting all cosmeceutical company profits."
Peregrine was surprised. While initial profits were modest, they'd sold two hundred thousand product sets in the second phase. "Aren't we deducting investment costs first?" he asked.
"No," Roxanne replied easily. "I started this company to treat them better. We can deduct investment costs later." She then instructed Linda, en route to the hospital, to care for the researcher.
Shortly after, Elektra arrived, anger evident on her face. "Roxanne, I heard you're splitting all profits. Did you even ask me?" Her indignation was palpable.
Roxanne, though admitting she hadn't consulted Elektra, felt no guilt. "Elektra, I know you'll mention the investment cost, but I had to do this. I need researchers to feel secure to develop better products."
Elektra understood but remained uneasy. "I understand, but you should have discussed it with me first." She worried about losing her authority. Roxanne, while the major shareholder, felt mutual respect was essential.
Smiling, Roxanne apologized, promising to consult her next time. She'd already discussed it with Lucian, who advised against the typical investor practice of taking the lion's share of early profits. He explained that for the wealthy, a good investment was paramount, not the money itself, and that "capital risk" was often a rhetorical device, easily shifted onto others in case of failure.