Bolton waved for the purchasing agent to leave, his face as black as a steam engine's chimney.
This was already the fourth purchasing agent to return from France, and every one of them had come back empty-handed—even when some had offered prices thirty times higher. "Damn the French!" Bolton snatched up the expensive gold-inlaid quill on the desk and snapped it in two. "They're all mad!" To this day, he firmly believed Frank's words: "Why wouldn't they make money if they have the chance?" Thus, madness was the only explanation he could find for the French Company's decision.
A knock from his assistant interrupted his tantrum. "General Manager, you still have to go to the Fund Management Committee for questioning this afternoon. There's less than an hour left."
Bolton's head immediately began to pound, but he had no choice but to get up and change clothes.
After his company received that 800,000-Pound investment, the Government Investment Fund became its largest shareholder with a 38% stake, while also becoming its largest creditor, holding 370,000 Pounds of the company's debt.
Although the Investment Fund did not interfere in operations, it had the authority to inquire into any matter concerning the company. With something this serious happening, they naturally could not remain unmoved.
Two in the afternoon.
Inside London City Hall, Sir Malik, Chairman of the Investment Fund Management Committee, stared coldly at Bolton. "So, before the company begins producing pressure gauges, there is no channel through which you can obtain this component?"
Bolton nodded helplessly.
Another Management Committee Member immediately pressed, "Then how long will it take you to make pressure gauges?"
"This..." Bolton lowered his head. "About... more than three months."
In truth, based on what he had learned from Watt, three months was simply not enough to complete the development