Chapter 649


    Patrick furrowed his brow as he noticed the shift in thepany’s staff–from their initial coldness to a


    growing eptance of her, and now, to outright praise. It unsettled him.


    Max’s phone rang shortly after. It was a call from his former mentor at Harvard, who mentioned the new


    secretary. She was the professor’s goddaughter, Annie.


    Max had been well–looked after by the professor during his time at Harvard, so he didn’t decline the


    implied request. Max had thought Michael’s move to be a minor y, but it turned out to be a significant


    one–Annie was his professor’s goddaughter.


    Rubbing his temples, Max recognized this as a hot potato he didn’t want to handle.


    Annie knocked and entered, cing the documents on the desk. “Hello.”


    There was a respectful tone in her voice, her gaze demure, “These are from my godfather. I just got


    back to the States this morning and have already met with Michael. I didn’t expect to be ced here,


    but it came up in conversation with my godfather.”


    Her tone was casual, her every move exuding the essence of Brielle.


    Max tapped his fingers lightly on the desk, not responding. Initially, he had intended to assign Annie


    some minor tasks to keep her away from his office. However, the professor requested that Max allow


    Annie to gain experience under him as she intended to teach at Harvard and take over his position.


    She hadpleted her Master’s degree, and this was her first doctoral project–a test of her abilities.


    Max pieced together Annie’s background between the lines of the professor’s words. She had been


    abandoned by her parents as a child, and was taken in by the professor. He had supported her


    education and living expenses all the way to university. He had not only adopted her as his daughter


    but had also made her his protégée.


    Neither spoke for a moment.


    “You don’t need to feel pressured,” Annie finally said. “My godfather sent me to learn from you and to


    complete my doctoral project. If it inconveniences you, I’ll let him know myself.”


    “It won’t be a hassle. Your workstation is outside. If you have any questions, feel free to ask others.”


    Max’s face remained expressionless, his demeanor cool and detached.


    Annie paused, then nodded, “Thank you.” With that, she turned and left.


    Patrick walked in just as she exited, their shoulders nearly brushing. The resemnce–her featurés,


    poise, and aura–were too simr to Ms. Brielle’s.


    Shutting the office door behind him, Patrick approached Max, shuffling through some files, hesitating to


    speak. “Mr. Dorsey, do you think we should tell Ms. Brielle about this?”


    1/2


    Annie’s arrival was too coincidental. Michael’s directive, coupled with the personal entreaty from Max’s


    former Harvard mentor, meant that Max couldn’t simply send Annie away on some pretext.


    “No need.” Max didn’t see the need to discuss such matters. There was only one Brielle.


    Brielle had nned to visit Aubree today. She was passing by Dorsey International and hadn’t intended


    to go in, but a message from a former colleague caught her attention.


    (One Sydney was reced by another, even more high–profile Sydney–Ms. Haywood, when are you


    coming back?]


    A higher–profile Sydney? Brielle’s brow creased, and then she received a photo from her colleague.


    The woman in the photo was backlit, her face obscured. If Brielle didn’t know better, she’d think it was a


    candid shot of herself.


    [She has already cozied up to the top brass, sharingughs with Patrick. Apparently, she’s the


    goddaughter of Mr. Dorsey’s mentor from Harvard. Her tactics are something else. The execs can’t


    stop singing her praises.]


    No woman liked to see someone who looked like her near her boyfriend.


    Brielle felt her premonition hade true. Michael had indeed prepared a major y. It wasn’t an


    immediate assault on her rtionship with Max but a more subtle approach. But if she reacted now,


    rushing to Dorsey International to investigate, she’d be conceding defeat without a fight.


    Brielle guessed that Michael had deliberately ced this woman in Dorsey International, likely having


    already made arrangements with Alivia. After all, Alivia was the Dorsey family’s favored daughter–in–


    law candidate. Michael had promised Alivia benefits before. and likely offered more this time to keep


    her happy.


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    Alivia had to do nothing now but sweetly ept Michael’s ns, curry favor with Martha, and watch as


    Brielle and Annie battled it out. If Brielle and Max’s rtionship suffered because of Annie, Alivia would


    reap the benefits of their strife.


    Brielle’s rational mind prevailed, but she couldn’t help feeling a surge of irritation.