Chapter 99


    Lisa sure wouldn’t have guessed that Kristin and Rhett were living together, and she’d bet her bottom


    dor she had no clue that Rhett had spilled the beans about his habits and no–nos to


    Kristin.


    Lisa told Kristin was half–true, half–fake. Even York wasn’t in the loop on some of it.


    Even if things hit the fan, the worst that could happen to Kristin would be getting the stink eye and the


    boot from Rhett. It wouldn’te back to bite her.


    The coffee thing was legit. Rhett was a sucker for a straight cup of coffee in the morning.


    Prepping sugar was a habit picked up from previous assistants, but peanut candy was a no–go due to


    Rhett’s peanut allergy.


    As for Rhett hating body odor on assistants, that was the real McCoy because Rhett was a bit of a


    clean freak, but he hated the smell of perfume on women even more.


    Kristin was all ears, nodding earnestly. “Got it. I’ll be on my toes.”


    “Alright, the training folks will show you the ropester. Hit the books hard, and you’re on dutye


    Wednesday,” Lisa said, ncing at the clock and gesturing for Kristin to head out.


    Kristin stood up, left the office, and kept the recording safe.


    It was always good to have an ace up your sleeve.


    Taking a deep breath, Kristin followed the trainer to their office.


    The FitzGerald Group wasn’t as easy–peasy as she thought. Nic and Vincent must have been up to


    some sneaky stuff over the years.


    1


    Smart as a whip, Rhett wasn’t one for sweating the small stuff, and his style wasn’t exactly cozying up


    to the rank and file, which usually meant suffering some losses.


    Kristin mulled it over, propping her head up, thinking that the HR manager’s role was critical. With the


    company’s blood getting fresh faces fast, if the HR manager swapped out seemingly unimportant but


    crucial positions with Nic and Vincent’s people, it would cause Rhett


    trouble.


    Kristin had been studying business management at Silvergrove University, and even though she had to


    drop out in her sophomore year, she was the top dog from Silvergrove City who got into Silvergrove


    University.


    It was only after Kristin had left the HR manager’s office that Lisa pulled up her file to take a


    look.


    Her face darkened, and she buzzed HR. “Come here a sec.”


    Kristin, a gal with only a high school diploma, being Mr. FitzGerald’s assistant? What a joket What was


    going on in that noggin of York’s?


    “You go find York. See what’s up with him. He sticks a high school graduate in here with us? Is he


    looking to make The FitzGerald Group theughingstock? Lisa was scheming to kick Kristin out swiftly.


    And she would do it by ying the education card.


    To get into The FitzGerald Group, one would at least need a degree from a prestigious university like


    Harvard or Princeton. The bar was high, and many hotshots falled even to get a


    This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    foot in the door,


    Kristin, with her high school diploma and a checkered past,plete with a criminal record to boot…


    What a joke!


    Kristin wouldn’tst a day if the rest of thepany got wind of this, and she would freak out from the


    digs and Jeers.


    Business was all about cutthroatpetition, everyone Jockeying for positions, and the one with the


    least clout was always the prime target.


    She looked to see if Kristin could handle the heat.


    “A high school diploma? No way.” The recruitment staffer barged in, shocked. “An assistant. with a high


    school diploma for Mr. FitzGerald


    Who’s got the guts? Got a death wish?”


    “Not just a diploma. She’s got a rap sheet, too,” Lisa knew the HR folks were the grapevine, and she


    was spreading the word.


    Anybody could be Mr. FitzGerald’s assistant, which would tick people off.


    “A rap sheet!” The recruitment staffer gasped. “Where is she? Kick her out. What’s she still doing here?


    Waiting for us to get canned? Lisa, this is no joke.”


    “It’s York’s pick. Go ask him,” Lisa yed it safe.


    She had been with The FitzGerald Group for twenty years, a veteran in the HR Department for over a


    decade, and she didn’t get to her position by chance. She wasn’t at all fazed by a small fry like Kristin.


    But Nic seemed to have a bee in her bo about Kristin, blowing up her phone with messages,


    urging her to make Kristin walk the nk from The FitzGerald Group ASAP.


    Kristin was in the office, taking notes on everything the trainer said.


    “You’ve got an assessment the day after tomorrow. Pass that, and you’re on the job. Since it’s for Mr.


    FitzGerald, we’re ying it safe. Give it your all,” the instructor emphasized.


    Kristin nodded; she wasn’t sweating it.


    For someone who used to have an almost photographic memory, even after five years behind bars and


    multiple CT treatments, learning was still second nature.


    Besides, being an assistant was just the basics.


    What worried Kristin was the HR manager leading her astray on purpose, aiming to mess up and get


    canned.


    She had no beef with Lisa, so this sudden target on her back could only mean one thing. It was Nic.


    Someone wanted her out on her ear.


    It wouldn’t be a cakewalk if she wanted to stick around.


    When she left in the morning, Rhett had deliberately mentioned some habits and taboos. probably to


    remind her not to get yed.


    Rhett was very astute; he’d sensed that Kristin would face challenges in thepany. Nevertheless,


    he allowed her to join.


    He was watching, sizing her up as a potential ally.


    Kristin didn’t need to deal with the likes of Lisa. She needed to do something to catch Rhett’s


    eye.


    That was kind of like her debut performance at thepany.


    In the CEO’s office, York walked in with a coffee, whispering, “Mr. FitzGerald, just as you predicted, the


    recruitment staffer came knocking about Kristin. She only has a high school diploma and some past


    run–ins with thew.”


    He nced at his phone and saw the news had already spread like wildfire in thepany chat group,


    and everyone was freaking out. “See, it’s all over thepany now. Kristin will have a tough time


    sticking around, being all meek and mild. What can she do?”


    In York’s view, Kristin was more like a decorative piece, appealing but coddled – she showed no real


    aptitude.


    Rhett leaned back in his chair, lost in thought.


    “Mr. FitzGerald, with the k she’s getting, she could drown in spit. She’s so prone to thinking about


    offing herself. How’s she going to handle this kind of pressure?” York was practically in fantasnd.


    “What if she manages to stay and even takes care of the ticking time bomb in the HR Department?”


    Rhett said meaningfully.


    “Mr. FitzGerald, you’re dreaming…” York almost burst outughing, touching his nose cautiously.


    “You’re giving Kristin way too much credit.”


    As Rhett’s assistant, he had to watch everything happening in thepany, ready to nip any issue in


    the bud for Rhett.


    12:51


    Chapter 99


    Kristin? As it!


    He hadn’t managed to shake the HR manager in all these years, so how was someone as frail as


    Kristin supposed to handle Lisa, a sly fox with eons of experience?


    “Let’s make a bet then. If you lose, you’re her errand boy for three months. Noints. Just hard


    work.” Rhett was in a surprisingly good mood.


    Yorkughed, believing Rhett would lose. It wasn’t that he looked down on Kristin, but anyone would.


    “The best hunters often disguise themselves as their prey.” Rhett didn’t share that view.


    Kristin had managed to be his contract ‘wife,‘ and he had seen something in her beyond being


    easy to control.


    He hoped she wouldn’t let him down.