Chapter 130
“Rhett, I heard Nicola and Vincent rolled into Harborside Haven ahead of time,” Hertha said with a sigh, a look of worry etched on her face for Rhett. “Eddie mentioned something about their assistant dropping off a gift worth three million. I know you don’t want to lose this project to Vincent, after all… Kris, what did you get for Eddie?”
Hertha was fishing for a laugh at Kristin’s expense.
If Kristin’s gift was less impressive than what Nicola and Vincent had lined up for Eddie, she was sure to be
the butt of the joke.
“Uh… king crab,” Kristin muttered under her breath.
“What?” Hertha thought Kristin might go for something modest, but king crab? She must have misheard.
“King crab…” Kristin repeated, a bit louder.
Hertha couldn’t help but cover her mouth to stifle a laugh. “Kris, are you serious?”
After mocking Kristin, Hertha quickly looked at Rhett. “Rhett, king crab is hardly an adequate. gift. We can’t be outdone by Vincent. Luckily, I had the foresight to prepare something else. We would’ve been the laughingstock.”
Pretending to be relieved, Hertha gave Kristin a reproachful look. “Kris, next time you’re picking out a gift, ask me for help, okay?”
Kristin lowered her head, silent.
Kristin felt that, given Eddie’s wealth, the price tag wouldn’t matter to him. She had intentionally put thought into choosing the king crab.
“Kristin’s choice of king crab is quite valuable,” Rhett said with a stern voice, clearly displeased. “Really? How much for a crab?” Hertha asked with a grin, eager to hear how much Rhett valued the crustacean.
“Three hundred a piece,” Kristin barely managed to look up at Rhett.
Hertha thought this was the funniest thing she’d heard all day and let out another laugh. “Kris, you’re just too adorable.”
“Do you think Eddie cares how much something costs? A billionaire like him? It’s not about the cash value but about the sentiment,” Rhett cautioned Hertha, warning her not to mock Kristin further.
Hertha’s smile dimmed as she turned to greet Eddie, who was coming out of the hotel..
“You’ve been rather poor company today. You’re docked a day’s pay,” Rhett ‘threatened‘ Kristin, seizing the moment.
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Didn’t Kristin see Hertha had been all but draped over him a moment ago?
Feeling wronged, Kristin asked quietly. “Mr. FitzGerald, since when are you allergic to women?*
That wasn’t covered in the training except that Rhett had severe germophobia.
“Before boarding the plane,” Rhett replied in a low voice, huffing and heading toward Eddie.
Kristin stood frozen. Since before boarding the plane, he developed an allergy to women?
“Sorry for dropping in unannounced,” Rhett said as he approached Eddie, shaking his hand.
Eddie, giving Rhett due respect, came to the hotel personally. “Nonsense, I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”
As the two exchanged pleasantries, they began complimenting Hertha. “She contacted me a month in advance and insisted I clear my schedule. My whole day is yours, lovebirds.”
Eddie was obviously alluding to the news online. After all, the FitzGerald family had already welcomed Hertha as the future daughter–in–law.
“You’re too kind. Hertha has been quite diligent. She’s like a sister to me. If she ever marries, I’ll ensure a generous gift,” Rhett spoke courteously.
Eddie was taken aback, casting a surprised glance at Hertha. A sister?
Hadn’t Holcomb announced a union between the two families? Had Rhett not approved?
Interesting.
“Hertha is a fine young woman and I admired her back in college,” Eddie laughed, shifting the topic.
Hertha’s expression turned sour and her fingers clenched tightly.
“Sorry for the haste of this visit without grand presents. Kristin arranged for the king crab to be sent in advance. Did your mother receive them? Were they to her satisfaction?” Rhett asked casually, his demeanor as cool as ever.
At Rhett’s call, Kristin came over, visibly flustered. “Eddie, it’s been a while.”
Eddie paused, the mirth in his eyes freezing over, then turning to shock. “Kristin?”
Kristin smiled awkwardly.
Hertha was also stunned. “Eddie, do you know Kristin?” she asked.
“Kris and I went to the same school, she’s a financial whizz kid. She joined our department with top marks. As the student council president, I welcomed her personally,” Eddie said, clearly surprised. “What a coincidence that Kris is now with Mr. FitzGerald…”
Rhett narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at Kristin with a deep intent. She always managed to surprise him. “My assistant.”
*To think our department’s genius is now an assistant, only Mr. FitzGerald could manage that,”
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Eddie said, his laughter hearty, his guard down around Rhett. “Kris, how much is Rhett paying you? I’ll double it, what do you say?”
Kristin stayed quiet, her head down.
Eddie had been abroad for the latter half of his senior year and had only recently come back to take over the family business. He probably didn’t know what Kristin had been through.
The two years she knew Eddie were her most glorious times.
“Trying to poach my assistant? I’ll have to make an effort to keep her,” Rhett said with a smile, clearly laying claim.
Eddie caught the subtext in his words and glanced at Hertha, then at Kristin without another word.
Both were seasoned players in the business world, and they understood each other perfectly.
“So it was Kris who picked out those crab legs, no wonder my mom was over the moon about them. She kept raving that getting such quality crabs this season really showed someone cared,” Eddie remarked with a bright smile, looking for an excuse to chat with Kristin.
Hertha, who had asked Eddie out under the pretense of being an old friend, was feeling. increasingly uncomfortable on the sidelines.
With a look of quiet resentment, Hertha flickered her gaze towards Kristin, sensing a threat in every possible way.
Born into the Haywood family, Hertha had always been too proud. She couldn’t stand anyone outshining her, especially not another woman potentially taking what she deemed hers.
“Mr. FitzGerald, would you mind terribly if I borrowed Kris for a ride? We haven’t caught up in what, six or seven years? I’m just thrilled to see her today,” Eddie suggested, inviting Kristin to leave with him.
Hertha managed a smile. “Of course, that’s fine. I’m sure Kris must be dying to catch up with you.“”
With Eddie putting it that way, Rhett couldn’t very well snub him without causing offense.
Hertha was rather pleased. At least she could sideline Kristin, who she viewed as a burden.
Alone with Rhett, Hertha felt assured of her special place in his regard.
Without Kristin’s presence, Rhett had shown remorse for past events and had promised to take responsibility, even offering to support the Haywood family in business matters.
“Rhett, what do you think?” asked Hertha, smiling as she turned to him, while Rhett appeared visibly tense.
Eddie and Kristin waited for Rhett’s response.
“Mr. FitzGerald, I indeed have much to catch up on with Eddie.” Kristin said, sensing the
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awkwardness and volunteering to ride with Eddie.
Rhett darkened his expression and shot Kristin a covert glare, thinking that maybe docking a day’s pay was too lenient a punishment for stirring up such trouble.
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