Chapter 178
Leaning against the car door, Melissa watched with a smirk as the commotion unfolded. “Quite the spectacle.
Garner’s face was a storm cloud of fury. The man causing a ruckus at the preschool gate was clearly looking for trouble.
“What the hell are you yelling about?” Garner strode over and grabbed the man by the collar from behind.
The man glanced at Gamer, his initial urge to explode in anger dampened by Gamer’s imposing stature. He shrank back a little, “I’m Summer’s dad. Where’s Kristin? She’s my girl. Before I went to the slammer, she was all mine. Now she’s out and dodging me?”
His voice was loud enough to turn heads. Parents picking up their kids reached for their phones, capturing the drama on video to share in group chats and social media feeds.
In no time, Kristin was back in the hot seat.
“Will
you shut your trap?” Garner was growing angry, wanting the man to be quiet, but with so many cameras pointed their way, he couldn’t resort to violence.
“You gonna hit me or what? I’m Kristin’s man. I took care of her before I went behind bars, and Summer’s my boy. Now look at her, climbing up Rhett’s high branches, thinking she can just ditch me.” The man shoved Garner aside, wailing at the top of his lungs.
“Bring out Kristin.”
“If Kristin doesn’t face me today, I’m not leaving.”
He was prepared, even bringing a banner that accused Kristin of abandoning him.
Melissa watched the hoodlum’s antics with meaningful eyes, then glanced at Garner, who was seething with anger but helpless against such a lout.
Indeed, the overly honest often fall prey to the shameless.
At FitzGerald Enterprises.
York walked in to find Neal’s resignation letter waiting for him. He was floored, “Mr. FitzGerald, how did Kristin pull this off? She’s a true wizard.”
“Look at this.” Rhett opened his email to find a wave of resignation letters from the project team. What did
this mean?
It was a show of defiance against Rhett.
“Has the project team lost their minds?” York was irate, “Mr. FitzGerald, what do we do? If we really let Neal go, won’t the loss be too great?”
“My group isn’t some revolving door.” Rhett leaned back in his chair, “Are the things Kristin asked you to prepare ready?”
“Yeah, got the dirt on the ring leaders,” York confirmed.
“Contact them privately. If they haven’t withdrawn their resignations by Tomorrow, they’re all fired.”
Rhett’s voice was a deep rumble.
“Mr. FitzGerald, how did Kristin manage it?” York was astounded by her savvy.
“Allow him to be arrogant before firing him. Undeserved positions coupled with insatiable greed. He thinks !
ed to butter him up right now, that the company can’t run without him, so he believes he can strong–arm me. Using his resignation as leverage, he wants me to cave to all his unreasonable demands,” Rhett
coffed.
Men either perish from greed or women.
Neal was caught by both.
Kristin knew human nature too well.
She met Neal’s every demand, even the absurd ones, except she used Neal’s mistress to rattle him.
Losing face in front of his mistress would surely upset him. If she stirred up trouble, Neal would be even more determined to prove himself.
Thinking that threatening to quit would make Rhett concede.
“Voluntary resignations save us a lot of trouble.”
Rhett spoke coolly, a hint of a smile on his lips.
This way, even if Holcomb made a fuss, it wouldn’t matter.
Neal was the one who wanted out, and what could Holcomb do?
York, still in awe, gave Rhett a thumbs–up, “Mr. FitzGerald, Kristin has been invaluable lately. If she hadn’t found out your computer was compromised, we’d have lost a fortune. We should really reward her.”
Rhett raised an eyebrow as if to say, “Do I need your approval?”
“Mr. FitzGerald, how about a bonus?” York was persistent, championing a reward for Kristin.
“Got nothing better to do?” Rhett was in no mood to chat.
“Mr. FitzGerald, don’t be so stingy. Kristin truly deserves it this time.” York kept babbling on, playing up his advocacy for Kristin, “Mr. FitzGerald, we should celebrate. If it’s inconvenient for you, I’ll take Kristin out for a lavish meal after work. Something fancy.”
As Kristin returned from HR, she overheard York’s offer. “No, there’s really no need.”
She still had to go home and cook dinner for Mr. FitzGerald.
“Of course, there is. You fought a good fight, and I must treat you. Forget about it. If Mr. FitzGerald is tight–fisted, I’ll give you my paycheck as a bonus.” York whispered to Kristin, patting her shoulder.
Kristin nervously looked at Rhett and stepped back, keeping her distance from York.
“Kristin, what do you feel like eating?” York was still eager.
“No need.” Kristin cautiously eyed Rhett, whose face was turning ominously dark.
“Come on, eat.” York was already pulling out his phone to make a reservation, “I know this amazing sushi spot. We’ll go after work.”
“Unfortunately, you won’t be off work.” Rhett tapped the desk, “You’ve got overtime.”
“Why is that?” York asked.
“Because I’ve just accepted Neal’s resignation. So tonight, you’ll likely be burning the midnight oil, rallying the rest of the project team,” Rhett said with casual indifference.
York’s face twitched, sensing Rhett’s devilish glee.
“Fine, we’ll celebrate another day.” York didn’t forget to console Kristin.
Kristin inhaled the crisp evening at her voice hushed, “Mr. Fitzgerald, how stout we throw Heat a farewel bach Tomorrow morning? The grander, the better*
York’s eyes widened in shock as he looked at Kristin, his thumb shooting up in approval ‘Clever as a for, impressive”
Rhett chuckled, “Yeah, that’s a pretty solid plan.”
The farewell party would be a grand send–off for Nest, a shot across the bow for Vincent and Nicola Hopefully, it would be a ‘gift‘ they’d appreciate.
While they rejoiced, the work weary York trudged off with a gloomy expression.
“Mr. FitzGerald, Kristin’s voice trembled slightly with fear, “Won’t Vincent and Nicola get desperate?”
“When rabid dogs leap over the fence, it’s only self–defense to put them down,” Rhett said with a meaningfut glance.
Kristin took a deep breath and nodded, “Our next target is Randall”
Rhett gazed at Kristin thoughtfully. She was playing the game with a steady hand.
He found Kristin increasingly smitten.
“Let’s go pick up Summer,” Rhett said as he shut down his computer and took Kristin’s hand, ready to leave the office.
“But Garner was supposed to pick up Summer today,” Kristin paused.
“Why not celebrate? We’ll take Summer out for dinner, then drop him off at Garner’s place,” Rhett raised an eyebrow playfully, “Celebrate our seamless teamwork?”
Kristin’s cheeks flushed, and she nodded. “Okay”
It might be premature to celebrate when the crisis was far from over and tensions were escalating, but Kristin wanted more. She longed for an evening with just Summer and Rhett, away from it all.
尚
Rheir’s phone buzzed with a call from the school, claiming som
the entrance. They said the troublemaker was claiming to be Summer’s dad, Kristiris
ge ruckus at the school? He just had a death wish.
FitzGerald, what’s the problem?” Kristin whispered, noticing Rhett’s grim expression.
Nothing Ill handle it. Rhett said curtly, parking the car in a spot right outside the preschool
Kristin peered out, bewildered at the crowd blocking the preschool entrance, “What’s going on today?”
“Somebody’s asking for trouble, Rhett muttered, smoothly slipping off his suit jacket and throwing it onto the car seat, then removed his watch in one fluid motion.
Kristin’s heart skipped a beat. Was he gearing up for a fight?
“Mr. FitzGerald.” She scrambled out of the car, attempting to intercept Rhett
“Where’s Kristin? I want to see Kristin.” The man kept bellowing.
“What’s all this?” Melissa approached, eyeing the commotion, “Do you know that man?”
Kristin shook her head, clueless, “Who is he?”
Melissa narrowed her eyes and stepped in front of Rhett. “You intend to make headlines by brawling in broad daylight, Mr. FitzGerald?”
Rhett’s face was a storm cloud of silence, and he clearly wasn’t in the mood to care about publicity now.
“I’ll take care of this.” Melissa gestured at Kristi, “Give me your coat.”
Still puzzled, Kristin complied after Rhett gave a nod.
Melissa pulled her hair back, disguising its length, and slipped into Kristin’s coat before pushing her way into the crowd, “Garner, what’s happening?”
