Chapter 99
Lisa sure wouldn’t have guessed that Kristin and Rhett were living together, and she’d bet her bottom dollar 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’t come 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 ropes later. Hit the books hard, and you’re on duty come Wednesday,” Lisa said, glancing 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. Nicola 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 Nicola 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 the laughingstock? Lisa was scheming to kick Kristin out swiftly. And she would do it by playing 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
foot in the door,
Kristin, with her high school diploma and a checkered past, complete with a criminal record to boot… What a joke!
Kristin wouldn’t last a day if the rest of the company got wind of this, and she would freak out from the digs and Jeers.
Business was all about cutthroat competition, 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 played 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 Nicola seemed to have a bee in her bonnet about Kristin, blowing up her phone with messages, urging her to make Kristin walk the plank 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 playing 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 Nicola.
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 played.
Rhett was very astute; he’d sensed that Kristin would face challenges in the company. 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 the company.
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 the law.”
He glanced at his phone and saw the news had already spread like wildfire in the company chat group, and everyone was freaking out. “See, it’s all over the company 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 flak 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 fantasyland.
“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 out laughing, touching his nose cautiously. “You’re giving Kristin way too much credit.”
As Rhett’s assistant, he had to watch everything happening in the company, ready to nip any issue in the bud for Rhett.
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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. No complaints. Just hard work.” Rhett was in a surprisingly good mood.
York laughed, 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 become his contract ‘wife,‘ and he had seen something in her beyond being easy to control.
He hoped she wouldn’t let him down.
