Chapter 107

Chapter 107

“Mrs. FitzGerald, you’re awake.”

At 7:30 in the morning, Kristin woke up. She sat up in a panic, her eyes darting around the

room.

Had Rhett brought her back

“Where’s Mr. FitzGerald?” Kristin whispered.

“He’s in the dining room,” the housekeeper smiled and replied.

Kristin hurried out of bed, quickly washed up, and dashed out. “I’m… I’m so sorry.”

“Breakfast is ready.” Rhett said flatly, his face revealing no emotion.

Kristin took her seat, head bowed, and noticed a Band–Aid on her finger where she had bitten. herself in nervousness.

“Mr. FitzGerald, about your collaboration in Capital City…” Kristin asked softly.

“This afternoon, no rush,” Rhett said, noticing how Kristin bit her lip when she was tense.

“I didn’t mean to trouble you,” Kristin said guiltily.

“Then stay away from James from now on,” Rhett put down his coffee cup, his voice detached.

Kristin couldn’t decipher Rhett, unsure if he was indeed angry. Before she could apologize again, Rhett spoke first. “Let’s eat.”

Tears rimmed Kristin’s eyes as she nodded.

Once Summer was stable, she’d leave as soon as possible. She couldn’t keep troubling Rhett.

After a silent breakfast, Kristin wanted to head to the office..

“This is for you.” Rhett pushed a new smartphone toward her.

“I’m so sorry…” she choked up. She had lost her phone again.

“Remember our arrangement. Since it’s a partnership, we should use each other. Next time. something happens, tell me first instead of taking matters into your own hands,” Rhett said calmly but firmly.

Kristin was frightened the night before, and Rhett hadn’t blamed her then.

But since they were both clear–headed, he needed to set things straight.

He knew James had designs on Kristin. She must have guessed as much. Since she had guessed it, she should have avoided him.

“I’m sorry…” Kristin gripped her fingers tightly.

She must have made Rhett dislike her. Indeed, she only ever seemed to be disliked.

Chapter

“It’s not that you did anything wrong. Harriet is your friend, and your concern was natural But next time, you should turn to me, not James.” Rhett stood and walked to the closet. “Come and help me pick a tie.”

Kristin sniffled and hurried over.

She compared the colors with Rhett’s suit and chose a matching tie. “How about this one?”

Rhett gave a nod of approval at his personal assistant’s taste. At least Kristin had chosen something that caught his eye at first glance.

“Can you tie a tie?” Rhett asked.

Kristin nodded, and her voice was soft. “I used to help Vincent…” She stopped mid–sentence, closing her mouth.

Standing on tiptoes, Kristin helped Rhett with his tie.

Perhaps it was the proximity, but Kristin could tell Rhett’s demeanor cooled considerably, and the noble countenance on his face visibly darkened.

“I’m sorry…” she apologized instinctively, realizing her slip.

“Let’s go to the office,” Rhett said sternly.

Kristin left, head bowed, feeling she had displeased him again.

Once Kristin was gone, Rhett furrowed his brow and massaged his temples.

Was it because he hadn’t been with women for years? Not only did he not mind Kristin’s closeness, but even…

When she reached up to tie his tie, he had actually…

With a clouded expression, Rhett left the house.

“Mr. FitzGerald, I like your choice of tie today,” York said, his eyes rimmed with dark circles, grinning foolishly.

Rhett’s face darkened even more than York’s eye bags, and he got into the car without a word.

York stood there, puzzled. Was Mr. FitzGerald in a bad mood?

“Mr. FitzGerald, Kristin has withdrawn her complaint, and Vincent’s been released. Mr. Holcomb took him home. He’ll probably lay low for a while,” York reported cautiously.

“When did Vincent and Kristin meet?” Rhett asked indifferently.

“Aren’t they famously childhood sweethearts? Grew up together as each other’s first love? Remember when Vincent went out in the rain to deliver homemade birthday chocolates to Kristin on her eighteenth birthday?”

York was oblivious to the brewing storm, chattering away. “How could a teenage girl not be swayed? That was the beautiful first love. I wonder what Vincent thinks now, turned love to

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hate?”

“You can shut up now,” Rhett said with his face grim.

York opened his mouth but then closed Il, confused. Wasn’t Rhett the one asking?

The tension in the car hung heavy for a long while before Rhett said, “Childish.”

“Huh?” York had nearly forgotten what he’d been talking about.

Who was childish? What was childish?

Kristin endured three days at the office amidst endless taunts and snide remarks, which she pretended not to hear.

“Kristin, your probation is over, but it doesn’t mean you can stay at the company,” Lisa called Kristin into the office, looking over the assessment form York had handed her. “Full marks, huh? York seems to think highly of you.”

Kristin looked up at Lisa in surprise, York had given her full marks?

She had thought York disliked her and wouldn’t rate her highly, but….

“People are saying she’s the parachuted–in type, probably has some messy relationship with York. I bet she’s a slut in bed,” Lisa’s assistant said with a sneer.

“You haven’t heard? She’s been through all the high society boys.”

Kristin stared at her employment offer, silent for a long while.

She wouldn’t care about their gossip if she couldn’t stay at the company. Now that she was Rhett’s assistant, these ongoing slanders against her could tarnish his reputation.

As the personal assistant, she couldn’t let her boss suffer the slightest harm.

“Were you there watching by the bedside when I had sex with them?” Kristin took a deep breath, lifted her head, and asked the other assistant.

The assistant was visibly shocked, stumped by Kristin’s question:

“Who doesn’t know what you are? A lot of people have slept with you. You are quite the talk of the town, a real piece of work. You stole twenty years of some heiress‘ life, didn’t you?”

Kristin picked up her employment offer letter and said hoarsely. “We’re colleagues here. By defaming me, you’re not just smearing my name but the company’s and yours. If you defame me without proof or alibi, I will sue you.”

“Want to sue now? I can help you with the evidence. I’ve screenshotted all lewd rumors they’ve spread in the chat group.” At the doorway. York leaned against the frame, his voice deep.

Lisa’s assistant panicked a bit, casting a fearful look at Lisa. “Lisa…”

“York, come on, we’re all colleagues, here. There’s no need for this,” Lisa said, getting up with a

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placating smile.

York remained silent, his gaze landing on Kristin.

“I have the right to sue,” Kristin stated, her voice still hoarse.

“Okay, I’ll help you report it. Spreading pornographic rumors and defamation is a serious offense with a chat group of over five hundred. That could lead to jail time.” York took out his phone, dialed the police, and stared at the assistant. “Spreading rumors can land you in prison, and you’ll come out labeled just like the ones you mock.”

York wasn’t one to meddle, but Mr. FitzGerald, for reasons unknown, had sent him to punish one as a warning to others on Kristin’s behalf.