The Cherished Wife



"Father, do you really think I'm that bad?"

Charles's voice was laid-back but had an edge that made Mateo stop in his tracks. Then, with a chuckle and a twinkle in his eye, Mateo said, "I guess I worried too much."

Charles knew his stuff. His dad should know he would not give someone like her the time of day, which put Mateo at ease. "Alright, back to the grind for you. I'm off."

"Take it easy, Dad!" After waving Mateo off, Charles hit the intercom and told Becky, "Get J a spot in the secretarial pool for some busywork, okay? Keep her out of the loop on the hush-hush stuff and away from me."

That was as far as Charles would bend. "Everyone, just keep going with your own stuff. Don't mind her."

"Got it, Mr. Hoffman!" Becky now had the playbook for handling J, the newcomer with connections.

Becky headed straight for J and found her downstairs in the cafeteria, ordering the staff around for snacks. Becky's opinion of J slipped a few more notches, but she was practically royalty, so Becky bit her tongue.

"Ms. Baker, Mr. Hoffman has set up a job for you."Property © NôvelDrama.Org.

J's mood was already sour, and after a stroll downstairs, she had cooked up a storm in her head. pa

When Becky approached with her comments, J realized Charles was not going to kick her out, and she could not help but puff up with pride. "Yeah? Got it."

Becky noticed J was not budging and squinted at her. "Ms. Baker, we're on the clock here."

"What's the big hurry? Can't you see I'm waiting for some pastries? Charles probably skipped breakfast, and I'm planning to take some up to him!"

"Ms. Baker!" Becky tried to keep her cool, but her face showed clear annoyance with J. "We're on the clock, and you haven't even started your tasks. Besides, you're just

employee here at Colossus G

you don't get to tell the catering staff what to do." Becky's words hit a nerve, and J snapped back with a scowl, "Who do you think you are to talk to me like that?"

"I'm a fellow human, obviously," Becky responded calmly. Her time with Charles had rubbed off on her, giving her a hint of his commanding presence. "But Ms. Baker, you're under me now. Are you sure you want to keep talking to me this way?"

"You, you... Who do you think you are? I'll have you know I'm here at Colossus Group for Charles, and nobody but Charles gets to tell me what to do. You're just a secretary; what gives you the right to order me around?"

"I think you're still a little confused about where you stand. Welcome to Collosus Group, where you're not some princess, you're one of us-a Collosus employee. As the secretary on the twenty-seventh floor, you answer to me. I'm the Head Secretary!" Becky flashed her badge with a flourish. "I didn't get to where I am now by being a pushover. If you doubt that, go ahead and test the waters. See if Mr. Hoffman would rather fire me or you."

With that, Becky spun on her heel and strode off, leaving J clutching her paper cup, fuming at Becky's audacity. Then it hit her-Becky was the only one, aside from Ronald, who had direct access to Charles. Maybe she did have the clout she claimed.