Chapter 172

Kristin had just stepped In the CEO’s office when she noticed a steaming cup of hot chocolate on the desk..

York, is this for me?” Kristin asked with surprise, her eyes lighting up at the unexpected treat.

“Yeah.” York nodded, a grin spreading across his face.

“Aw, thanks!” Kristin beamed, and her appreciation was genuine.

“Don’t mention it. I lost a bet, and now, I’m your errand boy for three months.” York waved her thanks away casually, not mentioning that it was Rhett’s idea.

He had done the deed, and he was taking the credit.

“Don’t sweat it,” Kristin

about it in a few days.plied quickly, lowering her voice. “Mr. FitzGerald will forget all

“My hearing is just fine. Thank you very much,” came Rhett’s voice from his desk, where he was tapping away at his keyboard.

Kristin suppressed a giggle, sipping the hot chocolate. It was sweet as if someone had added just a hint of sugar, not too much, just perfect.

“Mr. FitzGerald asked me to get you a hot chocolate with little sugar. He thought you might like it,” York admitted under Rhett’s intense gaze, finally revealing the truth behind the thoughtful gesture.

Feeling overwhelmed by the attention, Kristin glanced at Rhett and murmured a shy “Thank you.”

“I’ve got a meeting. Send the SandStone Project files to my computer and ensure it’s encrypted,” Rhett instructed before standing up.

Kristin hesitated, knowing the task was usually for Rhett’s secretary

Rhett had been sidelining Randall for some time, and Kristin.knew that Rhett would make his move once she was competent enough to manage Randall’s responsibilities. temporarily. Randall, for his part, was likely beginning to sense the shift.

“You’ll need to be careful around him,” Kristin thought.

“Mr. FitzGerald…” Kristin began, sitting before his high–tech computer system.

Rhett, who had reached the office door, turned back at her hesitation. “Yes?”

“The computer…” Kristin faltered, not entirely confident.

The technology had advanced quickly since her time, but she had learned computer repair

1/4

12-14

Being naturally Intelligent, she caught

from a fellow Inmate, a hacker who did her time

had stood up for her, she

know how to use it?” Rhett mistook her hesitation for unfamiliarity with his computer system and returned to show her.

her head and expertly pulled up the

smile playing on his lips at

FitzGerald, this…” Kristin pointed to a strangely named process. “Have you opened any suspicious

like Rhett’s computer might have

and he instructed York, “Call Granger.”

go–to cybersecurity expert.

quickly checked the system logs and found unauthorized

breaches.

Kristin urged, panic edging her voice. “Maybe we should call the police.”

meeting. We’ll do it

leaving to carry out the order.

good idea of

system,” Rhett instructed Kristin, asking her to input the final draft into the

hesitated, worried. “Mr. FitzGerald, this

fine. We have a contingency plan,” Rhett reassured her, ruffling her hair

sign of

would never have developed such sharp instincts if she had been a sheltered heiress.

she focused

seriousness.

disguised as a delivery guy, and went to the

assistant?” Granger joked, nudging Rhett as he set down

Don’t scare her,” Rhett scolded, his brow furrowing

eyed Granger nervously, instinctively moving

who she was, Granger corrected himself with a more respectful tone. “Hey,

stammered, “Ah, what?”

Rhett’s dealings

warned,

getting down to business. “Any idea

interested in sabotaging the desert project,” Rhett said in a low

let’s bait him with something he can’t resist. Create a new file with an enticing topic,” Granger suggested, plugging his USB into the computer. “To snag a big fish, we need to hack his system without him

know what he’s into,” Rhett grumbled, clearly irritated.

said hesitantly,

Turner.”

not quite

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