JENNIE

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"Wait here for me," The Bastard said, unclipping her belt. "I doubt I'll be long."

I glanced at the dashboard for the time. "Ma'am, I'm already outside of my working hours. You should return home with your father."

She paused with her hand on the door and swung her cool gaze back towards me. "Would you like to accompany me instead?"

"It's a private dinner between father and daughter. It would be inappropriate for me to intrude."

"Then you'll have to wait for me, Miss Kim."

"Then you should be aware that I will be requesting this as unscheduled overtime and will be claiming two and a half times my pay for every minute I'm sitting in my car waiting for you, ma'am." I smiled coolly at her. "What would you prefer I do?"

She held my gaze for a moment, then chuckled. "Very well. I doubt I'll be long. Make sure you can park nearby."

I sighed and followed her out of the car. She was instantly greeted by one of the restaurant's higher ups, and I approached the valet with my card extended.

"Good evening," I said, giving him my best business smile. "My name is Jennie Kim, executive assistant to Ms Manoban. She'd like me to wait for her. Is there somewhere I can safely park and wait in my car?"

The young gentleman hesitated. "I can park your car for you while you wait inside, madam."

"Miss Kim is fine," I assured him. "I'd prefer to wait in my car."

"Uh… um… I'm afraid that's against company policy."

My jaw ticked.

Company policy my arse. More like the posh bastards wanted to extort a drink out of me.

"Very well." I reached into the car for the keys and my bag, then held out the keys for him. "Make sure no harm comes to her. She's a company car."

He bowed his head. "Of course. Here's your ticket."

"Thank you." I tucked it into the inner zipper part of my bag and turned towards the restaurant.

Ugh.

I would never forgive my bloody boss for this. Did she really think I had nothing better to do than pander to her whims twenty-four hours a day?

Never mind handing in my resignation—I was going to create a PowerPoint and hijack a meeting if that was what it took to make her see it. Maybe I'd film it as a TikTok video in the hope it would go viral.

Goddamn that old man for making written resignations necessary.

I took a seat at the bar and scanned the tables. It was busier than I'd expect for a weeknight, and The Bastard and her much nicer father were sitting in the corner, away from prying eyes.

I immediately shifted over one bar stool and turned my back to them. If that bloody man caught my eye, I'd have no choice but to join them.

I ordered a Coke Zero with ice and lemon and pulled out my phone. I had three messages from Jisoo and two from Jimin, and I stared at the screen for a moment, debating which was the lesser of two evils.

Jimin.

JIMIN: Brace yourself, I heard from Cassidy about this dinner meeting. You should drop her off and run.

JIMIN: It's about Minnie Grandstein.

I groaned. I was afraid of that. Her… uh, admiration… of Lalisa Manoban was nothing new, and I knew from keeping up with the aristocrats that her father's business was struggling and in desperate need of an investor.

It also meant my boss was going to be furious when she was done here, and I was the one who would have to deal with it.

Goodie.

ME: Let me guess. She's still pursuing her?

JIMIN: Worse. The viscount has suggested a marriage agreement.

Fuck me dead.

This was really not my night.

Also, how archaic could they be? What was this, the seventeen-hundreds? Who arranged marriages for business purposes these days?

ME: Goodie. I can't wait for The Bastard to whinge the whole way home.

JIMIN: You're still there?

ME: Of course, I am. I'm getting paid two-and-a-half times my base pay for this and I'm just sitting at the bar. Also, you texted while I was driving.

JIMIN: Is it just the president? Or is the duke there too?

ME: Just the president. Do you think it means they're not taking the proposal seriously?

JIMIN: I called Dad earlier, and he thinks so. The duke is the head of the family, so if it was being seriously considered, he'd be there.

ME: That should temper her mood somewhat.

JIMIN: Aren't you the optimist today?

ME: Why don't you stop bugging me and call your best friend so I can go home?

JIMIN: She doesn't listen to me. She only listens to you.

ME: If she listened to me, she'd have accepted my resignation the first time I tried to offer it to her.

JIMIN: Please. She can't live without you. That's why she's not listening.

ME: You make it sound like I'm in an abusive relationship.

ME: Actually, I might be.

JIMIN: …When you put it like that, it's hard to refute.

ME: So, tell your best friend to accept my fucking resignation before I commit murder.

"Jennie? I thought it was you, but Lisa insisted you were in the car." Lord Alastair Manoban, the heir to the dukedom of Ruxleigh, President of LLOUD Corporation, and The Bastard's father dropped onto the bar stool next to me. "What are you doing in here?"

"Good evening, sir," I said, smiling widely at him. "I was told it was against company policy to wait in the car, so here I am."

He tutted and turned to Lalisa. "Lisa, I've told you about making her wait for you outside of the office hours. If you were going to insist that she go with you, you should have told me so she could join us. It's a wonder she hasn't left the company yet."

Ha. Ha.

Haaaa.

Yes. It was a wonder, wasn't it?

It was a wonder I was still. Stuck. In. This. Company.

"Can we not do this here, Dad?" The Bastard asked, running her hand through her hair and looking away. "If we aren't eating, may I leave?"

"Leave? When I finally get to see Jennie? You keep her from me at work all the time." Alastair shook his head. "Sit down and finish your drink, Lisa."

"It's quite all right, sir," I said, pushing my glass away. "I'd much rather be at home, myself."

He huffed. "Very well. Let Cassidy know when you're free for lunch, and the three of us will go together. My treat."

"I'll call her tomorrow."

"So efficient." He chuckled warmly. "Sometimes I find myself jealous that you left the President's office when my father retired. It would have been nice if you'd stayed."

The feelings were completely mutual. So very, very mutual.

"It couldn't be helped, sir. It was by His Grace's request, after all."

Lalisa's phone rang and she pulled it out of her pocket. "Excuse me a moment."

We both waited for her to disappear, and the moment she was out of earshot, Alastair leant in close and said, "She still won't accept your resignation, then?"

"No. Quite frankly, I'm considering having someone carve it onto a stone tablet so I can smack her with it," I replied with a sigh. "I wanted to believe she wasn't deliberately refusing to take it, but now I know she's being purposely obtuse. She knows very well what I'm trying to give her on a daily basis."

Alastair smiled sympathetically. "It's because you're too good at your job, Jennie. Her transition was smooth, largely thanks to you. She was able to hold her own against the board of directors because of your research."

"Yes, but I'm far from the only competent assistant out there. Not to mention she has two others."

"Ah, so do I, but neither of them holds a candle to Cassidy."

"Do you say that in front of your wife?"

"She tries to steal her all the time." He chuckled. "Few people are as competent as you and Cassidy. It makes it difficult to imagine working without you."

"Would you refuse her resignation the way she is with mine?"

"I'd try to convince her to change her mind, but if she didn't, I'd have no choice but to accept it," he admitted. "But for now, hang in there. There are some changes coming to the company very soon."

I opened my mouth to ask him what he meant, but he swiftly shook his head and mouthed, "Not yet."

"Miss Kim. Let's go." Lalisa appeared behind me, startling me. "Did I interrupt something?"

"Just catching up," Alastair said with a grin. "You should go. I'll handle that thing we talked about, but you should make sure your staff are all aware. It wouldn't hurt to have a meeting with Jimin, too."

"Yes, I get it," Lalisa replied, stepping to the side and pinning me with her cool gaze. "I thought you said you wanted to go home."

I slid off the stool and inclined my head towards Alastair. "It was nice to see you, sir."

"Don't forget you promised to have lunch with me!"

"She won't," Lalisa said, putting one hand on my back and gently nudging me forwards. "Quickly, before he starts another conversation."

"I can walk, ma'am." I reached into my bag for the valet ticket. "Your conversation didn't last long. Did you not eat?"

"No. Honestly, it could have been a phone call. Better yet, an email." She opened the restaurant door and held it, then frowned at me when I didn't move. "Well? Are you going outside or not?"

Huh.

She did have some basic manners.

"Forgive me, ma'am, but it's not often you hold a door for me. It's usually the other way around." I stepped outside and handed my ticket to the valet who read it with a nod and went to fetch the car.

"You make it sound like I'm a mannerless barbarian," Lalisa said, stepping up next to me.

"I was merely pointing out I'm usually the one doing the door holding."

"I don't see you refuting my words."

"I wouldn't dream of agreeing with such an extreme evaluation of yourself." I watched as my car pulled up in front of us and the valet got out. "Thank you," I said, taking the key from him.

Lalisa held out her hand. "Here. I'll drive."

I looked at her outstretched hand, then dragged my gaze up to her face. "Pardon?"

"I'll drive. Give me the keys."

"No, it's quite all right. You've had a drink."

"It was only one drink."

"Only one drink is one drink too many in my car," I retorted, marching to the driver's side. "However, since you're feeling gracious tonight, you're welcome to open your own car door. Ma'am."

Her glare burned into my back, but she got in the passenger side without saying another word. It was a true miracle, one that might just have had me believing in God again. She was someone who always needed the last word, so the fact she'd stopped arguing with me was true bliss.

I doubted it would last long, but I was going to take my kicks where I could get 'em.

"Make it a priority to familiarise Haruto and Rora with a photo of Lord Granstein and Minnie Grandstein."

Huh.

I didn't know she knew the names of my babies.

"I'll do so first thing, ma'am," I replied.

"You aren't going to ask why?"

"Is it necessary for me to know?"

"Yes."

"Then I'm sure you'll tell me whether I ask or not, ma'am."

Lalisa sighed. "You can be hard work sometimes, Jennie."

Jennie.

Damn it.

I hated it when she used my name instead of calling me Miss Kim. She used it so rarely, and despite how badly I wanted to smash her face in with a box file, she was pretty, and I was only human.

I cleared my throat. "Why do I need to familiarise them with the Grandsteins?"

"I'm sure Jimin already told you about Lord Grandstein's archaic marriage proposal," she said dryly. "Grandfather refused it, but Dad told me tonight that Lord Grandstein isn't happy about it. There's a high chance either he or Minnie will come by the office in an attempt to convince me personally."

"Then should I also circle their photos within security and the main reception to ensure they don't make it to the office?"

"Share their photos, but they're welcome to sit in the office and waste their time if they're stupid enough to show up without an appointment. Do I have any free time in my schedule this week?"

"You never ask for any, so no, you don't."

"Then there's no problem. See to it that they're allowed in but can't see me if I'm in the office."

This woman.

Lord Grandstein had a screw loose if he wanted Lalisa to marry his daughter.

"And when you aren't in the office, ma'am?" I asked, pulling up outside her high-rise building. "I feel uncomfortable putting Haruto and Rora in such a situation, so I would prefer to have reception and security turn them away."

"Do you think reception can handle it?"

"You haven't seen Penelope handle unruly visitors, have you?" I raised an eyebrow at him. "You don't need security with her around."

"Then do it that way." She unclipped her belt, then paused and looked at me. "What time is my first meeting tomorrow?"

"Nine-thirty, ma'am. The leader of PR Team One and Jimin have finished the draft proposal for the announcement of the Adair Travel acquisition."

She nodded and opened the car door. "Very well. Then I will see you at nine—there's no need to pick me up tomorrow. Goodnight, Miss Kim. Drive home safe."

"Goodnight, ma'am."

She got out and bent down, glancing back at me for a moment as if she was going to say something. I was about to ask her if there was anything wrong when she straightened and pushed the door shut behind her, leaving me staring after her, slightly dumbfounded.

The secretary inside me wanted to call after her and see if she was all right, but the sane part of me wanted to get the hell out of here.

For once, I listened to the sane part of me.

It didn't take me terribly long to get home compared to usual, and as soon as I arrived back to my apartment, I kicked off my shoes and headed for the shower. I paused only to text Irene, Jisoo's twin sister, and ask her what she knew about the Grandstein family and their business before soaking myself under the powerful stream of hot water.

If I ever managed to get out of this job, this shower was what I'd miss the most.

At least I had some substantial savings thanks to my cheap as chips rent.

Not that chips were that cheap anymore, but still.

After scrubbing myself clean of today's multitude of headaches and annoyances, I wrapped myself in a towelling robe, swept my hair up in a towel, and returned to my phone. It flashed up with a missed call from Irene, so I instantly dialled her back and sat on the edge of my bed.

"Hey," she answered after only one ring.

"Hey, sorry, I jumped in the shower right after texting you," I replied.

"Don't worry about it, I figured you'd just gotten home. Why do you ask about the Grandstein family?"

"Boss' orders." I was not telling a journalist that they'd proposed marriage to The Bastard. I'd definitely be fired.

Although… That was one way to escape her.

"Hmm," Irene said. "My spidey-senses are tingling."

"If your spidey-senses are that tingly, you can probably put two and two together," I retorted. "Do you have any information on them?"

"I do. I've actually been looking into a small group of companies across the country who've done business with a shady investment company called Smith and Rogue, and Grandstein Corp is one of them."

"Smith and Rogue? What a weird name for an investment company."

"That's what I thought at first, so I looked into it. It seems to be a shell company, and all signs point to it being a front for a tax avoidance scheme."

Quelle surprise.

"They've only worked with lower-titled aristocrats, but that's part of the reason it's taking us so long to uncover the story. Some of the people affiliated with it are in politics," she explained. "It's easier to expose these things when it's just celebs, but aristocrats and politicians is a whole other ball game."

"Wow. That took a turn I wasn't expecting," I replied, walking over to my dressing table and yanking the towel off my head. "And Grandstein Corp are involved in it?"

"Yes. They're one of the larger companies, so we've done the most research into them and their financials, and they've been working with them for six years now. The weird thing is there doesn't seem to be any substantial investment into Grandstein Corp, even though they're currently struggling financially. They've posted in the red for the last two quarters."

I paused. "In other words, they're in trouble, so why aren't Smith and Rogue assisting?"

"Exactly. Grandstein Corp will probably post a minor profit for this last quarter because it was largely down to their supermarket expansion into Ireland, but it's strange. The money flow into Smith and Rogue seems wonky."

"Interesting."

"Mm. Either way, I know Grandstein Corp is desperately seeking investors, so I'm not entirely surprised you called and asked about it. I wondered when they'd approach LLOUD."

Yep. She'd put two-and-two together.

"Whatever you're thinking, keep it to yourself," I warned her.

"Yeah, yeah, I know the drill. Anyway, there's some shady dealings around Lord Grandstein, so I'd stay as far away as possible."

"That's the plan. I just wondered if you knew anything." Having an investigative journalist as a best friend sure came in handy. "I don't suppose you can email any of this over to me, can you?"

"Jen, are you going to stay up all night working on a report again?"

"Not all night. Just a little bit of one."

"Why can't that bastard deal with her own issues? Surely the Ruxleigh family can find this all out by themselves. In fact, I think my boss is a pseudo-informant for them."

She was, but I couldn't say that out loud.

"Lalisa Manoban write up a report for herself? Don't be daft. She doesn't even put on her own tie most days."

"That's because she has a crush on you."

"Bae Irene, you must have a death wish."

She laughed. "Still not ready to face facts, huh?"

"You'll face the devil if you carry on. Can you send me information or not?"

"Yes, Madam Efficient, I can. Give me half an hour, and I'll send the main points by email. If The Bastard wants more info, tell her she can pay me for it."

"Gladly."

"And you owe me dinner for this."

"All right, fine." I squeezed my hair with the towel. "Thanks for this, Rene."

"Uh-huh." The distinct sound of tapping at a keyboard came down the line. "I'll send it over shortly. Speak to you soon."

The line went dead after that, and I exchanged my phone for my hairdryer.

I'd had a bad feeling about the Grandsteins all day, and Irene had just shown me why.

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