The Cherished Wife novel Chapter 501

"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 Janet 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 Janet, the newcomer with connections.

Becky headed straight for Janet and found her downstairs in the cafeteria, ordering the staff around for snacks. Becky's opinion of Janet 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."

"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 Janet 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.