<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">At that. Cecilia looked up and responded, “All right.”</font></font>


    <font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">She got up and headed toward Nichs‘ office. After knocking, she entered.</font></font>


    <font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Nichs looked up at her. “I heard that Miranda came by, did she give you a hard time?”</font></font>


    <font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Cecilia truthfully informed Nichs about Miranda instructing her to get the contract signed.</font></font>


    <font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Nichs knew that Miranda was up to no good. After considering it for a moment, he said, “Just leave the contract here, I’ll have someone else deal with it.”</font></font>


    <font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Reflecting on her day at the office, Cecilia recalled the casual chatter of her colleagues. If Nichs were to assigned her task to a different secretary, her professional life would be considerably more challenging.</font></font>


    <font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“No need, I’ll get the contract signed and bring it over.</font></font>


    <font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Nichs thought that Cecilia didn’t understand how difficult the task Miranda assigned to her was, so he warned. “Ms. Hardy is not an easy person to deal with. You might not only fail to secure a contract but also face unnecessary difficulties.”</font></font>


    <font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“I did some research,” Cecilia stated, “But rest assured, I will definitely finish the work.”</font></font>


    <font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Seeing her determination, Nichs couldn’t bring himself to stop her anymore.</font></font>


    <font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">After Cecilia had left, he felt somewhat uneasy. “Jocelyn, find someone to keep an eye on Cecilia. We can’t afford for anything to happen to her,” he said.</font></font>


    <font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Yes, Sir.”</font></font>


    <font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Immediately, Jocelyn had a bodyguard discreetly follow Cecilia.</font></font>


    <font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Cecilia had already packed up her things and was leaving the office when Jessica called out to her. “Wait…. Ms. Smith, what are you doing?”</font></font>


    <font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“Work. Do you want toe?” Cecilia asked.</font></font>


    <font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Jessica was already in a terrible situation, single–handedly taking care of several secretaries. “No thanks,” she said.</font></font>


    <font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">She was fearful that Cecilia might have conjured up another scheme to torment her, so she declined.</font></font>


    <font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Cecilia didn’t bother with her anymore, she left thepany and took a taxi.</font></font>


    <font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">She didn’t proceed directly to Hardy Group. Instead, she first had her driver take her back to the Smith residence. After retrieving an item, she got back into the car and instructed the driver to head toward the Hardy Group.</font></font>


    <font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Cecilia wouldn’t have epted the task if she knew she couldn’tplete it.</font></font>


    <font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">She had noticed that Aubree had a particr fondness for all sorts of antique jewelry unsold pieces from the past still lingered within the Smith residence.</font></font>


    <font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Cecilia had in her possession a string of agate bracelet from the Tusu Era, a valuable item that her father had gifted her.</font></font>


    <font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Finally, she arrived at Hardy Group.</font></font>


    <font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">After getting off the car, Cecilia headed into the building.</font></font>


    <font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">She was stopped by the security guard as soon as she reached the entrance. Only after she presented her work badge, did the guard allow her to proceed to the front desk to check in.</font></font>


    The receptionist saw her and said, clearly irritated, “Ms. Hardy is currently very busy entertaining clients. You should wait in the lobby.”


    “I heard Ms. Hardy is heading to the airport after six, and it’s already five. Could you let her know I’ve arrived?” Cecilia knew that if she lingered in the lobby, not only would it be tough to sign the contract, but she might not even get a chance to see Aubree.


    The receptionist frowned. “Who do you think you are?


    Before she could finish her sentence, Cecilia interrupted by handing her a mary gift.


    “Miss, I know this is a troublesome matter, so this is a small token of appreciation.”


    For Cecilia, this amount of money meant nothing at all


    However, upon seeing the thick stack, the receptionist quickly changed her mind. “I’ll give the CEO’s secretary a call.”


    Could you please ry a message to the CEO’s secretary? Let them know that I have another valuable item to present to Ms. Hardy during this visit.”N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    “All right.”


    After receiving the mary gift, the receptionist’s attitude changed incredibly fast.


    Meanwhile, on the top floor of the CEO’s office, Aubree felt a twinge of disdain upon hearing that the secretary from Rainsworth Group wasing to deliver a gift.


    “Tell her I’m busy. I don’t have time to see her.”


    What could a CEO’s secretary possibly gift to oneself?