After watching her friends celebrate the collaboration for almost twenty minutes, Abigail finally raised her hand. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

The office immediately became quiet. Miranda was still holding a newspaper.

Madeline was halfway through stealing snacks from her drawer.

Oliver looked like he wanted to organise a company-wide celebration.

Meanwhile, Abigail was already thinking about work. A lot of work. She rubbed her forehead before looking toward Miranda.

"Have any of you found a capable assistant yet?"

The excitement in the room faded immediately. Everyone exchanged glances.

Miranda sighed. "I knew you would ask that."

Abigail leaned back against her chair. The company had expanded too quickly recently.

Miranda was already drowning in paperwork. John was excellent at investigations and gathering information, but asking him to handle project management was like asking a fish to climb a tree.

"We need someone capable," Abigail continued. "The HDM collaboration isn’t a small project. Miranda already has enough work to kill three people."

Miranda pointed at her dramatically. "See? She knows."

Abigail ignored her and continued. "What’s the progress?"

Miranda hesitated. Then something strange crossed her face.

The expression immediately caught Abigail’s attention.

"What?"

Miranda exchanged another look with Oliver. Then she opened her tablet. "There is one candidate."

Abigail raised an eyebrow. "Only one?"

Miranda nodded. "Yes, the best one." She handed over the file.

Abigail opened it casually. Then froze. "Ninety per cent?" Abigail looked at the score again and again.

"Ninety per cent?"

Miranda nodded carefully. "That’s his test result."

Abigail looked genuinely shocked. The highest score Nik—Keys Corporation had ever recorded during assistant recruitment was sixty per cent.

That record had stood for years. Now someone had casually scored ninety? That wasn’t normal.

That was disturbing.

Abigail immediately straightened in her chair. "Who is this person?" Abigail narrowed her eyes.

Nobody answered. Instead, Madeline scratched her neck. Miranda suddenly found the ceiling very interesting.

Abigail’s suspicion increased. "What is it?"

Miranda sighed heavily. "That’s the problem. We don’t know who he is."

Miranda pointed toward the file."The application was submitted anonymously."

Abigail’s expression became cold. Then she looked back at the file. "Anonymous?"

Miranda nodded. "He didn’t reveal his full identity."

Abigail almost laughed. "What kind of joke is this?"

"He said he’ll reveal himself after being accepted."

Abigail immediately placed the file down. "No."

Everyone looked at her in disbelief "No?"

Abigail folded her arms. "This isn’t a game."

Miranda sighed. "I knew you would react like this."

Abigail looked genuinely offended. The audacity alone was impressive. "How is someone applying for a job while hiding from their future employer?"

Oliver sighed," Maybe..."

" I said no!" Abigail pointed at the file. "Fire him."

Miranda blinked."He hasn’t even been hired yet."

"Then reject him." Miranda looked completely speechless. "Abigail..."

"What?"

Miranda rolled her eyes, grateful she was not just only her assistant! "I thought you said you’d become kinder after securing the HDM collaboration."

"You fired someone before employing them?"

Abigail pointed at the file again " That’s a sign of arrogance."

Madeline laughed so hard she nearly fell from her chair.

Before the argument could continue, Oliver suddenly checked his wristwatch. His expression changed immediately. "Oh, Madeline. We need to leave."

Madeline pointed dramatically. "Unlike you rich people, some of us still have jobs," she teased.

Abigail rolled her eyes as they gathered their belongings. " Having hotels, huge boutiques, and estates is nothing I knew!"

Oliver chuckled. "Actually, managing estates and hotels is far worse than your situation, for me, Abbie", he chuckled.

Before leaving, Oliver paused near the door. "We were genuinely worried about you."

Madeline nodded in agreement. "Don’t you ever disappear again." Abigail felt warmth spread through her chest. These people had always been her family.

Not because they shared blood. But because they cared. " Let’s throw a party at your restaurant, Oliver", Abigail smiled.

Then the three of them suddenly clapped once and pointed at Abigail, saying " Yesssss-sssss! in itt!!"

" I will tell my manager to save us the executive, He added.

Madeline smiled and waved. " Em... The BK fashion company shipped their new dress to my shop yesterday. I will save one for you "

Abigail smiled deepened, and nodded. " Other models would scream if Madeline told them this... the dresses are very expensive and also for her VIP customers. Her VIP cards are very difficult to get"

" Yeah, let me see you out!!!" Miranda said happily. " Then she turned to Abigail, I will also be attending the online interview"

" Thank you", Abigail smiled thankfully. The three finally left. The office became much quieter afterwards.

Not long after, her phone suddenly rang. The unfamiliar number made her froze. She already knew who it was.

Only one person could make her feel annoyed before even answering.

Abigail took a deep breath. Then accepted the call. "Hello?"

The deep voice on the other side immediately reached her ears. "I heard you removed Rule Four."

Abigail closed her eyes. Damn him! Why did his voice always sound like trouble? "I realised it wasn’t necessary."

She forced herself to remain calm. "The marriage came unexpectedly. I only wanted a business alliance."

Several seconds passed.

"Okay," was all he said.

Abigail blinked. That was it?

Just okay?!!!

No argument or threat? No teasing? She felt strangely disappointed. The realisation horrified her. Quickly ignoring that dangerous thought, she asked the question that mattered most.

"And how long does this contract marriage last?"

Henry was silent for some seconds. Then a dark laugh reached her ears.

The sound was low and dangerous. Abigail immediately pulled the phone away.

"What is wrong with this man?" she muttered. She couldn’t believe her body reacted to that!!!

After composing herself, she placed the phone back against her ear. " May I ask when the contract will end?"

His voice returned. "That will be my decision."

Abigail almost choked. "My decision?" she repeated.

"Other company matters will be handled by Joshua." Then the line disconnected.

Just like that!

Abigail stared at her phone. The call had ended. She couldn’t believe it. The conversation had lasted less than three minutes. Yet somehow she felt more frustrated than before.

Why did part of her want him to continue talking? She immediately shook her head. "No! I must be insane."

That road led directly to disaster. A few minutes later, Joshua called exactly as promised.

Unlike his boss, Joshua actually behaved like a normal human being. He explained several details regarding the collaboration project, future meetings, and the departments that would work together.

By the end of the call, Abigail finally understood something.

Joshua wasn’t just Draco’s assistant. He was practically the man running half of HDM Group.

Poor Joshua.

No wonder he always looked exhausted. An hour later, Miranda suddenly returned. The moment she entered the office, Abigail noticed something strange.

Miranda looked troubled.

"What’s wrong?" Abigail frowned.

Miranda placed a file onto the desk."The anonymous applicant is here."

Abigail took a deep sigh "Then why do you look like someone just died?"

Miranda hesitated. Then she sighed. "You need to see him yourself."

Abigail narrowed her eyes. Immediately, curiosity took over. What kind of person could make Miranda react like that?

And more importantly... Who exactly had scored ninety per cent?