Kristen was about to walk away when she suddenly had an idea.
She turned to Mavis and said, "Mavis, it's great to see you back. I've been meaning to tell you that Mr. Nicholls missed you a lot while you were away. He kept talking about how much he missed your coffee. The other assistant couldn't handle many tasks, and Mr. Nicholls's desk has been piling up with work. He always says things run smoother when you're here. A capable woman like you really takes a lot off his plate."
Kristen was lying, speaking just loud enough so only they could hear.
Mildred's expression softened slightly, and her hostility began to fade.
Mavis remained silent, while Gabrielle looked visibly displeased.
Kristen continued, "And Mr. Nicholls has been looking at pictures of the kids every day. He says they're his godchildren and wishes he had children like them. It's a shame Mavis doesn't understand how he feels."
Mildred's eyes darkened again.
Just before Kristen mentioned the kids, Mavis had almost believed her.
Almost.
Nonetheless, she knew Nathaniel would never say something about wanting her to have his children.
Kristen thought her plan was working and felt a surge of smugness.
She knew Mildred and Gabrielle would never approve of her but would always support Mavis. As long as she said what they wanted to hear, she could manipulate the situation.
Even if Mavis had caught the lie, Kristen believed she would not have exposed her in front of Mildred. After all, Mavis would not want to confirm any marital discord.
Her plan seemed perfect, and she was getting smug.
Suddenly, Mildred slapped Kristen hard across the face.
The slap was swift and decisive, leaving Kristen no time to react.
Not only that, but the sound also echoed through the entire business department, bringing complete silence.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Wait, She’s a Billionaire (Sheena Lawson)
The novel is too abusive it spoils the joy of reading it. I hate the punishment part between sheena and Eliot....