Chapter 99
Gia would never imagine that Nora and Michael lived together, and she couldn't possibly know that Michael had already told Nora about his habits and taboos.
What Gia told Nora, some things even David didn't know, was seventy percent truth and thirty percent lies.
Even if something really went wrong, the worst that could happen to Nora was being disliked and fired by Michael. It wouldn't come back to bite her.
The coffee thing was true. Michael habitually had a cup of black coffee in the morning.
Preparing sugar was also a habit from previous assistants, but peanut candy was the exception, because Michael was allergic to peanuts.
As for Michael hating assistants with body odor, that was true because Michael had serious OCD, but what he hated even more was the smell of perfume on women.
Nora took notes seriously and nodded sincerely. "Okay, manager. I'll pay attention."
"Alright, someone from the training department will take you for training shortly. Study hard during this time, and you'll start on Wednesday." Gia glanced at the time and told Nora to leave.
Nora stood up, walked out of the office, and saved the recording.
Better safe than sorry.
Taking a deep breath, Nora followed the training department staff to the office.
The Smith Group wasn't as simple as she thought. Luna and James must have been making moves behind the scenes all these years.
Although Michael was smart, he couldn't handle every single detail. His personality wasn't good at winning over employees, so he was bound to suffer some losses.
Nora thought for a long time, resting her head on her hand. The HR manager was a very important role. With how quickly company staff turned over these days, if the HR manager replaced seemingly unimportant but actually crucial positions with Luna and James's people, it would be very dangerous for Michael.
Nora had studied business management at Celestial University in Emerald City. Although she was forced to drop out in her sophomore year, she had gotten into Celestial University with the top score in Emerald City.
HR Manager's Office.
After Nora left, Gia pulled up Nora's file and took a look.
Her face darkened, and Gia called HR. "Come here for a minute."
Nora, a woman with only a high school diploma, becoming Mr. Smith's personal assistant?
What a joke. What was David thinking, pushing someone like this on her?
"Go find David and ask him what he means by this, pushing someone on me - someone with just a high school diploma? Is he trying to make The Smith Group a laughingstock?" Gia had clearly thought of a quick way to force Nora out.
That was to make an issue of her education.
Employees who could get into The Smith Group were at minimum graduates from top universities, and The Smith Group's hiring standards were very high. Many talented people who wanted to join The Smith Group couldn't get in.
Nora with a high school diploma, and a problematic person at that, with a record and criminal history?
What a joke.
If the company employees found out about these things, Nora wouldn't last a single day.
She would literally 'die' under these people's sarcasm and mockery.
Companies need competition, people pushing forward by comparing themselves to others. The person with the worst qualifications would definitely become everyone's target.
It remained to be seen whether Nora could handle that kind of pressure.
"High school diploma? How is that possible?" The recruitment staff member ran into the office, looking at Gia in shock. "They actually found a woman with a high school diploma to be Mr. Smith's assistant? Who's got that kind of nerve? Do they have a death wish?"
"Not only a high school diploma, but a criminal record too." Gia knew the HR department's gossip network was powerful. She was using these people's mouths to spread this information widely.
If just anyone could be Michael's assistant, that would really anger everyone.
"Criminal record!" The HR person shouted in shock. "Where is she? Why haven't we kicked her out yet? What are we keeping her for? Waiting to lose our jobs? Gia, this is no joke."
"David arranged for her. Go ask him about it." Gia was being careful.
She'd been at The Smith Group for twenty years, working in HR for over ten years. To reach her current position, she naturally had her skills.
A small fry like Nora wasn't worth worrying about.
It was just that Luna seemed very wary of this Nora, sending over a dozen WhatsApp messages urging her to force Nora to leave The Smith Group voluntarily as soon as possible.
Nora was studying in the office, taking notes on everything the training teacher explained.
"There's an assessment the day after tomorrow. You can only start work after passing the assessment. After all, you're Mr. Smith's assistant, so we're being very careful. You need to work hard." The teacher highlighted the key points for Nora.
Nora nodded. She wasn't worried about any of this at all.
As someone who once had almost photographic memory and was a genius, even after five years in prison and multiple MECT treatments, learning was still her instinct.
Besides, being an assistant was just the most basic job.
But what Nora was worried about now was that Gia had deliberately misled her, with the goal of making her mess up around Michael and then get fired and kicked out of the company.
She and Gia had no grudges, so if Gia was suddenly targeting her like this, there was only one reason - Luna.
Someone wanted her out of the company.
If she wanted to stay, it really wouldn't be that simple.
When she left this morning, Michael had deliberately told her about some small habits and taboos. He was probably also reminding her not to be used by others.
Michael was too smart. He'd already guessed that Nora wouldn't have it easy at the company.
But he still let her come.
Michael was also watching to see if Nora was really a suitable partner.
What Nora needed to deal with wasn't people like Gia, but rather she needed to do something to show Michael.
This was also like the first proof of loyalty she had to submit after joining the company.
CEO's Office.
David walked in carrying coffee and said quietly, "Mr. Smith, just as you predicted, HR came to find me, saying Nora only has a high school diploma and a criminal record."
David glanced at his phone. In a small internal company group chat, the news had already spread, with everyone talking about it. "Look, it's already spreading inside the company. It won't be easy for Nora to stay. She's so timid and submissive, what skills could she possibly have?"
David thought Nora was only suitable to be a kept woman, locked in a cage for people to admire. She definitely had no real abilities.
Michael leaned back in his chair, looking thoughtful.
"Mr. Smith, just the gossip from these people alone could crush Nora. She tries to kill herself at the drop of a hat - how could she handle this kind of pressure?" David found it absurd.
"What if she successfully stays and solves the HR department's problems?" Michael said meaningfully.
"Mr. Smith, you're overthinking this." David almost laughed out loud, carefully touching his nose. "Mr. Smith, you're giving Nora way too much credit."
As Michael's assistant, he had to help Michael keep track of all the company's employees, big and small, monitoring everyone's every move, and solving any problems for Michael in advance.
Nora? What a joke.
He hadn't been able to shake Gia in all these years - how could someone as fragile as Nora get rid of Gia?
"Then let's make a bet. If you lose, you'll be Nora's assistant for three months, no complaints, working hard without a word." Michael was in a rare good mood.
David laughed, thinking Michael was sure to lose. It wasn't that he looked down on Nora - any normal person would look down on her.
"The best hunters often appear in the form of prey." Michael didn't think so.
The fact that Nora successfully became his contract 'wife' - what he valued wasn't just that she was easy to control.
He hoped she wouldn't disappoint him.