Chapter 69 69

Chapter 69 69
Months have passed since the storm that threatened the happiness of the Craig family subsided. New York is now embraced by the quiet chill of winter. On the top floor of the Craig Corporation skyscraper, Raymond Craig stands near a large glass window overlooking Central Park, which is beginning to turn white with a light dusting of snow.

The difficult times feel so distant now. Every morning, he wakes up beside Clara, breathes in the scent of his wife’s hair, and has breakfast with their children before heading to work. His personal life has found a solid anchor. However, in the business world, Raymond remains the lion who leads with absolute control.

A soft knock on the mahogany door of his office breaks the silence. Raymond does not need to turn around to know who it is. That knock has a rhythm he has known intimately for the past decade.

"Come in," Raymond says briefly.

The door opens slowly, revealing a woman of about 35 years old in a very neat work outfit with her black hair tied in an elegant bun. Jenifer, Raymond’s personal secretary who has accompanied him through the various ups and downs of the company, steps inside. In her hands, she does not carry the tablet or thick report folders she usually presents. This time, there is only a plain white envelope, which she holds with both hands.

"Mr. Craig, do you have a few minutes?" Jenifer asks, her voice sounding slightly hesitant yet professional.

Raymond turns around, crossing his arms over his chest. "What is it, Jenifer? I recall my next meeting isn't scheduled for another hour."

Jenifer walks toward Raymond’s desk, then places the white envelope very slowly onto the polished wood surface. "This isn't about the company agenda, sir. This... is my resignation letter."

Raymond stares at the envelope, then shifts his gaze to his secretary’s face. His brows knit together tightly; an expression of surprise that he rarely shows now adorns his stern face.

"Are you joking?" Raymond asks, his voice suddenly deepening. "I just approved your year-end bonus package last week. If this is about compensation, we can discuss it."

Jenifer smiles faintly, a hint of emotion in her eyes. "This is not about compensation at all, Mr. Craig. You have always treated me very well, far better than I deserve. This is a personal decision."

"A personal decision?" Raymond walks toward his desk, but he does not touch the envelope. "Explain it to me, Jenifer. You’ve worked with me for ten years without a single complaint. Why now, all of a sudden?"

"I’m getting married, sir," Jenifer whispers, her face flushing a warm pink. "My fiancé received a major job offer in London. We decided to settle there after our wedding next month."

Raymond is stunned. The words "marriage" and "family" now have a very different resonance in his ears since he met Clara. He knows exactly what it feels like to want to set aside the whole world for the person you love. However, as a CEO, losing Jenifer is an immeasurable loss to his operational efficiency.

"Married and moving to London," Raymond mutters. He sighs deeply and leans his hips against the edge of his desk. "Honestly, I strongly object, Jenifer. You are the person I rely on most in this building. You know how I take my coffee, you know when to cancel meetings without me asking, and you know almost all of the company’s strategic secrets."

"I know, sir. And I am very grateful for the trust you have placed in me over these ten years," Jenifer says sincerely. "However, I feel this is the right time for me to start a new chapter."

Raymond stares at his loyal secretary for a long moment. Beneath the sternness of his face, he feels a deep respect for her dedication. "Who is the lucky man?"

Jenifer laughs softly, her tension melting away. "An art curator I met during summer vacation last year, sir. He is a very kind man."

"Very well," Raymond finally nods, albeit reluctantly. "I cannot forbid you from pursuing your own happiness. I know exactly what it feels like to want to stay by the side of the person we love. But, I have one condition."

"What is that, Mr. Craig?"

"You are not to leave your desk until we find a suitable replacement. I want you to train them yourself until they can work to the standards you have set," Raymond demands.

"Of course, sir. I won't let your office fall into disarray when I leave. I will open the vacancy immediately and select the best candidate," Jenifer promises, a glimmer of relief in her eyes.

A month passes quickly. The Craig Corporation office is busy with dozens of interviews for the highly prestigious position. Being Raymond Craig’s personal secretary is no easy job; it requires strong mental resilience, flawless precision, and the ability to keep high-level secrets.

Until one cold morning the following month, the door to Raymond’s office opens again. Jenifer enters with a young woman trailing behind her.

"Mr. Craig, please meet Madeline," Jenifer says with a tone of pride. "She is the best candidate who successfully passed all of our functional and psychological tests."

Raymond looks up from his stack of files. His steel-gray eyes immediately scan the figure of the new woman before him. Madeline appears to be in her mid-twenties, wearing a very neat dark gray blazer suit. Her brown hair is tied in a simple ponytail, and her face displays a calm, professional expression. There is no excessive makeup, and her posture shows just the right amount of confidence.

"Good morning, Mr. Craig. I’m Madeline. It is a great honor to have the opportunity to work under your leadership," Madeline says in a steady, polite voice.

Raymond does not answer immediately. He intentionally lets an intimidating silence hang in the air for a few seconds—a classic trick he always uses to test the mental composure of new people. However, Madeline remains standing tall, her eyes looking directly at Raymond without showing any signs of excessive nervousness.

"What is your assessment of her, Jenifer?" Raymond asks without taking his eyes off Madeline.

"Madeline is a top graduate from Boston University with three years of work experience at a top-tier law firm," Jenifer answers firmly. "During her one-week practical trial with me, she learned very quickly. She is reliable, very meticulous, and has an extraordinary work ethic. I vouch for her abilities, sir."

Raymond nods slowly. "Very well. Leave us alone for a moment, Jenifer. I want to speak with her."

"Yes, sir." Jenifer gives an encouraging smile to Madeline before stepping out of the room.

Once the door is closed, Raymond leans back in his leather chair. "Ms. Madeline, you must know that working with me means you will not have fixed working hours. I expect full dedication, and the smallest mistake here could have fatal consequences for the future of the company."

"I fully understand that, Mr. Craig," Madeline answers calmly. "I am used to working under high pressure at my previous law firm. I am ready to adapt to your work rhythm."

"Good. You can start working under Jenifer’s guidance for the full transition period this week," Raymond says coldly. "You may leave."

"Thank you, Mr. Craig. I will not let you down," Madeline bows respectfully, then turns and walks out gracefully.

Once the door is tightly shut, Raymond does not immediately return to work. Past experiences with Raquel’s betrayal, David’s cunning, and Julian Vane’s insane obsession have taught him one important thing: paranoia is the best protection. He can no longer accept new people into his inner circle without a very strict background check. His personal secretary will know a lot of sensitive information, including his family’s schedule.

Raymond reaches for his private phone and presses a speed-dial button.

"Evan, to my office now," Raymond commands briefly.

Less than three minutes later, the door opens and Evan steps in with his steady, silent gait. As the head of the internal security team and Raymond’s confidant in tactical matters, Evan always appears with an emotionless expression.

"New orders, sir?" Evan asks.

Raymond picks up a piece of paper containing Madeline’s resume that Jenifer left on his desk, then slides it to Evan. "Madeline. She is my new secretary who will be replacing Jenifer. I want you to investigate every detail of her life."

Evan takes the paper, his eyes scanning Madeline’s name and photo. "How deep of an investigation do you want, sir?"

"Very deep, Evan," Raymond hisses, his eyes narrowing sharply. "I want you to check her family background, her financial records, her academic history, even her circle of friends over the last ten years. Ensure she has no connection, no matter how small, to the Vane family, David’s group, or anyone who has ever tried to disturb my family. I don’t want any spies in my office."

"I understand, sir. I will use all of our networks. A full report will be on your desk tomorrow morning," Evan says in a very convincing tone.

"Do it quietly. Don't let her or Jenifer find out," Raymond adds.

Evan nods once, then steps out to immediately carry out his task.

The next day, snow falls heavier outside the window, wrapping New York City in a cold silence. Raymond has just finished his first cup of espresso when Evan returns to his office, carrying a thick blue folder.

"The report is ready, Mr. Craig," Evan says, placing the folder in front of Raymond.

Raymond immediately opens the folder, reading page after page of the background analysis document on Madeline with great care. Inside are financial reports showing that Madeline has a healthy lifestyle with no debt, an outstanding academic record, and even silent interviews with her former superiors in Boston.

"What are the results, Evan?" Raymond asks without looking up.

"Safe, sir. Madeline is clean," Evan answers firmly. "She is exactly as written on her resume. Her father is a retired high school teacher in Boston, her mother is a typical housewife. She has no criminal record, no suspicious political activity, and no trace of communication with questionable outside parties. She is purely a professional looking to build a career in New York."

Raymond closes the folder with a single soft snap, the tension that had been resting on his shoulders now completely evaporated. He sighs in relief. Good, he thinks. He no longer needs to deal with drama or new threats in his workplace.

"Thank you, Evan. You may return to your duties," Raymond says.

"Yes, sir."

After Evan leaves, Raymond presses the intercom button on his desk. "Jenifer, tell Madeline she is officially hired. Starting today, she can take over all of your duties gradually."

"Thank you so much, Mr. Craig! I will ensure she is fully prepared before I leave," Jenifer’s voice sounds very happy on the other end of the line.

Raymond leans back in his comfortable office chair. A faint smile appears on his face as he glances at the photo of Clara and their two children, beautifully framed in the corner of his desk. With Madeline now proven clean, he can work in peace without worrying about the security of his family’s information. One by one, the pieces of his old life, full of suspicion, are now being replaced by a calming certainty.

The future of Craig Corporation is in safe hands, and most importantly, the peace within his little palace with Clara will never be disturbed again.