Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex's 'Uncle'-Chapter 431: True Colors

Nancy had come with Riley. She knew Riley was joining Reid Group as an executive manager. The title didn’t sound all that grand, but the moment Riley walked into the building, everyone treated her with the utmost respect.

It gave Nancy a dangerous illusion.

As if Riley was already the future mistress of Reid Group, and the whole company belonged to the Nelson family.

As Riley’s future sister-in-law, Nancy felt entitled to boss anyone around.

So the moment she saw Selina, she got furious. What is Selina even doing here?

When Selina didn’t answer right away, Nancy snapped.

"I’m talking to you! What are you doing here?!"

Riley pressed her lips together.

"Selina, are you here to see Logan? He’s not around right now. If there’s nothing else..."

Selina smoothed her hair and cut her off coolly.

"I’m here for the same reason Miss Nelson is here."

That made Riley’s expression shift slightly.

Nancy lost it.

"What do you mean ’same reason’? Riley’s starting at Reid Group as an employee!"

"Oh? Miss Nelson’s joining Reid Group?" Selina asked with feigned innocence.

Riley let out a tight breath and nodded reluctantly.

"Yes, Selina."

Selina’s tone flipped instantly.

"In that case... what, Miss Nelson didn’t get any training before starting here? Doesn’t she know Reid Group’s rules?"

Riley’s face froze. The entire secretary team went silent.

...Who would even dare try to train her?

Riley forced a stiff smile.

"Selina..."

"If there was no training, then Miss Nelson should go get trained and come back later. And if there was training, she should know that the sixtieth floor and above are the core of Reid Group. She doesn’t have clearance to be here."

"Even executive managers need to submit a request to come up here. And you even brought an unauthorized guest? Miss Nelson, where’s your approval form?"

With every sentence Selina spoke, Riley’s face drained a shade paler.

Her polite smile was about to crack.

Nancy was about to explode. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"Approval form?! Riley doesn’t need any damn approval to go wherever she wants! Mr. Reid lets her go anywhere!"

"Selina, you’re just jealous! You’re jealous of the privileges Riley has at Reid Group!"

Selina didn’t even blink at the accusation. She just nodded lightly, unfazed.

"Oh, Logan approved it? Then he must have informed the secretary and assistant departments. Did you receive any notice?"

She turned and aimed the last question squarely at the secretary team lead.

The poor woman broke into a cold sweat.

"Miss Clark... no, we didn’t."

Selina made a noncommittal noise.

"Miss Nelson, I’m going to have to ask for your understanding. Without notification to the secretary department, I’ll have to ask you to leave."

Nancy was livid.

"I told you, Mr. Reid—"

"Then wait until Logan’s approval comes through. Miss Nelson can come back then."

Selina made a little gesture toward the elevator.

"Unless you have some urgent reason to stay on the sixtieth floor? Perhaps you forgot—forcing your way in without authorization and refusing to leave gives Reid Group the right to fire you on the spot."

The entire floor was dead silent.

No one had expected that Mrs. Reid’s first showdown with the so-called "future business engagement partner" would leave Riley unable to say a single thing in return.

Riley felt like she was swallowing poison, but she forced her face to stay gentle.

"Selina... you’re misunderstanding. I actually came to talk to you."

Selina raised an eyebrow.

"Talk to me? Sure. Wait until I finish my onboarding paperwork."

Riley nearly choked.

...

Half an hour later, the three of them were sitting in a café.

Nancy was glaring daggers.

"You? What makes a country bumpkin like you qualified to join Reid Group? Is it because you heard Riley was working here and just couldn’t stand it?"

Riley didn’t say anything, but that was exactly what she was thinking.

How could it be a coincidence? She’d just joined today, and Selina showed up the same day.

It was obvious she’d come to make trouble.

Selina didn’t even blink.

"Yeah. I just can’t stand seeing Miss Nelson so happy, so I came here purely to piss you off."

She sounded completely casual, but Riley could hear the biting sarcasm underneath.

"Selina!"

Selina yawned, giving her a lazy sideways look.

"Hmm? What?"

"You—Reid Group’s work above the sixtieth floor isn’t child’s play. If you joined just to make trouble for me, that’s being irresponsible to the entire company!"

Selina hadn’t expected Riley to sound so righteous.

Her smile turned mocking.

"Is Miss Nelson genuinely dumb, or just pretending? A debutante raised by the illustrious Nelson family can’t really be that clueless, so I’m guessing you’re faking it."

"Selina!" Nancy was livid.

"Show some respect! Riley’s saying this for your own good!"

"Miss Nelson’s putting on quite the noble act, telling me to back off."

Selina gave a slow, deliberate smile and twisted the knife.

"But the way the rumors go, the Nelson family’s about to form a business alliance with Logan. As Mrs. Reid, shouldn’t I show up and claim my territory?"

Riley looked at her like she was completely unreasonable.

"Selina... I told you that was a misunderstanding. And besides, mending ties between the Nelson family and Logan is beneficial for everyone. Try to be mature about it."

"Whether it’s a ’misunderstanding’ or the Nelson family’s plan—you’d know best, Miss Nelson."

Selina sipped her coffee calmly.

"You talk about ’mending ties,’ but let’s be real. You’re banking on that rumored business marriage, leaning on your Nelson name, your fancy degrees and connections, to get close to Logan."

"Mmm. Maybe you even think it’ll be easy to crush a country bumpkin like me who grew up with nothing."

Riley’s jaw tightened.

"...."

Because that was exactly what she’d been thinking.

Riley took a deep breath.

"Selina, you’re being ridiculous. Even if you’re married to Logan now, let me remind you: someone like you won’t last at his side."

"Oh."

Selina finished her coffee and stood up lightly.

"Whatever you say. Think what you want. Good luck, Miss Nelson. Really pulling for you."

Riley’s face turned an ugly shade of red.

"Selina! It’s bad enough you used underhanded tactics to marry Logan, but how dare you take the role of his personal assistant? Don’t you think you’re shameless?!"

Selina’s lips curved slightly.

Finally dropping the act, huh?

Or maybe she just couldn’t keep it up any longer.

Selina feigned mild surprise.

"Shameless? I don’t think so. I mean, if it gets me to the top, who cares about a little scheming?"

Riley sucked in a harsh breath.

"You think Logan will put up with you forever? Let me be honest: I was supposed to be the one competing for that personal assistant spot. I thought I just wasn’t good enough. Turns out you stole it with your tricks!"

"Selina, if you have any dignity left, let’s compete fairly!"

Selina understood instantly.

No wonder Riley completely dropped the sweet act the moment she found out I was the executive assistant.

That was the position Riley had her eye on.