My Clingy CEO Husband

### Chapter 30: The Rise of Secretary Joyce

Maxine Rhodes set down her teacup and walked out. Her former air of cool detachment instantly melted away, replaced by a lively, mischievous glint in her eyes. She looked like a sly cat.

"A pleasure doing business with you, Finn," she said, her voice light and cheerful. "And as we agreed, that compensation money—half of it is yours."

Finn Finch’s serious expression gave way to a light chuckle as he waved a hand dismissively. "Come on, you don’t need to do that with me. Just keep it. You girls like to buy bags and jewelry, so go get yourself something nice. Consider it some spending money from me. As for you, just do a beautiful job on this project. That’ll be the best thanks you can give me."

"You got it!" Maxine Rhodes agreed readily, her smile radiant. "I guarantee you’ll get a standing ovation at the board meeting!"

After finalizing the project details with Finn Finch, Maxine Rhodes returned to the Sterling Group. She had just stepped into her office when there was a knock on the door.

Rose Joyce walked in carrying a dessert box. Her eyes were red and swollen, and tears began to fall before she even spoke. "Maxine, I’m so sorry..." she said, her voice choked with sobs.

Benjamin Sterling followed behind her, a grim expression on his face. He had just been forced to swallow his pride with Finn Finch, groveling and scraping for a deal. The humiliation felt like a red-hot brand searing his insides.

Looking at Maxine Rhodes’s calm profile, then at Rose Joyce’s delicate submissiveness, a familiar irritation flared up inside him. ’Why can’t she be as obedient as Rose?’

"Maxine," Benjamin Sterling began, "Rose meant well. She’s just too naive and was taken advantage of. Look, she even went out of her way to buy you dessert to apologize."

As he said this, Benjamin Sterling was actually seething with anger. He was the boss, what right did Maxine Rhodes have to put on such airs in front of him? But when he remembered that she was the one who had saved the day, he had no choice but to swallow his anger.

’No, I have to keep her happy for now,’ he thought. ’Once I have this situation completely under control, I’ll settle this score with her, sooner or later...’

Benjamin Sterling took a velvet box from his briefcase and pushed it in front of Maxine Rhodes.

"This is finally behind us," he said, his gaze locked on her. "Consider this... a token of my appreciation for how you handled things."

He deliberately avoided the word "sorry" and made no mention of his own humiliation. He imagined that when she saw the expensive gift, her eyes would flash with surprise, or at the very least, she would soften.

’After all, what woman could refuse diamonds? Especially when they were a gift from him, Benjamin Sterling. It was both compensation and a reminder of who was really in charge.’

The box opened, revealing the cold, brilliant sparkle of diamonds. Rose Joyce’s eyes were glued to the necklace. Even Benjamin had never given her a diamond necklace.

But to everyone’s surprise, Maxine Rhodes didn’t even glance at it. She simply closed the box and pushed it back. "I appreciate the thought, President Sterling. But this isn’t what I need."

A muscle in Benjamin Sterling’s jaw twitched. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

’She didn’t even look at it?’ This was completely unexpected. A surge of fury at being slighted flared up, making his ears ring. ’Does she have any idea how much this necklace is worth? How dare she humiliate me like this!’

"Maxine," his voice dropped. "I chose this especially for you. I suggest you take it."

He hoped she would read between the lines, take the easy way out, and accept his gracious gift. That way, he could maintain his pathetic sense of superiority.

"Instead of giving me gifts," Maxine Rhodes said, her gaze sweeping over Rose Joyce before finally landing on Benjamin Sterling’s face, "you’d be better off keeping your people in line. My time is valuable. I don’t want to waste it cleaning up one mess after another."

Her words were like an ice-cold dagger, plunging straight into Benjamin Sterling’s most vulnerable spot.

’What right did she have to lecture him with that condescending tone? Had she forgotten who gave her this platform, who promoted her? The ungrateful woman!’

"Maxine Rhodes!" He could barely stop himself from roaring, a vein throbbing on his forehead.

He wanted to fire her on the spot! But a shred of reason held him back. ’No, not now. The Apex project, the company... they still need her.’ The feeling of being at her mercy was so infuriating he felt he was about to explode.

In the end, he practically snatched the necklace back, forcing the words through gritted teeth, "Fine. Very good."

Seeing Benjamin Sterling’s thunderous expression and the rejected dessert box, Rose Joyce quickly tried to smooth things over. "Benjamin, Maxine is probably still angry. Let’s go for now."

Benjamin Sterling’s face was ashen, but he nodded.

Once they were back in his office, Rose Joyce immediately snuggled up to him, tears welling in her eyes. "Benjamin, I’m so useless, aren’t I? I can’t even help when I see you this angry..."

Seeing her in this familiar, needy state, craving his protection, gave Benjamin Sterling a pathetic sliver of comfort. At least someone still needed him, still looked up to him.

His heart settled slightly, and he soothed her out of habit. "Don’t be silly, Rose. You’re wonderful."

"Then... can I be your personal secretary?" she asked, grabbing his arm and tilting her face up to his. "I don’t even need a salary. I just want to be with you every day and take care of you. Besides..." She lowered her voice. "I won’t make you angry like Maxine does. I only want you to be happy."

Benjamin Sterling immediately thought of the uncontrollable fire he’d just seen in Maxine Rhodes’s eyes, of her increasingly independent and assertive behavior. Keeping the completely dependent Rose Joyce by his side would be like proving he was still in control of everything. And besides, it might even make *that woman* jealous. ’She can’t be completely indifferent to me!’

"Alright," he agreed almost instantly, as if to ward off some impending loss of control. "Come in tomorrow."

A thrill of victory shot through Rose Joyce. ’This position will give me the perfect excuse to monitor Maxine Rhodes’s every move,’ she thought. ’I will never allow anyone to threaten my special place in Benjamin’s heart.’

News that Benjamin Sterling had personally appointed Rose Joyce as his personal secretary spread like wildfire through the Sterling Group.

In the open-plan office outside the president’s suite, Coco and Bubbles were huddled together, whispering.

"Did you hear?" Coco whispered, jerking her chin toward the president’s office. "*She’s* official now! Her title is ’Personal Secretary to the President.’"

Bubbles rolled her eyes. "As if she needed the title. Hasn’t she been treating this place like her home and showing up every day anyway? Now she just has an official excuse to be his personal watchdog."

"Exactly," Coco said with a pout, her tone a mix of disdain and morbid curiosity. "She was an unofficial pest before, now she’s a certified one. Maxine won’t even give her the time of day."

Bubbles smiled knowingly. "Just think of her as a pretty, walking vase for the office. As long as she doesn’t interfere with our core business, she’s harmless."

"You’re right!" Coco agreed. "Just a petty clown. Pay her no mind!"