His Human Assistant (Monsters Love Curvy Girls #3) - Michele Mills Page 0,2

my part, I really can do what I say. This is literally what I do for a living. Working undercover for the IBB is my day job, but business consulting is my lucrative side hustle.

The Creekan’s scaly lips purse. “Hew-mans are usually known as beings with compassion towards both the young and old. We place your species in positions as nannies or in geriatrics.”

I roll my eyes. “Listen, I don’t know anything about children or taking care of the elderly, that’s all completely foreign to me. I’m not the motherly or caretaking type, nor do I know how to cook or clean. I’m terrible at all that stuff. But if you put me in a business environment of some sort, I’ll kick ass.”

She continues to stare.

I blow out a breath. “I have a Master’s in Business Administration from the Gravian Institute for Universal Finance,” I admit. “I graduated first in my class, in a competitive accelerated program that allowed me to finish early, and I have five years of applied practice in forensic accounting and venture capital. But for this placement I am willing to downgrade to ‘assistant.’”

She grunts and goes back to tapping her screen. “Well, we have a placement at—”

“I don’t care where it is, I just need the assignment that gets me off planet the quickest,” I say. I’m sure I sound shady as hell, but I’ve got to get out of here.

She pauses and zooms in on something on the screen. “Well, there’s an immediate open position as an assistant for the owner of a security firm on Tarvos…”

“I’ll take it,” I say a little too loudly. I don’t even know where Tarvos is, but it will do—that’s how desperate I am.

“Okay. The position is yours then.” She gives me a wide smile. “Before we can get started, I’ll need your name, citizen ID and a DNA scan to initiate a background check.”

I grimace. I was hoping they wouldn’t need any of this, but they’re more professional than I originally gave them credit for. “I need this information to remain confidential.” I don’t want anyone to trace me or know where I went. I don’t think corporate can find me if I hide on Tarvos under my real identity, but I’m being super cautious. I need to lay low until the machinery I started progresses all the way through the Intergalactic courts.

“Oh, don’t worry this will remain confidential,” she agrees. “We’ve learned through experience to keep our business records dark. Our data is no longer shared. No one will be able to trace your placement.”

That’s weird. Can I trust this agency? But what other choice do I have? I was working undercover for the corporation, using a fake name and ID. Hopefully using my real name in this placement is actually what will keep me safe.

“Your name is…?”

“Avery Klein,” I say truthfully, “my species is human, age twenty-six.” And then I rattle off my ID and give them the DNA scan.

“Good morning,” a scratchy voice says.

I squeak with surprise because an older guy I don’t even know is suddenly standing over me.

“This is Mr. Ochoa, your lawyer.”

“Since when do I have a lawyer?”

The man quietly sits next to me and takes out a tablet.

“We’ve been ordered to keep a lawyer on retainer,” the Creekan explains. “There was a dispute over the wording of our prior contract. We now make sure to have a lawyer for new hires to consult with prior to signing, so we can prove we don’t hand out predatory contracts.”

I nod, pleased at this outcome.

I shake hands with the man I realize is there to help me and I make it appear that I’m listening to his counsel and looking over this contract, but really, I could care less. I just need to get through this as fast as possible. This job is going to last for a year, which gives me plenty of time to lay low until all of this blows over. The Bureau can get me out of any shady entanglements. Basically, I’m signing myself up for a Do-it-Yourself witness protection program.

“Sign here,” the Creekan eventually says.

And I’m more than happy to comply.

An hour later I’m at the Singapore Transporter Station, ready to depart New Earth for some rando alien world, giddy with relief.

This is the main reason why I chose this agency—their vid ads always show them sending humans off planet to their new job instantly via transporter. I’ve used transporters several times in the past, but this time