Chapter 4 The Announcement

Three months later, at the Wetland Project acceptance meeting, the entire conference hall was packed. Government officials, media reporters, and senior executives from the group were all present.

I stood on stage, the full project data displayed on the large screen behind me. "Following completion, the Wetland Project achieved a 5.8 times return, directly recovering 83 million dollars in losses for the company, while indirectly driving over 200 million in value growth in surrounding land. The project has passed government environmental inspection and has been designated a model for ecological restoration across the city."

Applause broke out across the hall, and camera flashes fired nonstop.

A government official personally came on stage to present me with an award, shaking my hand as he said, "Ms. Ayla Cladwell, you are a role model among young entrepreneurs."

Reporters quickly gathered around, microphones thrust toward me.

"Ms. Cladwell, how did you turn a loss-making project into five times the profit?"

"We've heard the project was on the verge of collapse when you took over. How did you reverse the situation?"

I answered each question in turn, my smile composed.

From the stage, I could feel the eyes of the company's executives on me—some filled with admiration, some with surprise, others more complicated.

My gaze swept toward a corner of the room.

Adrian sat there with his arms crossed, a faintly dismissive smile on his lips. Jenna sat between him and Harvey, leaning in to speak softly, letting out the occasional laugh.

After the meeting ended and the crowd began to disperse, I stood by the window with a glass of water. Celeste approached, her voice low but excited. "Ms. Cladwell, you were incredible today. With results like this from the Wetland Project, that should shut them up."

I did not respond, my eyes drifting toward the three of them in the distance.

Adrian was speaking with a few executives. His voice was not loud, but it carried just enough.

"It's just small-scale work. The Wetland Project is tiny. Five times the return still isn't much. The Cirrus Project is on an entirely different level. That's a billion-scale operation. You make a move there, and you're talking hundreds of millions."

Harvey stood beside him, nodding in agreement. "The Wetland Project's scale is limited. Even at five times the return, it won't break 100 million."

Jenna tilted her head, smiling with practiced innocence. "Ayla really worked hard. She's lost so much weight in just three months. But the Cirrus Project is about to launch soon. When that happens, Ayla, you're welcome to come visit."

A few people nearby chuckled along.

Adrian walked over, a glass of wine in hand, and stopped in front of me.

"Ayla, not bad. You did well on this project." His tone was the kind used to praise a child for getting full marks. "But compared to Cirrus, it's still a long way off. Once Cirrus starts turning a profit, you'll understand what real business looks like."

Harvey stood behind him, nodding.

Jenna remained between them, looking at them with admiration before turning to me, her expression shifting into something almost sympathetic. "Ayla, don't feel bad. The Wetland Project might be small, but it's still your hard work."

Her voice was soft, almost consoling, as though she were comforting someone who had failed. "Once the Cirrus Project gets underway, I'll have someone send you some materials. You can study them and aim for a bigger project next time."

I looked at the three of them. One was my brother. One was my former fiance. The last was the intern who had taken what was mine and still played the part of an angel.

Three months ago, they had stood in that hallway, looking at me like I was nothing.

Now they stood in front of me, speaking as if they were offering charity.

I said nothing.

Because I did not need to.

"Taking this opportunity, I'd like to announce an important decision."

My father, Frederick Cladwell, spoke from the stage.

The entire hall fell silent, and all eyes turned toward him.

Frederick stood at the microphone, his gaze sweeping across the room before settling on me. "From this day on, Ayla will assume the position of CEO of Cladwell Co., taking full responsibility for all company operations."