Hazel's POV

I remember the first time I met her. Everything about her seemed so robotic. I wondered how my father didn't see it. But whatever mid-life crisis he was having that caused him to marry this barbie doll didn't stop me from supporting him.

I didn't have any siblings. It had always been the three of us. And only after my mother died did I realize how lonely it got to live in a big, empty house. So, I focused on business school. I buried myself in all the schoolwork until I knew everything that the family business required. It was my only distraction. A coping mechanism for all the pain. And when I met Edwin, I thought I would never feel lonely again.

Well, I still do. He's everything I ever hoped for when I could no longer distract myself from the emptiness burning an insatiable hole in my chest. And when I found him, he made me feel like a new person. One that wasn't weak or clueless, but strong enough to chase after my dreams. Strong enough to carry on the legacy.

And Shannon, well, she left after taking enough money to settle down for life. The truth is we all knew it. We knew she wanted nothing to do with him except for the money. We didn't want to jump to conclusions, but she made herself fit so perfectly into that stereotype. He simply gave her what she wanted, hoping that she would stay. But she left anyways.

And after she left, there it was again. He was broken.

"Everyone leave," I say to the board of directors. They gather their things and walk out silently, and I sit back in my chair to regain my stamina.

"I'll ask you again Shannon. Why are you here?"

"I understand that you're upset," she begins calmly, taking a few steps away from the door until she's at the other end of the table.

"Upset?" A bitter laugh escapes my lips. "You weren't even at the funeral and now you're here. You think he didn't write you out of his will a long time ago? Or do you really think you have any right to interrupt my first board meeting as CEO-"

"Look at you, Hazel." She cuts me off, smiling down at me as if she can't already see how irritated I am.

"I'm so proud of you," she adds. It makes me uncomfortable to hear those words coming out of her mouth.

"You used to be so fragile and now..." she scoffs. "Well, now you think you can talk to me like that."

"What I think is that you need to leave before I have you removed," I reply returning her sly smile.

"You might think this is your time, but there's so much you don't know. So much you don't understand," she continues. My hands ball into fists under the table.

"Enlighten me then, Shannon. Tell me what it is that you know that I don't. Maybe that's the reason you're here," I say calmly. She nods, pulling back one of the chairs taking a seat to face me.

"I hoped we could talk this out like adults. But all you've done is disrespect me from the moment I walked in." She shakes her head while I fight the urge to call security. Because as far as I'm concerned, this is a waste of my time.

"Contrary to your own assumptions, your father stated me as the new CEO before he died. And as for his will," she laughs lightly. "You'll need to check in with your lawyers again."

Her words should be clear enough, but my mind instantly creates a wall of denial.

"What do you mean?"

My voice is so small. So quiet. It's almost like a whisper.

"What? Have you lost your senses? I came here to tell you this face-to-face out of the respect I have for the daughter of the only man I've ever loved. It's what he would've wanted--"

"Bullshit."

"Don't try to fight facts, Hazel. Our lawyers will be here soon. And I don't care how you feel about this. It's the truth."

I can't respond in any way other than hysterical laughter. I lean back in my chair. Of all the possible outcomes that I had thought this day would bring, I'm hearing this?

She continues, unaffected by my reaction.

"As the new CEO, my first course of action is letting you go. I have been looking into the records and I think there are a lot of people better suited for the position of CFO, and now that Benedict is gone, nepotism has been buried with him."

My laughter ceases abruptly. "How dare you? How dare you disrespect my family like that? The same family that put designer clothes on your greedy, gold-digging back," I add, because I've been dying to say it.

"You spoiled little brat," she seethes.

The door opens, and three men walk in. I recognize two of them as our family lawyers, and the last one must be hers. Whatever this is, it feels like an ambush. One that I am not at all prepared to deal with.

"Oh look. They're all here.," she says as if it’s a brilliant surprise.

"I know you wanted to save the reading of the will for a special time, but this is necessary. You'll need proof that what I'm telling you now isn't some kind of joke,” She says.

They stand around her like loyal dogs. What I would give to wipe that ridiculously smug look off her face. One of them hands her a file and she slides it over to me across the table. I take it with hesitant fingers, already knowing what I'll find. And as I read through the files, I feel my chest tighten until I can no longer breathe. I let them all fall to the table once I'm done.

Looking up at her, all I can say is, "Why are you doing this?"

She stands, adjusting her pink leather jacket. She seems satisfied that I am now past my denial stage. 

"I wouldn't expect an entitled child like you to understand this, but your father never thought you were suited for the job. Never strong enough, never wise enough, and you're just a naïve little girl," she replies.

I stand slowly, realizing the depth of his betrayal. I have been tied down to this company and this name my entire life. Was it truly all for nothing? And why on earth would he leave his life's work in the hands of his ex-wife. 

A headache, the urge to scream, it's all so sudden. 

I stand facing her, ripping her apart with my eyes. She stares back, no trace of guilt or mercy in her eyes.

"I don't know who you think you are," I start in a low voice, making sure that she's the only one in the room that can hear me. "But I will not be a part of your stupid little game."

She takes a step closer. She smells of old spice and alcohol, and I am ultimately appalled by it. "If you still think that this is just a game then you're even more stupid than I recall."

I back away in disgust and defeat. “Well, congratulations, Shannon. This must be a very big win for you."

I don't know what her reason is. To be honest, I don't really care. She has no idea what she's getting herself into.

"You think I'm going to let you get away with this?" I scoff. "You've taken something away from me. Something important. Something I have been working for my whole life. And I'm going to make you regret it."

“I’d like to see you try,” she replies confidently.  

I shove her, making sure she stumbles back in her heels as I walk past her and make my way out the door.

"Watch me."