Chapter 1: The Announcement

Elena already knew what tonight would bring.

It would be nothing but trouble, the kind that could tear the family apart.

She had known for three weeks. It started the evening her father came to her quietly, closed the door behind him, and told her what her grandfather had decided. She shook her head before he even finished the sentence.

No, Dad. Give it to Harlan.

He is the son in this house, and he is the right person for it.

You shouldn’t deny him because of his behavior. I believe he can change.”

Her father looked at her for a long moment. Steady and certain in the way he always was when his mind was already made up.

Then he said it again.

“It has to be you

She hadn’t stopped thinking about the reasons he gave her three days ago, when he brought up the topic again.

Now, the most feared day had come. Robert had called the family for a dinner where the decision would be made.

The food had been served and mostly eaten. Wine glasses sat at different levels around the table. Her uncle and aunt whispered to each other, laughing softly.

She looked across the table at Harlan.

He had arrived late. Not very late but late enough to make a point without saying one. He walked in smiled at everyone easily, kissed his mother on the cheek, patted his father on the shoulder, and settled into his chair like a man who had come to enjoy himself rather than attend something serious.

He was already on his third glass of wine.

He looked good. Charming and But he had never once taken anything seriously when it mattered. His father had given him two real business opportunities over the past two years. Both were gone within months. Not because anything dramatic happened. Harlan simply lost interest and moved on to the next thing without looking back.

Elena did not fully blame him for it but her mother, Veronica for spoiling him.

Elena looked away from him and looked down at her hands.

The room had settled into a quieter kind of waiting for Robert to drop the bomb.

Her grandfather cleared his throat.

The whole room paid attention immediately.

“My dear children.” His voice was not as strong as it used to be but it was still steady and warm. “I called this meeting because there is something I need to tell you and I wanted to say it to you directly.” He paused for a moment. William and I have led this company well for many years, but not anymore.

Everyone was completely still, even more so than before.

Even Harlan had put his wine glass down.

Every single person at this table knew what was coming tonight.

Every single person except Harlan.

He looked slowly around the table.

“I am naming Elena as the new CEO of Carter Group.”

The room was silent for one full second.

Then Harlan’s hand came down hard on the table.

The sound cracked through the room. A fork slipped off a plate. Almost everyone jumped. The warmth that had been sitting quietly over the evening disappeared in an instant.

Harlan was already on his feet. His chair had gone back behind him. His chest was rising and falling fast. His jaw was tight. The relaxed charming man who had walked in smiling was completely gone.

“What?” he said quietly at first. Then he said it again, louder and stronger.

“I don’t accept it.”

“Rubbish!”

“Nonsense!”

“That’s not possible!” For the second time, He hit the table hard with his hand, making everything shake.”

“Harlan,” William said firmly.

“I don’t accept it.” Harlan’s voice was rising, raw with anger. “I am the only son in this house. The only son. And you’re telling me, right here, in front of everyone, that you chose her?

“Son,” Robert said. His voice was calm and even. “Elena is the eldest.”

“And what does that mean?” He cut in quickly. He let out a short hard sound that was not quite a laugh.

“She is older.”

“Fine.”

“But is she a man? Can anyone at this table tell me what the point of having a son is if the son doesn’t matter?” His voice dropped lower and quieter which somehow made it worse.

“Or maybe I already know the answer. Maybe it is because my mother was not the first wife. Maybe that is what this has always really been about and nobody wanted to say it out loud.”

The room went completely still.

Nobody moved. Nobody spoke.

Elena looked across the table at her brother.

She could see the pain sitting behind his anger. He had been carrying a question without fully knowing what the question was.

But she could not say a word.

Harlan looked at his father. Then at Elena. Then back to his father. His jaw was tight. His eyes were burning.

Nobody answered him.

“Nobody is answering, right?” he asked bitterly, his heart pounding, eyes wide.

Then he picked up his jacket from the back of his chair.

“I won’t forget this.”

He walked out, anger in every step.

“I won’t forget this.” His voice echoed again.