Chapter 17- Undermined

Angela's POV

The moment I step into the conference room two days later, the noise hits me like a wave. Executives, managers, and shareholders are bickering in raised voices, and no one seems to be in control. The tension is thick, and I can tell right away that something big is brewing.

As I settle into my seat, I catch bits and pieces of their arguments, murmurs about a recent bid the company lost—one worth more than a billion.

The missed project is a serious loss for the company, one that I’m sure has all of them on edge. Still, as I sit here representing my father, I can’t help but feel uncomfortable, awkward even, with the way they’re treating me.

No one acknowledges me directly. It’s as if I’m just filling an empty seat, as if they’d all rather I wasn’t here at all.

The acting CEO, my uncle, finally takes his place at the head of the table. He doesn’t even glance my way, and for a second, I think maybe I can slip through this meeting unnoticed.

Then he clears his throat and lo