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 just the three of us. And only after my mother died did I realise 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 anyway. And it broke him. 

"Everyone leave," I say through gritted teeth. 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, stepping further into the room until she's at the other end of the table. She stops once we're face to face, that smug smile never leaving her lips.

"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 our innocent little girl 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 on the brink of losing my composure.

"You might think this is your time, but there's so much you don't know. So much you don't understand," she continues vaguely. 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, still facing 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. The reading of the will was scheduled for later today, but considering I would be the only one in attendance anyway, I asked the lawyer to send me a copy when it was ready and I haven't had the time to check it. I didn't think I needed to. There was no one else that could inherit my father's assets except me. Right?

"What do you mean?"

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

"I mean what I said. 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 of your performance 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.

"They're here. Wonderful. " she says with a grin.

She waves my own lawyer over and he places a copy of my father's will on the table in front of me.

I pick up the document with shaky fingers. My mouth goes dry.

I read through it, the black ink confirming the nightmare of this situation. Shannon is the new CEO. Not me.

I feel my chest tighten until I can no longer breathe. I flick my wrist, sending the papers flying across the room. This is impossible.

Looking back 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. 

My head hurts and all I want to do is scream.

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, but I will not be a part of your stupid little game."

Calmly, slowly, she walked over to me, stopping with her face only inches away from mine. She smells of something synthetic and alcohol, and I am ultimately appalled by it. "If you still think that this is just a game then you've proven my point. You don't deserve to lead. So thank me for taking this burden off your shoulders," she seethes. 

I back away in disgust and defeat. “You're wrong," I tell her. "I worked for this. You've had to steal it from me because you're the one that's unworthy. Not me."

She has no idea what she's getting herself into. She folds her arms, watching me with a smirk.

"You think just 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.  

"Watch me."