Chapter 1

My stepfather’s cold eyes bore into mine, unmoved.

“Give me another chance!” I pleaded, my voice cracking with desperation.

“I know I failed before, but I’ve learnt from my mistakes.” I pleaded again, my words tumbling out in a rush. ”I’ve changed, I swear, give me another chance.”

“Hmmm.” He leans back in his seat, His expression thoughtful.

 “I don’t doubt that you’re a changed person,” His voice measured “My priority is, and always will be, the company’s well-being.” he said with a serious look on his face.

 “I know, all I’m asking for is”…

“Enough! I’ve heard you.” “you may leave now”. I rose, relief washing over me “I won’t let you down a second time,” I promised.

As I turned to leave, his words halted me. “Your decisions nearly ruined the life of this company” He said as I made for the door, “If you take one wrong step, you’re out for real this time!”

 Reginald Owen wasn’t the one to mince words or make idle threats, I needed no interpreter to let me know that he was serious. I took a deep breath, the weight of his warning settling heavy on my shoulders.

With a quiet nod, I let myself out of his study.

“How did it go?” My best friend’s eager voice screamed through the phone. “What did he say?” I took in a deep breath “chill girl, my pleadings worked. I won’t be foolish enough to allow anything ruin my family’s company and reputation again!” As I spoke, my heavy breathing was audible over the phone. And I meant it this time, I did not spend one year of my life in a strange city all to make the same mistake again.

“Your stepfather’s punishment was harsh, abandoning you for a whole year because of a mistake, if you ask me that was pretty extreme, besides it wasn’t your fault.”

 I could hear the smirk in her voice, I sighed, ”You don’t understand Lexi,” I said, my voice laced with exhaustion, the weight of my mistakes still heavy on my shoulders. she has no idea what I put the company through, from second-ranked to nearly bankrupt in one year, It is a mystery that the company survived.

“Don’t you think he overreacted?” she continued “you’ve done so much for the company, after all.”  I sighed again “you don’t get it, Lexi. I deserved that punishment. I needed that time to confront the consequences of my actions, to realize the destruction my decisions caused. And I won’t make the same mistakes again.”

“I’m glad you’re back, and wiser. We’ll get through this together.” she said assuredly.

Her words were all I needed in the moment, at least I’m not alone. “Thank you.” I said and ended the call.

I can’t wait to reclaim my position in the family business, and of course have my revenge on Leonard Mckelis, The cunning heir to the MK group empire who manipulated me using our relationship to gain access to my stepfather’s confidential documents. He exposed and falsified sensitive information, then publicly thanked me on TV for generously helping him to rise above his enemies.

My phone vibrated, I picked it up to an I*******m notification, which read; happy one year anniversary to us, how time flies quickly… The bastard is celebrating his one year anniversary already! And he had the guts to tag me in his post.

Fury coursed through my veins as I bit my lower lip, my anger reigniting. The painful memories came flooding back. This was the same man who had manipulated and publicly humiliated me. To make matters worse, I recalled the latest news: Leonard’s elevation to Acting CEO of his father’s company.

I buried my face in my hands, tears streaming down my cheeks like acid rain, “Life is unfair!” I screamed, the sound echoing off the walls, everything seem to mock me – Leonard’s success, his family’s prosperity, all built on the ruins of my trust. My mind recoiled in agony, relieving the memories I’d desperately tried to erase. The leaked documents, the public shaming, the crushing betrayal.

“No!” I said aloud bracing myself. “Not now, not ever.” I wiped away my tears, my resolve hardened. This was not the time for weakness. I had to show my stepfather that I’d transformed- that the naïve, gullible girl of few years past was gone. I’ll rebuild his trust, shatter doubts and forge a new path.

I walked boldly into my stepfather’s company. One week after our meeting, His secretary’s text had summoned me to his office.

 As I stepped into the building, all heads turned. The room fell silent, except for the murmurs and whispers that swirled around me like a vortex.

 “I heard the CEO has finally forgiven her of all she did in the past”

“How could he let her back, she practically ruined the company’s reputation!”

“What is she doing here?”

 “…of course the media won’t forget!”

 Their words stung, piercing my confidence. My feet suddenly grew weak as some of their comments filled my ears, I managed to get into the elevator while maintaining a straight face, once I got in, I exhaled pressing the button for the top floor.

I took in deep breathe, said a short prayer before opening the door to my step father’s office, “He has been expecting you” blurted Vasquez my step father’s most trusted bodyguard 

 “well I’m here now” he scoffed and led the way to the CEO’s desk at the far corner of the enormous office.

My stepfather and CEO of the company was engrossed in a business call when I stepped into his office, as I moved closer to him, he gestured for me to take a seat. thirty minutes later, he finally ended the call and turned to face me “The board were skeptical about my decision to let you back as the Chief Operating Officer of the company” but as the CEO of the company I guess it’s right for everyone to understand who’s in charge’ he says with a proud look on his face.

“I assured them that you won’t let the company down and would strictly perform your duties now, don't make me chew back my words!” he says looking at me sternly, his dark eyes piercing through me as though in search of something, perhaps a reason to doubt.

“I won’t disappoint you or the board,” I vowed, my voice firm. His expression was unreadable. “You have no choice.” The silence that followed was oppressive, weighing heavily on me for what felt like eternity. Ten agonizing minutes ticked by.

Then without warning, his dry smile twisted his face. “Welcome back.”