ARIA’S POVFrom my previous experiences with old employees, I know Charlotte isn’t someone who will just lay back and forget about our confrontation. Her grudges tend to linger, and I’m acutely aware that I need to be extra careful around her.Her sudden decision to take a week’s leave comes as both a surprise and a relief. The funniest part is, it feels like she’s hiding her face to avoid the aftermath of our clash. Without hesitation, I approve her leave immediately, a part of me wondering if she’s using this time to seek opportunities elsewhere. If that’s the case, good for her. At least I won’t have to deal with her negativity for a week.“Have a great holiday!”“Ha! Ha! I will, indeed.”With Charlotte temporarily out of the picture, the office atmosphere lightens considerably. The tension she brought with her is noticeably absent, and it feels like a breath of fresh air. I use this time to refocus on my projects and responsibilities, diving deep into the creative and strategic wo
ARIA’S POVCharlotte’s return to the office is marked by a more sour attitude than before. She discovers that the staff members are openly appreciating my contributions to Wilson Paragon’s success, and her frustration is palpable. Her anger spills over into her interactions with her team, and she nearly fires her juniors for no reason. The tension escalates when they come to me to complain about her unreasonable behavior.“Just because we praised you.”“And we accepted to work with you while she was away.”“Uhm… I’ll handle this matter. You carry on with your assignments.”I decide to address the issue head-on. I call Charlotte into my office and suggest transferring her juniors to another department that is short-staffed. However, she refuses, her eyes flashing with defiance.“I’m willing to give them another chance.”She says curtly, emphasizing on the fact that next time, they should only focus on their work and not come to her with stupid talks.Her response is a thinly veiled thr
ARIA’S POVThe next day, there is chaos. As I check the headlines, I nearly faint. "Aria Wilson, AKA Miss Cook, the illegitimate daughter of Dave Wilson and stripper, Susan Cook." I can’t believe my eyes. The words blur as I reread them, hoping it's a mistake. But the headline remains, glaringly real. My heart races, my mind spins, and a sickening dread settles in my stomach.I am still processing the shock when my father, Nathan, and Neal come into the dining room, their faces grave and lined with worry. The weight of the revelation hangs heavily in the air. My father had ensured that after announcing I was his daughter, my last name was changed to Wilson. The official story was that I had been lost as a baby and hence, was carrying the name Cook given to me by my adoptive parents. No one had ever dug deeper into my past—until now. The news about my mother being a stripper feels like a betrayal of the careful narrative we had constructed.Although some had kept addressing me as Aria
ARIA’S POVI wonder if Charlotte has a hand in this matter. The suspicion gnaws at me, a persistent itch I can’t scratch away. We are unable to step out because all the journalists are waiting on the main road for us. Their cameras and microphones form a blockade, a fortress of intrusive curiosity.“I don’t think it’s wise for us to step out.”Nathan is very concerned about our safety, while Neal says that he doesn’t care about the press. He says that he will report to his office because work is very important and the more we stay indoors, the more they will prey on us.In a way, Neal is right, but I’m afraid that he gets harmed on the way since I know how the media chases people on the way.“Aria, you stay indoors until everything calms down, alright?”I nod at Dad. Right now, I got to trust my family and do as advised.Neal leaves, but he manages to reach his office. He calls us and informs us how difficult it was on the way since the press started following him on the way and they
ADAM’S POVAria Wilson, AKA Miss Cook, the illegitimate daughter of Dave Wilson and stripper, Susan Cook.The headlines about Aria’s illegitimacy and her mother being a stripper floods my senses, but it doesn’t change anything for me. Her past, her lineage—none of it matters. I have realized that I love her ever since the day she left my house with nothing, embodying resilience and grace. I love her for the woman she is, not for her status or background. This revelation hits me with a force that’s both comforting and agonizing.The world is so cruel. Just because Aria is a successful business lady, one mistake in the past that is none of her fault, crops up in such a manner. I know that she has many rivals and enemies, but I’m wondering who it may be doing her dirty yet again; Ethan? Regis? My mother?I want to reach out to her and be her support. Yet, I hesitate. The fear of her rejecting my help, thinking it stems from pity, paralyzes me. I want to make amends for all the ill-treatm
ARIA’S POVIt’s no coincidence that Charlotte has gone ‘missing’ from work for a week, and upon her return, rumors about my lineage have surged. The timing is too perfect, too calculated. I keep thinking about my past rivals and enemies, yet all of them are either jailed or dead. How did our family secret get out just after my announcement as the heir of Wilson Paragon and right after my first big achievement? The pieces fit too well to be a mere accident.I wonder how long my family and I will keep running from the media and the public. My grandmother didn’t raise me to flee. She taught me to face adversities with a brave face, to stand tall no matter the storm. The memories of her strength fuel my determination. I refuse to let this scandal break me or the company my family built from the ground up.Meanwhile, I instruct Mario to dig into Charlotte’s personal life and her recent movements while she was on personal leave. Every detail could be a clue, every step she took could unrave
ARIA’S POVMario calls me to inform me about Charlotte. The details are staggering. What a despicable woman—not only at work but also in her personal life, she has engaged in abominable activities. I save this piece of information for future use against her. At least now, I am sure that it's her who has orchestrated this attack against me.“Oh, Lord! What a bitch!”“Indeed. I am sending you all the proof via email.”“Thank you so much, Mario.”Determined to take action, I decide to talk to my Dad and lay a trap for Charlotte. I want her to spill the beans, to confess her involvement.“The company is yours. Go ahead and do what you should to restore order.”“Thanks for trusting me, Dad.”“You always have my support my child.”A hug from my Dad brings solace to my heart and I feel like I am ready to deal with issue. Thankfully, Neal and Nathan have taken care of dousing the news, enabling me to focus more on solving the company issue as soon as possible.First, I need to see how Charlot
ARIA’S POVAll arrangements are made supposedly for me to step down. The internal meeting with all the shareholders, my father, and senior executive management is being held at Wilson Paragon’s conference room. The tension in the air is palpable as I step inside, ready to face the brewing storm. Charlotte is impeccably dressed, exuding confidence as she anticipates being announced as the next CEO. Her smug expression makes me want to laugh, but I hold myself in check.My Dad enters the room, his presence a steadying force. We both notice the sour attitudes of everyone present. The atmosphere is heavy with unspoken accusations and thinly veiled resentment. As the meeting begins, the discussions quickly turn to the latest stock market value of our shares and how significantly the company has been affected. The numbers are grim, each decline a dagger aimed at my heart.“What will become of Wilson Paragon, everyone here keeps asking us.”“Every business has its lows and downs and I’m sure