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Fallon

I tapped my fingers impatiently on the table, staring at the men around me. We’d be ordered to an emergency meeting, and it didn’t seem like good news.

“Look, I know everything feels hopeless and we need to plan for the worst, but we can work with what we’ve got. Your mother had a will, and we can fight everything until the bitter end. I hope it doesn’t come to that.”

Evans ruffled his normally well-done hair, clearly disturbed by our plans and sneaking around not making a dent in Sylvia’s plan.

I made plans of my own in the background. If she stole everything, I would continue to fight, but it would be dirty. The people I had around me could roll in the mud, especially Jason.

“What do we do in the meantime?” I asked.

He shrugged, another abnormal movement for him. “We’re working on getting new judges and lawyers to comb through your paperwork. We can go to the media with a scandal like this, but it could destroy Montgomery Group with our clientele. We work in luxury–and sometimes discreet–business. It wouldn’t be a good look.”

I gritted my teeth. “Which is what she probably planned for, too.”

“Exactly,” he tried to compose himself, “but we must push forward and keep up appearances. Try not to lose hope, kid. Your mom has figured her way out of shit situations before. This might be the worst one yet but keep your chin up.”

Everyone sat in their chairs, the tension thick in the air. I couldn’t breathe with the anxiety running through my veins.

Tempted to scroll through my phone again and look at the other series of threats and pictures I’d gotten, the trash can across the room looked like an inviting place to be.

The door opened and a few people strolled in, an air of haughtiness about them. The crowd of men separated to reveal a woman.

Sylvia.

A man to her left set down a few pieces of paper.

“I am happy to announce that I am going to be taking over as the CEO of Montgomery Group. The sole heir is not qualified to be successor at this current time.” She looked at me, wicked grin on her face. “But we do wish her well in her studies until she can prepare herself as a proper leader.”

“The will states–”

She interrupted Evans. “The will is vague. I have plenty of lawyers and judges who can attest to this, and that, as her guardian, I can continue leading as I have been until she’s more...competent.”

Saw that coming.

Her hair was neatly done. She found the nerve to dress like my mother, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she stole her clothes from the home that was left empty all these years. Hell, she probably moved into my mother’s house. I didn’t live there and couldn’t bring myself to return after all these years. The company took care of it, and I bought my own near campus anyway.

A finely manicured hand pushed the papers further onto the table. “Effective immediately, I am the one in charge. I am your new CEO.”

––––––––

T he news went wild of the sister of deceased CEO coming forward. Her sob story of how she wanted to take care of me and honor my mother’s memory was disturbing. Whatever twisted this woman’s mind her entire life made me pity her.

She was disturbed.

Memories of her drunk and hitting me flooded me all day. After she left, the trash can I eyed was my new hole to throw up in.

Whatever happened next, I had to choose my steps carefully.