Nara shut the door behind her, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on her shoulders. Leaning against the door for a moment, she closed her eyes, shutting down for a while before slowly making her way to her vanity dresser, pulling out the chair and sinking into it with a heavy sigh.
As she stared at her reflection in the mirror, a surge of anger washed over her. She could barely recognize herself anymore. She still had brown contact lenses on. She wore them every morning since she married Nathan. Now it felt like a ritual, like she couldn't stop. She always wore them. She couldn't even remember what her eyes looked like before them.
And her hair? It was still fucking brown. What the hell was wrong with her? Why was she still letting Nathan dictate her appearance? Why did she still resemble his dead wife, even in the smallest details?
She ran her hands through her hair and tugged at the strands roughly in frustration. She was so confused, lost, and frustrated, and her hormones just made things worse. She felt trapped, scared, and stuck all at the same time.
She wanted to cry, but she held back. She shouldn't. She had to remain strong and sane. Not for her sake but for the sake of the little thing growing in her womb.
She sighed deeply as she remembered all she had been through. She couldn't, wouldn't let her child taste a single drop of bitterness or neglect. Even if it meant spending the rest of her life with someone who wasn't in love with her.
She would do anything to make sure her unborn baby felt loved and cherished. That was now her new purpose. As for Nathan, she would just try to be as distant as possible. She had endured enough at his hands.
******
Nathan had to return to work. He needed to attend an important meeting with the members of his grandfather's board. His thoughts were clouded with Nara, but he needed to focus.
As the new chairman, president, CEO, or whatever you wish to address him as, he had a crucial role to play; he needed to ensure that the board operated effectively.
And he knew most members of the board were already against him due to the fact that they wanted his uncle Darren to be the next successor.
As he stepped into the boardroom, the weight of his grandfather's legacy hung heavy in the air.
The members of the board, mostly older men with years of experience in the industry, all looked at him with barely concealed skepticism.
To them, he was merely a young upstart who had stumbled into wealth through sheer luck, unworthy of the position he now found himself in.
Clearing his throat, Nathan took a seat at the head of the table, his demeanor calm and composed despite the tension in the air.
He met the scrutinizing gazes of the board members with cool determination, refusing to be intimidated by their condescending stares.
"Thank you all for being here today," Nathan began, his voice measured and authoritative.
"I understand that some of you may have reservations about my age and experience, but let me assure you that I am fully committed to upholding the legacy of this company and ensuring its continued success."
A murmur of doubt rippled through the room, but Nathan remained unfazed, his gaze sweeping over each member of the board with a cool intensity.
"Now, I understand that there may be concerns about my uncle's absence from this meeting," Nathan continued, leaning back in his chair with a smirk as he addressed the elephant in the room head-on.
"Let me make one thing abundantly clear: the decision to appoint me as the head of this company was made by my grandfather himself, and I have every intention of honoring his wishes."
The board members exchanged uneasy glances as Nathan's words sank in. They had expected him to crumble under the weight of their disapproval, but instead, he thrived in his confidence.
"In the coming weeks, I will be implementing a series of strategic initiatives aimed at modernizing our operations and driving growth," Nathan declared, his tone leaving no room for argument. "And I expect each and every one of you to fully support these efforts, or else I will have no qualms about finding individuals who are better suited to the task. And if anyone's got a problem with that, they can show themselves the door."
Silence descended upon the boardroom as Nathan's words hung in the air. The board members realized that the young man sitting before them was not to be underestimated.
As the meeting drew to a close, Nathan rose from his seat, his gaze locking with each member of the board in turn.
"Thank you for your time," he said, his voice a quiet command. "I look forward to working with each of you to ensure the continued success of this company."
With that, Nathan exited the boardroom, leaving the stunned board members in his wake. Though they may have doubted him at first, they now understood that Nathan was not to be trifled with.
And he intended to make his mark on the world, no matter what it took.