The atmosphere in the conference room shifted the moment Charles Devereaux stepped inside. His presence always commanded attention, but today there was something particularly heavy in the air. Lila straightened in her seat, her hands clasped tightly in her lap as she forced herself to meet his gaze.
"Good morning," Charles began, his tone clipped. "I trust everyone is prepared for what's coming."
The murmurs of greeting around the table were cautious, employees exchanging wary glances. Charles wasn't known for wasting time on pleasantries, and when he made an unexpected appearance, it usually spelled trouble.
Lila cleared her throat, breaking the silence. "What's the matter, Charles?"
Her use of his first name was deliberate. While he might be her father, she never allowed their personal relationship to bleed into the professional sphere. It was a line she had drawn years ago, and one she fiercely protected.
Charles's sharp eyes narrowed, but he didn't comment. Instead, he dropped a thick folder onto the table. "This," he said, tapping the top of it, "is a summary of recent developments from a competitor. They've made significant strides in AI-driven encryption technology. If their claims are true, it could render our current project obsolete before we even launch."
The room fell silent. Ethan glanced at Lila, noting the way her jaw tightened.
"We've anticipated this kind of competition," Lila replied, her voice steady. "But our focus has always been on reliability and long-term innovation, not just speed to market. We can counter their moves if we stick to our strategy."
Charles's lips pressed into a thin line. "Strategy means nothing if we lose market share. I'm proposing we fast-track the beta release of our firmware update."
Lila's pulse quickened. "That's a mistake. We're still working through critical vulnerabilities. A rushed release could expose us to security breaches—and lawsuits."
"I'm aware of the risks," Charles said, his voice cold. "But risks are part of the game. Or have you forgotten that, Lila?"
The barb wasn't lost on anyone in the room. Ethan shifted uncomfortably but stayed silent, knowing this was a battle Lila had to fight on her own—for now.
"Of course, I haven't forgotten," she said, her tone measured. "But I'm not willing to sacrifice the company's reputation for a shortcut."
The tension between father and daughter was palpable, filling the room like a thick fog.
After a moment, Charles's gaze flicked to Ethan. "What's your take on this, Mr. Collins? You've been involved in the project lately, haven't you?"
Ethan froze, unprepared for the sudden spotlight. He glanced at Lila, whose expression betrayed nothing, then back at Charles. "I think Lila's right," he said carefully. "We need to make sure the update is secure before we roll it out. If we rush and something goes wrong, the damage to our reputation could be worse than any advantage our competitors gain."
Charles's eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable. "Interesting," he said, his voice laced with sarcasm. "You've certainly been given a lot of trust for someone with no formal background in this industry."
Ethan felt the sting of the remark but held his ground. "Trust is earned, sir. And I'm doing everything I can to prove I deserve it."
Charles didn't respond immediately. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, his gaze shifting between Ethan and Lila. "We'll see about that."
With that, he stood and addressed the room. "This discussion isn't over. I expect detailed updates by the end of the week. Good day."
The room exhaled as Charles left, the tension dissipating slightly.
---
As the meeting wrapped up, Lila lingered, organizing her notes with meticulous precision—a telltale sign she was trying to regain her composure. Ethan waited until the others had filed out before approaching her.
"Are you okay?" he asked softly.
Lila looked up at him, her expression unreadable. "I'm fine. This isn't the first time he's tried to undermine me, and it won't be the last."
"I didn't mean to step on your toes back there," Ethan said. "I just thought—"
"You handled it well," she interrupted, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Better than I expected, actually."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Better than you expected? What did you think I'd do, throw you under the bus?"
She chuckled softly, shaking her head. "No, but he's not easy to stand up to. Most people fold under that kind of pressure."
"Well," Ethan said, his tone teasing, "I guess I'm not most people."
Lila rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress the smile that spread across her face. For a moment, the weight of the meeting lifted, replaced by the easy camaraderie that had developed between them.
But the reprieve was short-lived.
"We need to be careful," Lila said, her voice dropping to a serious tone. "He's watching us now. And if he suspects anything beyond professional between us…"
Ethan nodded, understanding the unspoken warning. "I get it. We'll be careful."
Lila hesitated, then reached out and placed a hand on his arm. "Thank you. For backing me up in there."
"Always," Ethan said, his voice steady. "We're in this together, remember?"
As she looked at him, Lila felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, they could navigate this uncharted territory—together.