Lani sat at the small dining table, a cup of untouched coffee in front of her, as she stared at the notes scattered across her laptop screen.
She needed a plan.
She wasn't just a runaway heiress—she was a businesswoman. A CEO. And even if she had to start from scratch, she would.
Her phone buzzed, breaking her concentration.
Olivia: Have you eaten today?
Lani sighed, smiling slightly as she typed back.
Lani: Barely. Too much to do.
Almost immediately, Olivia called.
Lani answered with a smirk. "You really can't let me breathe, huh?"
"I'll let you breathe when you stop starving yourself," Olivia shot back. "You're pregnant, Lani. You have to take care of yourself."
Lani sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I know. It's just… there's a lot going on."
"I get that," Olivia said gently. "That's why I'm helping you. Which, by the way, brings me to my next point."
Lani sat up straighter. "You found something?"
"I did," Olivia confirmed. "A consulting opportunity. Small but steady. It'll keep your name out of the headlines for a while."
Lani bit her lip, excitement bubbling in her chest. "You're a lifesaver."
"I know," Olivia said smugly. "But don't thank me yet. You have to actually show up and do the work."
Lani chuckled. "Oh, trust me. I will."
For the first time in weeks, she felt like she was regaining control.
She wasn't just surviving anymore.
She was building something new.
Lani closed her laptop, a newfound sense of determination settling in. Olivia had pulled through, as always. A consulting job wasn't exactly what she was used to—she had been the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar company, not some behind-the-scenes advisor—but right now, it was exactly what she needed.
Something stable. Something hers.
Her fingers traced the rim of her coffee cup as her thoughts drifted.
Her father would be furious when he found out she was still making moves in the business world. He had probably assumed she'd stay hidden, humiliated and dependent. That she'd come crawling back, begging for forgiveness.
He doesn't know me at all.
She wasn't running.
She was rebuilding.
Just as she was about to stand up and finally eat something, her phone buzzed again.
Olivia: Your first meeting is tomorrow. Be ready.
Lani took a deep breath, letting the reality of it sink in.
Tomorrow.
Lani woke up the next morning with a sense of purpose she hadn't felt in weeks.
For the first time in a long time, she had something to look forward to. Something that didn't involve scandal, betrayal, or fear.
She was back in control.
Even if her life wasn't the same, she wasn't powerless.
She took her time getting ready, slipping into a simple but elegant beige dress and a tailored blazer. She still looked like a CEO—just not the one her father controlled.
By the time she arrived at the address Olivia had sent her, her heart was racing.
The meeting was in a high-rise office downtown, far enough from the Carlisle name to keep her identity discreet but still prestigious enough to be taken seriously.
She stepped into the sleek, modern office space, adjusting her posture as she approached the front desk.
"Lani Carlisle," she said, her voice calm and confident. "I have a meeting."
The receptionist barely blinked before nodding. "Of course. Right this way."
Lani followed her down a glass-paneled hallway, her heels clicking against the polished floor.
The moment she stepped into the boardroom, she felt it—the weight of expectation, of potential.
A group of executives sat around the table, their expressions ranging from curiosity to admiration. They weren't looking at her like a scandal. They were looking at her like an asset.
And that was exactly what she needed.
The meeting started, and within minutes, Lani was back in her element. Talking strategy. Fixing problems. Bringing ideas to life.
By the time it ended, she could feel the shift in the air.
They weren't just impressed.
They needed her.
Olivia had been right.
This was her way back in.
And this time, she wasn't playing by her father's rules.
A new beginning.
A new life.
And this time, it was her choice.