Zara inhaled deeply, willing her trembling fingers to still as she gripped the edge of the table.
"I am here," she began, her voice faltering slightly, "not just to honor my father's vision…" Her throat tightened, and for a moment, her mind blanked. But then, Zavier gave her a small nod, his silent support grounding her.
"…but to work alongside you to push this company to new heights," she finished, her voice stronger now.
A faint murmur spread across the room as polite applause followed. Mrs. Preston exchanged a skeptical glance with another director, while Mr. Marcus offered an approving nod. Nadia Hamilton's slender fingers drummed against the table, her face ridden with amusement rather than respect.
"Ms. Quinn," Mrs. Preston's voice was sharp, deliberate. "You've been a housewife for the past seven years. Jumping into the company just because your parents own it—is that really what you need right now?"
The words landed like a slap, sharp and stinging. Zara's spine stiffened, the flush creeping up her neck betraying her frustration. But she forced her expression to remain hardened.
"Maybe not," she replied evenly, though her hands tightened into fists beneath the table. "But sitting at home doesn't help anyone, least of all this company. I'm here to channel everything I've got into proving my place—and instead of demanding leadership, I've chosen to work my way up."
Her poised response earned a murmured approval from a few directors, while others remained cold.
"Interesting," Nadia drawled, her lips curving into a faint smirk. She leaned forward, her voice dripping with mockery. "But the industry doesn't run on energy alone, Ms. Quinn. You need talent, experience, and a sharp mind. Do you even have those?"
Zara felt the knot in her stomach tighten, her pulse pounding in her ears. Across the table, Zavier shifted, his jaw tightening as if he were about to intervene.
But before he could, Ace's voice cut through the tension like a blade.
"She's right," he said casually, leaning back in his chair.
Every head turned toward him. Ace's hazel eyes glinted with an unreadable expression as they locked onto Zara.
"You have a first-class degree in Design and Architecture," he continued, his voice calm yet stinging. "But you've been dormant for the past seven years, playing housewife. Tell us, Ms. Quinn—what can you contribute to this company without leaning exclusively on the 'Daddy card'?" He lifted his fingers in air quotes as he said the last two words.
The room fell silent, the air crackling with tension.
Zara's chest tightened, anger and humiliation bubbling within her. Her fingers dug into her palms as she fought to steady her breathing. Of all people, Ace had no right to speak to her like that.
Zavier pushed his chair back, halfway to his feet, his face flushed with anger. Zara raised a hand, stopping him. This was her fight.
Rising to her feet, Zara met Ace's gaze head-on, her fury burning away the initial sting of his words.
"You're absolutely right, Mr. Carter," she said, her voice cool but sharp as a blade. "I've been a housewife for seven years. I haven't worked in the industry in that time, and yes, I'm not coming in with a perfect track record. But as you so graciously pointed out, I graduated top of my class, and that brain of mine isn't rusty yet."
She walked toward the projector, connecting her laptop with steady hands. Within seconds, an old sketch appeared on the screen—a design of the company's main lobby.
"This was one of my first designs, completed when I was ten years old," Zara began, her voice steady. "Yes, I copied my father's work at the time. But it taught me the basics."
The slide switched, revealing a sleek, modern house design.
"This is my most recent work—a proposal I completed last month, after my divorce." Her voice softened slightly at the word, but her resolve didn't waver.
"Maybe I've been out of the game for years, but this?" She gestured to the projector screen. "This is what I can accomplish at my lowest. Imagine what I'll achieve now that I'm just getting started."
Her words hung in the air like a challenge, and her gaze swept between Nadia and Ace.
Nadia's smirk faltered, her arms crossing defensively over her chest. Meanwhile, Ace leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable, a smirk tugging his lip.
That smirk—it was the same one he used to wear when they were kids, just before he dared her to do something reckless. Back then, she'd trusted him. Now, it made her blood boil.
"Beautiful work," Mr. Marcus exclaimed, breaking the silence with a clap. "I've never doubted your abilities, Ms. Quinn, but you've just reminded us all why this company will thrive under the Quinn legacy."
Zara allowed herself a small, victorious smile. This wasn't luck. This was her hard work. But then if Ace had not provoked her like he did, she might never have been so confident.
Zavier's phone rang, and he stood up putting an end to the meeting before hurriedly leaving the room, the directors filing out one by one.
Zara lingered, her eyes trailing Ace as he leaned casually against the desk, his arms crossed.
"What are you doing here?" she demanded, breaking the silence.
Ace's lips quirked into a faint smile, his gaze unwavering. "Working, obviously," he replied smoothly. "Zavier didn't tell you I'm the company's financial manager?"
Zara's brows furrowed, her voice low with disbelief and her fingers curled up against the table, "What?"
"No! Not you!" she wishpered.
Ace straightened, slipping his hands into his pockets. "You should take it up with your brother. I don't report to you."
He turned to leave, his movements slow and deliberate, as if daring her to stop him.
Zara's temper flared. She stormed after him, her voice rising. "This is my company, Ace. You don't get to just walk away…"
She barely finished the sentence before Ace stopped abruptly, his sharp turn forcing her to stumble.
Zara's foot slipped, and she felt herself falling backward. But before she could hit the ground, a strong arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her upright.
Her hands landed on his chest, feeling the solid muscle beneath. His grip on her waist tightened, his breath warm against her face.
Their eyes locked. His eyes were no longer cold but filled with something unreadable. For a second— just a second— everything else faded.
Ace's grip on her waist tightened slightly, his voice low. "Careful, Zara. You wouldn't want to fall again."
"Again?" Her mind raced. The way he held her, the faint smirk on his lips—he seemed too familiar, almost as if...
"What's going on here?" Zavier's sharp voice shattered the moment.
Zara jerked out of Ace's hold, anger flooding her veins as she turned to face her brother.
Ace's smirk widened, and without another word, he strode out of the room, his confidence maddening.
Even his back looked like him. But anyone with a broad back and shiny brown hair could pull that off—
"Zara, I…"
"Explain yourself, Zavier!" She snapped, turning her attention and anger to Zavier whose eyes were already darting around the room nervously.
"Zara… I—I messed up. Big time."
Zavier's voice was low, as he quickly moved to the window, yanking the blinds shut and paced around anxiously while Zara followed him with her gaze, anxiously waiting to hear just how much he messed up.
He stopped, resting both hands on the desk, his shoulders hunched as if he were carrying the whole world on his back. "Last year, there was… a gross mismanagement of funds." His words were clipped, hesitant, "I had a huge project at ByteHive and couldn't focus on managing this place, so I hired an external manager to handle things."
Zara leaned forward, her sharp gaze narrowing. "And?"
"It had to be him? Are you out of your goddammit mind?" Zara questioned, her voice rising.
"I didn't know it was him, Zara!" Zavier shot back, his voice tinged with desperation. "That snake didn't even use his real name. He went through a freelancing company. How was I supposed to know?"
"How could you not dig deeper? You should have checked!" Zara snapped, her voice laced with frustration.
"I know!" he shouted, slamming his fist against the desk. "Do you think I don't know how badly I screwed up? That's why I approved Ethan's contract with ByteHive. I needed you back here. I couldn't handle this alone."
Zara's lips parted, but no words came. The confession was just too heavy for her to handle.
Zavier let out a bitter laugh, running his hand through his hair. "ByteHive has been the Carter Realty Group's IT team for years. I didn't think he'd still want to steal something from us." Zavier mumbled.
Ace Carter is the current CEO of Carter Realty, the biggest Real Estate group in New York City. He was known to be meticulous, cold and ruthless.
But before that, he was once Zara's childhood best friend. In fact, the whole Carter family and the Quinns were not only neighbors but also family friends. They had a partnership, working on every contract together.
Until the accident.
He died.
And the families became sworn enemies, severing ties, partnership and years of love.
But now he had his eyes set on their company.
"Why don't you just fire him?" Zara questioned.
Zavier scratched his head and turned away, "We're binded by a contract. Paying for the breach of contract isn't the main problem, but the fact that he won the shareholders votes is."
"Ever since he came, the company has been doing well financially and the shareholders think it's better to have him here until his contract is over. But now that you are here…you just have to prove to them you're capable of leading the company…"
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Zara interrupted.
Zavier grabbed her hands and made her face him up close, "I was worried you'd freak out and quit."
"See? You did well today and the directors seem quite impressed. You just have to put in the work— and impress the shareholder by the end of his contract." he explained.
Her hands curled into fists. "I will bring him down myself," she muttered, more to herself than to Zavier. Her voice was low but steady, as she vowed. "I'll chase him out of our company."