“You gave it to me in front of everyone.
The words were like a blade across the room, not a word was said and no one stirred.
The rain beat on the huge windows behind them, the lights of the city glowing in the darkness beyond.
Richard Laurent was glued to the spot by his desk.
The whole night for the first time, Amelia saw the invisible, the unanticipated, Fear.
Hold on a second, Just a wee crack.
But it was there.
Victor noticed it as well, His face tightened at once.
“Those videos should have never seen the light of day.
Damien adjusted his cuffs with calm.
“Then perhaps your family should not have been putting on a public display of cruelty.
Victor’s jaw tightened, Richard sat back down behind his desk slowly.
His fingers intertwined controlled, Calculating and Dangerous.
Amelia recognized that look, her father was thinking, thinking.
Planning Looking for another way to win.
The silence stretched on, and then Richard looked straight at her.
“You like dis.” Amelia blinked.
“Huh?”
“The public is turning against me.” His voice was still smooth and cold.
Amelia chuckled, the sound had no joy.
“You told everybody I was being replaced.
Richard narrowed his eyes.
“You never were ready to lead Laurent Group.”
Instantly the familiar pain hit her chest.
Years after years of trying to, years of proving her worth, and somehow it was never enough.
Amelia swallowed hard.
“You didn’t give me a chance.
Richard looked away for a moment, the movement was less than a second.
But she saw and then something was wrong, very wrong.
Her father wasn’t behaving like himself.
He was not attacking, he wasn’t the one dominating the conversation.
He was protecting himself.
the thought put a strange feeling into her stomach, Damien saw it too, his eyes narrowed slightly.
Victor’s phone rang again, the sound echoed loudly in the office.
Victor answered instantly.
He turned white in the face almost at once.
Richard rose, “What’s going on?”
Victor looked rattled.
“Shareholders, the room was cold.
Richard’s face darkened.
“And them?”
Victor swallowed.
“Several of the major shareholders are calling for an emergency board meeting.
Amelia gaped, Richard’s jaw tightened visibly.
The silence was oppressive.
“They want answers about tonight’s announcement,” Victor said nervously.
Richard thumped his hand down on the desk.
A loud boom sounded through the room.
Amelia winced slightly, Victor backed away.
Even Damien narrowed his eyes.
Richard seldom lost his temper in public.
Hardly ever, but tonight the cracks were growing longer.
“Stupid bastards.
His voice was deep and Dangerous.
“You let one scandal explode into a firestorm.”
Victor immediately defended himself.
We had the plan, the idea was to get Amelia out quietly.
The words were out before Richard could stop them.
Silence, absolute silence.
Amelia ceased to breathe, Her heart lurched violently, Gradually and Very slowly.
“What did you say?”
Richard stopped short, Victor looked shocked.
Nobody said a word, Amelia took a step forward, then another one.
The pain swelling inside her chest was unbearable.
“Quietly?”
She spoke very softly, Richard turned his head away.
That alone felt like another knife.
Amelia chuckled.
Broken.
“Oh, so that was what this was.
Her eyes were aflame.
You had it all planned out.
No one replied.
“The promotion,” said Amelia, her breath catching.
Silence, “The marriage.
Silence, “The disgrace.”
Every silence spoke for them.
Immediately her eyes filled with tears.
Not that she was weak.
Because suddenly all the memories fell into place.
Every rejection.
Any criticism.
All impossible standards.
Richard had never intended her to inherit anything.
Not one time, Never.
She was just management until she was useful somewhere else.
It broke something inside her.
“You’ve already chosen Victor.”
Richard’s face hardened.
“Business means tough decisions.”
Amelia looked at him, then laughed again.
The sound broke with pain.
“Business.
Now her eyes filled up, completely.
“That’s all I ever was to you, Richard squirmed.
Really uncomfortable.
And that, somehow, was worse.
Damien moved a little closer to her.
Not touching.
Right there, the support of silence sustained her, Richard noticed it.
His eyes instantly turned to steel.
“There.” He pointed at Damien, “that’s the problem.
Amelia angrily scrubbed her eyes.
What’s the problem?
“Because of him you’re thinking with your emotions.” Damien laughed at the accusation.
Really, laugh.
The sound startled them all.
Amelia included.
Damien’s amusement disappeared almost as quickly.
“Do you really think so?” Richard was quiet.
Damien moved forward a step.
His eyes grew cold.
Fatal.
No, Richard.
Never before had he used Richard’s first name.
Not Mr. Laurant, Not a name, Just plain Richard.
The room stiffened instantly.
Damien went on, in a low voice.
“She sees you as you are at last. Find the original chapter at g.com.
Richard’s face was black.
Victor instantly stepped between them.
“The conversation is over.
Damien ignored him.
“Let’s stop pretending.
Richard he looked straight in the eyes.
“You never wanted a daughter.
Quiet, Sharp and excruciating.
Damien lowered his voice.
“You wanted obedience.
The words hit Amelia in the chest.
Richard stood perfectly still.
And finally, his expression shifted, the mask fell off, a little bit, But enough to show Amelia the truth, and once she saw it, she couldn’t unsee it.
Richard never seemed heartbroken.
Never seemed guilty.
I never looked back.
Angry only, he was losing his mind, the revelation destroyed the last vestige of hope she had been clinging to, Amelia dropped her eyes, then whispered low.
I hate that I’ve wasted years trying to get you to love me.
The room was silent, Richard’s face trembled a little.
The slightest movement.
But Amelia saw it, and for one short moment Perhaps he’ll say something human, she thought, something true.
It’s something a dad would say.
Rather His phone started to ring.The moment was instantly broken by the sharp sound.
“Richard said impatiently.
“What then?
Quiet.
Then all at once, his face altered.
Absolutely.
His face turned white.
Victor saw at once.
“Father?”
Richard replaced the telephone slowly.
His hand gripped harder, Tough and Too tough.
No one spoke, No one breathed.
Victor moved forward.
“What happened?” Richard said nothing.
His eyes raised to Damien, then to Amelia.
There was something dangerous in his face, Something like a panic.
The first real panic she had ever seen in him.
Damien saw it at once.
“Was it?” Richard said nothing.
Victor took the phone from his hand.
He heard and turned white.
Amelia’s stomach clenched.
“What’s that?” he asked.
Victor stared, stunned.
Scared.
Then at last he whispered, the board just took away Father’s executive power.
The office was loud with silence, Nobody stirred and no one spoke.
Richard Laurent remained quite still, like a king who had seen his throne shatter beneath him.
And then For the first time ever Richard Laurent looked straight at Amelia.
Not an asset, Not as a worker, Not a disappointment, but as a menace one to watch out for.
The look in his eyes sent a cold shiver down Amelia’s spine, because suddenly she had realized something terrible.
Her dad was not losing it, nope not yet.
And desperation could make men do anything.
Then Richard grinned, a slow one.
Chilly, Smile of terror.
And gently, too gently, “Bring Sophia in,” he said.
Amelia stopped, Her heart stopped beating.
Victor was stunned, even Damien’s face hardened instantly.
And before you could bat an eye behind them the office doors started to open, slowly.