The Consultation

ELENA'S POV

The world expected me to be unshakable. But in the quiet of my office, with the city lights stretching far beyond my window, I felt anything but.

My father's chair felt too big. His absence felt even bigger.

It had been a year, and yet the ache remained. The official story was simple—an accident. A heart attack behind the wheel that sent his car off the road. But simple didn't mean true. Not when the company he built was under siege. Not when the same people who smiled at him in board meetings were now circling like vultures.

I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to push the thoughts away. I had no evidence. Only a gut feeling that something wasn't right. That dad's death wasn't what it seemed. And I might be wrong too.

My phone buzzed, snapping me out of my thoughts. A message from Samantha:

 "I think Harper's trying something again. Stay sharp. I'll dig deeper".

I sighed. Of course, Gabriel Harper was making another move. He had been relentless since the moment I took control of Hart Enterprises, pushing for buyouts, restructuring, and whispers of "more experienced leadership."

I had a meeting with him and other board members in ten minutes.

My grip on my pen tightened. Let him try.

"If you think I'm going to sit here and let you dismantle my father's company, you're sorely mistaken."

My voice was steady, unwavering, as I faced the board members across the long table. I could see the hesitation in some of their eyes—the ones still loyal to my father. But others… others were waiting for me to fail.

Gabriel Harper, of course, was the worst of them. He leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping against the polished wood. "Elena, no one is saying you're incapable. But let's be honest—since your father's passing, Hart Enterprises has been… struggling."

The way he said struggling made me want to throw my coffee at him.

I set my jaw. "The only reason we're struggling is because people like you keep trying to gut the company from the inside out."

A few gasps. Someone shifted uncomfortably.

Gabriel's smirk widened. "That's quite the accusation."

"It's not an accusation," I shot back. "It's a fact."

Silence.

Or am I lying Mr. Harper?

One of the loyal members of the board stood up, straightening his suit, "Gabriel, the girl is not lying. We all know your plans."

"You were always attacking Edward, and now his daughter? No, I won't be a party to that."

Some other loyal board members agreed with him, while the others were murmuring.

Gabriel's face this time, was full of disdain but I couldn't care less.

I felt my pulse hammering, but I didn't let it show. I had spent the last year fighting to hold onto my father's empire, but men like Gabriel made it clear they would never respect me. They wanted me to step aside, to fold under pressure, to prove that I was just a girl playing CEO.

I had no intention of giving them that satisfaction.

A knock at the door interrupted the standoff.

My assistant stepped in, glancing nervously between us. "Ms. Hart, your consultant is here."

Right. The consultant. The one who was supposed to help me restructure the company, clean up the mess, and stop men like Gabriel from tearing it apart.

I straightened my blouse, keeping my expression unreadable. "Send him in."

I expected an older businessman with silver hair, a stiff handshake, and years of predictable strategies.

Instead, the man who walked in was… unexpected.

Tall. Dark hair, sharp jaw, and an air of quiet confidence. He didn't hesitate, didn't falter under the weight of the room's scrutiny. His suit was crisp, but there was something about the way he carried himself—controlled, composed, but not polished in the way of a lifelong corporate strategist.

There was an edge to him.

Our eyes met, and for a fraction of a second, something flickered in his expression. Recognition? No. Something else.

He extended his hand. "Lucian Brown."

I hesitated and took his hands firmly. "Nice to meet you Lucian, you're not quite what I expected but I'll work with it."

As I shook his hand, I noted the strength in his grip. "I'm Elena Hart."

He smiled, a perfect balance of charm and professionalism. "It's a pleasure."

For some reason, I wasn't sure I believed him.