Evelyn's POV

The morning sunlight streamed through the large windows of my father's office, bathing the room in a warm glow. I sat across from him, feeling slightly tense as I watched him go over some company reports. His expression was unreadable, a combination of stern focus and fatherly concern. I couldn’t help but wonder if he truly believed I could handle all this responsibility.

“You wanted to learn, Evelyn,” he said finally, setting the papers down and fixing his sharp eyes on me. “Running a company like this isn’t about making speeches and shaking hands. It’s about decisions, hard ones. Do you think you’re ready for that?”

I nodded, though my heart pounded in my chest. “I know it’s a lot, Dad, but I’m ready to prove myself. I just need you to give me a chance.”

He leaned back in his chair, studying me for what felt like an eternity. “Alright,” he said at last. “I’ll start by letting you sit in on today’s board meeting. Just observe. Listen carefully. If you still want to do this after seeing how difficult it is, we’ll talk about your next steps.”

Relief and excitement surged through me, but I kept my expression calm. “Thank you, Dad. I won’t let you down.”

The boardroom was vast, with sleek, polished tables and leather chairs surrounding it. The executives trickled in one by one, their expressions a mix of curiosity and skepticism when they saw me. I could feel their silent judgments—young, inexperienced, and, until now, uninterested in the family business.

I ignored them, sitting quietly by my father’s side as he started the meeting. Numbers and strategies were thrown around like a foreign language, but I paid close attention, taking mental notes of everything.

At one point, Caleb entered the room, late as usual, his arrogant smirk plastered across his face. His eyes flicked toward me briefly, but he quickly looked away when he realized I wasn’t going to acknowledge him. That felt like a small victory, but I knew I needed to stay focused.

“Miss Wyatt,” one of the board members addressed me suddenly, snapping me out of my thoughts. “What’s your vision for the company if you were to step into a leadership role?”

I swallowed, my palms growing damp. All eyes were on me, including Caleb’s, and I could feel the weight of their expectations. But I wasn’t going to back down.

“My vision is simple,” I began, keeping my voice steady. “To honor my father’s legacy while adapting to the future. This company was built on trust, innovation, and dedication, and I believe those values should continue to guide us. I may not have years of experience, but I’m willing to learn and work harder than anyone else to ensure this company thrives.”

There was a brief silence, and then a few nods from the board members. Caleb’s smirk faltered, his expression unreadable, but I refused to meet his gaze. This wasn’t about him. Not anymore.

After the meeting, I found myself wandering through the corridors, my thoughts racing. I was proud of how I’d handled myself, but I also knew this was just the beginning. If I wanted to take control of my life and this company, I needed to stay one step ahead of Caleb and Dana.

As I rounded a corner, I nearly collided with Caleb. His smile was thin, his eyes filled with a mix of annoyance and amusement. “Impressive performance back there,” he said, his tone dripping with insincerity. “I didn’t know you had it in you.”

I crossed my arms, refusing to let him get under my skin. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Caleb.”

He chuckled, stepping closer until there was only a foot of space between us. “What’s your game, Evelyn? You cancel the engagement, embarrass me in front of everyone, and now you’re playing CEO? Do you even know what you’re doing?”

I met his gaze evenly. “I don’t need to play games, Caleb. Unlike you, I’m here to work hard and earn my place.”

His smirk vanished, replaced by a flicker of irritation. “I don't understand what that means, Eve. Just when can I come back to you as your fiancé. So what's this behavior today?” 

“Me accepting you back is there, but what does that have to do with being in the Executives meeting?” I asked, wanting to force the words from his lips. 

“I don't know, but one thing for certain is you've changed, Eve.” he muttered before walking away.

I exhaled, my hands trembling slightly. I wasn’t going to make this easy, and I hadn’t expected him to. If anything, his reaction only fueled my resolve.

Later that evening, I sat in my room with my laptop open, combing through old company records. If Caleb and Dana thought they could outsmart me, they were in for a rude awakening. I was going to find every crack in their schemes and use it against them.

As I sifted through files, a particular document caught my eye. It was an older report detailing a project Caleb had overseen during his early days at the company. The numbers didn’t add up—there were discrepancies in the expenses that suggested something wasn’t right.

I leaned back in my chair, my mind racing. Could this be the start of uncovering Caleb’s dirty dealings? It wasn’t much, but it was enough to dig deeper.

A knock at my door pulled me from my thoughts. “Come in,” I called, closing the laptop.

The door opened, and my father stepped in, his expression softer than it had been earlier. “I wanted to tell you… I’m proud of how you handled yourself today.”

His words caught me off guard, and I felt a lump form in my throat. “Thank you, Dad. That means a lot.”

He nodded, sitting on the edge of my bed. “If you’re serious about this, I’ll do everything I can to help you. But it won’t be easy, Evelyn. Running a company like this… it’s a different kind of battle.

“I know,” I said firmly. “But I’m ready.”

He patted my hand before standing. “Get some rest. Tomorrow is another busy day.”