Aliya’s POV

Today was proving to be a very strenuous day.

I had been sitting among bald and grey-headed men, who kept babbling nonsense about my company. A company I’ve worked hard to maintain. And now they want to buy me out of it like it’s candy in a 7-Eleven store?

“Mrs. Van Alen Johnson, are you listening?” A voice pulled me out of my reverie.

I turned my attention to see it was one of my grandpa’s most trusted friends when he was still alive, Mr. Frederick.

“It’s a shame, Mr. Frederick,” I said, my voice cutting through the stale air. “It’s a shame what you’re doing right now....