Chapter 4 Not everyone agrees

Rachel had been standing in front of the main meeting room door for over two minutes. Her feet felt as though they were stuck to the floor, reluctant to move. Her hand, which had been reaching for the door handle, hung stiffly by her side. In front of her, the large door stood tall-symbolizing the boundary between herself and this new world, filled with expectations and doubts.

She took a long breath for the umpteenth time, then exhaled slowly. Her head turned to the side, seeking strength from the only person who had faithfully remained one step behind her-Lucian.

Their gazes met briefly. Lucian said nothing, merely staring at her in silence, before eventually lowering his gaze.

"What kind of looks will they give me when I walk in?" Rachel asked softly, almost as if muttering to herself.

Lucian straightened his face. "Are you doubting only because you're thinking about their gaze?" he asked calmly.

Rachel nodded. "I'm afraid they'll just see me as a young person who doesn't deserve to sit in my father's seat."

Lucian looked at her seriously, then said, "Then don't give them the chance to judge you just by the first glance. When you walk in, don't look at them. Focus only on moving forward, on your steps. Sit down with confidence, then look at each one of them. Let your gaze speak for you. That will be enough."

Rachel fell silent. His words touched the fragile side of her that was struggling to stay strong. She nodded slowly, then looked back at the towering door in front of her.

"I can do this," she whispered, more to herself than anyone else.

With hands that trembled slightly but with growing resolve, Rachel finally pulled the door open. The creaking of the hinges was met with an abrupt silence inside the room. All conversations stopped. Dozens of pairs of eyes immediately turned to her.

As per Lucian's advice, Rachel walked without looking back. Each of her steps echoed on the marble floor, creating a rhythm that accompanied her courage. She didn't look at anyone, only focusing on the large chair at the end of the long table-the chair that had once been occupied by her father.

Once she reached her seat, Rachel sat calmly. She placed her bag beside her and only then did she glance around the room. The stares from the board of directors felt heavy, a mixture of curiosity, skepticism, and hope. Rachel met them with a steady gaze, unshaken.

"Apologies for my lateness," she said in a calm yet firm voice. "Today is my first day replacing the previous CEO, so I needed to prepare myself thoroughly. I hope you can understand."

There was no interruption. Some heads nodded slowly, while others remained silent, trying to gauge Rachel's demeanor and speech.

"A good start," Rachel murmured to herself.

She glanced sideways, toward Lucian, who was seated a few chairs away. Lucian met her gaze with a slight smile and a calm nod. A simple gesture, but one that sparked a new sense of confidence within Rachel.

The meeting began. Rachel listened carefully to the input and opinions from the board members. The main topic today was the distribution of company shares, which was being considered for restructuring. However, not all members of the board seemed willing to cooperate with Rachel. Some nodded in support, but others appeared doubtful, even cynical.

Rachel closed her laptop in front of her, her voice calm but firm, "Well then, if no one else wishes to provide feedback or respond to what I've said, it seems we can conclude this meeting."

A few people began to nod and prepare to gather their papers, but their movements stopped when a hand was raised from the row on the right. A man-who had been staring at Rachel since the start of the meeting-finally spoke up.

"May I offer a suggestion?" he asked, his voice flat but laden with meaning.

Rachel lifted her head, and her eyes immediately locked with a familiar face-the annoying smile, the voice she had often heard in her father's heated debates. Justine. The man was seated only two chairs away from Lucian.

Rachel held herself back from sighing or rolling her eyes. She had expected some interruption, but didn't anticipate it coming from him.

"I'm not going to say whether I agree with you or not as the CEO," Justine said casually. "But, I do have a suggestion."

Rachel stared at him sharply, not liking the direction of this conversation. But Justine continued, his expression calm, even seemingly friendly.

"I'm not undermining you. But what if... we have a trial period for one month for your position?"

The atmosphere immediately shifted. Quiet whispers began to spread around the table, creating small ripples of uncertainty in the air.

Justine leaned back in his chair, still maintaining his smile. "This company needs a leader we can rely on. So, how about for one month, you prove your capabilities? We, the board members, will observe. After that, we'll reassess. Isn't that fair?"

Rachel closed her eyes for a moment, holding back the rising tide of emotions. The suggestion felt like a slap, but she knew-this wasn't just about her pride. It was about proving herself.

When she opened her eyes again, Rachel instinctively glanced toward Lucian, as though seeking some strength from his gaze. But Lucian only stared back at her in silence, offering no signal. No encouragement, no favoritism. Just a neutral look, full of trust that Rachel could make the right decision.

Rachel took a deep breath and slowly stood up. She looked at Justine, then swept her gaze across the entire room.

"Alright," she finally said, her voice now sounding more resolute. "I accept the trial period. One month. During that time, I will prove that I am worthy of replacing the previous CEO."

Her tone hardened slightly. "You may doubt me, that's your right. But I will continue to work hard. My experience may not be extensive, but the dedication and preparation I've put in cannot be underestimated."

Rachel scanned the room once more. "Consider it starting today. After one month, we will sit down again, and you can assess me yourselves. Thank you for the meeting. I declare it adjourned."

Without waiting for a response, Rachel closed her laptop, grabbed her handbag, and stood up. Lucian immediately rose and followed her, always one step behind, as usual. The board members began to pack up in silence, some exchanging glances.

Rachel walked steadily out of the meeting room, up the stairs to the top floor-the large room that had once belonged to David Carson, her father.

Her steps may have felt heavy, but in her heart, Rachel knew... the game had just begun.

As the door to the room opened, Rachel's heart raced. The familiar scent she used to encounter every time she entered this room immediately filled the air. The smell of wood, leather, and a hint of coffee-it all brought back memories of David, her father, who seemed as though he was still there. As if she could feel his presence, sitting calmly in that large chair, smiling at Rachel, giving his blessing for the new journey she was about to begin.

With steps that felt heavier than before, Rachel moved forward, toward the large chair in the center of the room that was now hers. She glanced around, and for a moment, she could see her father's smiling image, as if welcoming her as the rightful successor to this place. Facing the chair, Rachel felt as if there was an immense weight on her shoulders, but she knew this was a step she had to take.

Rachel sat down slowly, her gaze now shifting to Lucian, who stood across the large table, only a few steps away. The sudden silence felt dense between the two of them, as if the room itself was witnessing Rachel's transition into true leadership.

"I miss Dad," Rachel said quietly, her voice barely a whisper. The words slipped out unconsciously, full of the sadness that suddenly welled up. Lucian looked at her, his eyes full of concern, then placed the documents he had been holding onto the table.

"Mr. David would be proud to see how you handled the first meeting," Lucian said, trying to offer some comfort. But Rachel still stared blankly at the large chair in front of her.

"Yeah, I hope so," Rachel answered in a deeper tone, full of doubt. "I hope Dad won't regret giving me the company." She paused for a moment, as if those words were too heavy to say, then continued, "So I don't disappoint him, will you help me for the next month?"

Lucian smiled gently, nodded slightly, and with a voice full of conviction, he replied, "Not just for one month, Miss. I promised to stay by your side for as long as I can."

Rachel paused for a moment. Her heart raced faster, even though Lucian had said it so softly. There was something about the way Lucian spoke that made her feel calmer, as if she wasn't alone in this burden. Yet, on the other hand, the feelings that came were so deep-a sense of loss that returned to haunt her.

Rachel took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, but the familiar scent that filled the room-the scent that had always been connected to her father's presence-made everything feel even more real. It must be the scent of Dad still so strong in this room, Rachel thought, then exhaled slowly, trying to calm the turmoil in her heart.