Chapter 6
Monday morning arrived like a blade.
I sat at the head of the Carter Corp boardroom table — a seat that had belonged to Ryan's grandfather, then his father, then him.
Now it was mine.
The board members filed in, their expressions ranging from nervous to hostile. Ryan sat at the far end, his jaw tight, dark circles under his eyes.
Eleanor had tried to attend. Security stopped her at the lobby. She wasn't a board member or a shareholder. She was — as she had so often reminded me — just a mother.
"Good morning," I began, my tone professional. "I'll keep this brief. I'm not here to destroy Carter Corp. This company employs three thousand people. Their livelihoods matter more than anyone's pride in this room."
Visible relief from some board members. Suspicion from others.
"However," I continued, "there will be changes. Several contracts currently held by Carter Corp were obtained through unethical means — bribery, intimidation, fraud."
I slid folders to each board member. "You'll find evidence inside. These contracts will be terminated and renegotiated cleanly."
"You can't do that!" One of the older board members — Gerald, Eleanor's brother — slammed his hand on the table. "Those accounts are worth millions!"
"And the lawsuits they'll attract are worth more," Leo said calmly from beside me. "Ms. Zhao is protecting the company."
Gerald turned red. He looked to Ryan for support.
Ryan said nothing. His eyes never left my face.
"Furthermore," I said, "effective immediately, Gerald Morris is removed from the board."
Gerald's chair scraped back. "On what grounds?!"
"Embezzlement." I didn't blink. "Four hundred thousand dollars siphoned over six years into offshore accounts. The evidence is on page twelve of your folder."
The room went silent.
Gerald's face went from red to purple to white. He grabbed his folder, flipping frantically.
"Security will escort you out," I said. "Your legal team may contact ours."
Two guards appeared at the door. Gerald left sputtering threats.
The remaining board members shifted uncomfortably. The message was clear — I had done my homework. I knew where every skeleton was buried.
"Anyone else who wishes to resign may do so now with a generous severance package," I offered. "No questions asked. But those who stay will operate with integrity, or face consequences."
No one moved.
"Good. Meeting adjourned."
Board members filed out, avoiding my eyes. Leo collected the folders.
Ryan remained seated.
When the room emptied, he spoke.
"You removed my uncle."
"He was stealing from you." I started packing my briefcase. "You're welcome."
"Why do you care? You hate this family."
I paused, considering whether honesty was worth it. "I don't hate the company. I hate what your family did to me. There's a difference."
He stood slowly, buttoning his jacket. "Ashley. Have dinner with me."
I almost laughed. "Absolutely not."
"Not as — not romantically." He struggled with the words. "I need to understand. Three years, we lived in the same house, and I knew nothing about you."
"That was your choice."
"It was my mistake." His voice cracked slightly. "Please."
The vulnerability in his eyes was so foreign on his face that I almost didn't recognize it.
"No," I said softly. "Not yet. Maybe not ever."
I walked out, leaving him alone in his family's boardroom.
That evening, back in my apartment, I finally allowed myself to breathe.
The phone on my counter held Daniel Ashford's black card. I picked it up, turning it over in my fingers.
My phone buzzed — unknown number.
"Ms. Zhao. I hope I'm not disturbing you." Daniel's voice was warm, like aged whiskey.
"How did you get my number?"
"I'm very good at finding things." A pause. "I have information about your stepmother. Something your team may have missed."
My hand tightened on the card. "What kind of information?"
"The kind best shared in person. Tomorrow? My office?"
Something about his tone made my spine straighten — a warning, or a promise. I couldn't tell which.
"Send me the address," I said.
I hung up, staring at the city lights through my window.
One battle won. But the war for my mother's full legacy was only beginning.
And I had the unsettling feeling that Daniel Ashford was either my greatest ally — or my most dangerous enemy.
I sat at the head of the Carter Corp boardroom table — a seat that had belonged to Ryan's grandfather, then his father, then him.
Now it was mine.
The board members filed in, their expressions ranging from nervous to hostile. Ryan sat at the far end, his jaw tight, dark circles under his eyes.
Eleanor had tried to attend. Security stopped her at the lobby. She wasn't a board member or a shareholder. She was — as she had so often reminded me — just a mother.
"Good morning," I began, my tone professional. "I'll keep this brief. I'm not here to destroy Carter Corp. This company employs three thousand people. Their livelihoods matter more than anyone's pride in this room."
Visible relief from some board members. Suspicion from others.
"However," I continued, "there will be changes. Several contracts currently held by Carter Corp were obtained through unethical means — bribery, intimidation, fraud."
I slid folders to each board member. "You'll find evidence inside. These contracts will be terminated and renegotiated cleanly."
"You can't do that!" One of the older board members — Gerald, Eleanor's brother — slammed his hand on the table. "Those accounts are worth millions!"
"And the lawsuits they'll attract are worth more," Leo said calmly from beside me. "Ms. Zhao is protecting the company."
Gerald turned red. He looked to Ryan for support.
Ryan said nothing. His eyes never left my face.
"Furthermore," I said, "effective immediately, Gerald Morris is removed from the board."
Gerald's chair scraped back. "On what grounds?!"
"Embezzlement." I didn't blink. "Four hundred thousand dollars siphoned over six years into offshore accounts. The evidence is on page twelve of your folder."
The room went silent.
Gerald's face went from red to purple to white. He grabbed his folder, flipping frantically.
"Security will escort you out," I said. "Your legal team may contact ours."
Two guards appeared at the door. Gerald left sputtering threats.
The remaining board members shifted uncomfortably. The message was clear — I had done my homework. I knew where every skeleton was buried.
"Anyone else who wishes to resign may do so now with a generous severance package," I offered. "No questions asked. But those who stay will operate with integrity, or face consequences."
No one moved.
"Good. Meeting adjourned."
Board members filed out, avoiding my eyes. Leo collected the folders.
Ryan remained seated.
When the room emptied, he spoke.
"You removed my uncle."
"He was stealing from you." I started packing my briefcase. "You're welcome."
"Why do you care? You hate this family."
I paused, considering whether honesty was worth it. "I don't hate the company. I hate what your family did to me. There's a difference."
He stood slowly, buttoning his jacket. "Ashley. Have dinner with me."
I almost laughed. "Absolutely not."
"Not as — not romantically." He struggled with the words. "I need to understand. Three years, we lived in the same house, and I knew nothing about you."
"That was your choice."
"It was my mistake." His voice cracked slightly. "Please."
The vulnerability in his eyes was so foreign on his face that I almost didn't recognize it.
"No," I said softly. "Not yet. Maybe not ever."
I walked out, leaving him alone in his family's boardroom.
That evening, back in my apartment, I finally allowed myself to breathe.
The phone on my counter held Daniel Ashford's black card. I picked it up, turning it over in my fingers.
My phone buzzed — unknown number.
"Ms. Zhao. I hope I'm not disturbing you." Daniel's voice was warm, like aged whiskey.
"How did you get my number?"
"I'm very good at finding things." A pause. "I have information about your stepmother. Something your team may have missed."
My hand tightened on the card. "What kind of information?"
"The kind best shared in person. Tomorrow? My office?"
Something about his tone made my spine straighten — a warning, or a promise. I couldn't tell which.
"Send me the address," I said.
I hung up, staring at the city lights through my window.
One battle won. But the war for my mother's full legacy was only beginning.
And I had the unsettling feeling that Daniel Ashford was either my greatest ally — or my most dangerous enemy.