“Your uncle was aware,” he said kindly. “He believed your honesty—and your lack of greed—could restore the company’s integrity.”
I let out a short, shaky laugh. “So this is a test from beyond the grave.”
Emma,
I built an empire, but lost my conscience along the way.
You still have yours.
Lead with heart, and perhaps you’ll save what I couldn’t.
The words blurred as tears filled my eyes. For the first time in years, I felt something unfamiliar—hope.
“I’ll do it,” I said. “I’ll honor his wish.”
Learning to Lead
That night, I sat in my tiny apartment, surrounded by stacks of legal papers and confusion. My cat, Oliver, curled in my lap while I tried to understand what “CEO” really meant.
Mark’s cruel voice echoed in my head: You belong in the past.
No. Not anymore.
The next morning, I walked into Whitmore Industries headquarters as its new CEO. The boardroom fell silent as I entered—eyes narrowing, whispers spreading like wildfire. I smiled calmly. “Good morning. Let’s get to work.”
From that day on, I studied like my life depended on it. I met with engineers, accountants, and factory workers. I read financial reports until my eyes ached. Slowly, I began to understand not just the numbers—but the people.
The Man Who Wanted Me to Fail
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