When they saw me, my mother’s lips thinned into a hard line. “Alice,” she said, her voice dripping with condescension. “What are you doing here? This is a closed executive session. You need to leave. Security can validate your parking downstairs.”
Several board members chuckled. Natalie smirked.
I didn’t blink. I didn’t tremble. I walked past the row of plush guest chairs against the wall, bypassed my mother, and walked straight to the head of the massive mahogany table—my father’s empty leather chair.
I placed my hands on the back of it, looking down at my mother.
“I’m not here for parking validation, Evelyn,” I said, my voice steady, echoing in the quiet room.
I pulled the chair out and sat down. A collective gasp rippled through the room. Taking the Chairman’s seat was an act of corporate sacrilege.
“Have you lost your mind?” Natalie barked, slamming her water glass down. “Get out of Dad’s chair, Alice. Now.”
