Elena POV:

The view from my office was the best. I could spot the Empire State Building and Central Park. People looked like ants from up here and it was almost frightening how much power was suddenly entrusted to me.

CEO Elena Cassano.

It's only been a few weeks since I got my degree in business. Although I was scared, I had no time to fret over it. The company was in desperate need of structural reform and good cleansing. My aunt Fiona had basically given me a shipwreck.

The board had not been doing their job. They watched how she led this company to destruction and did nothing to stop it. That made everything even more difficult for me because it showed me that they weren't passionate about the company.

One thing that I'll never forget: don't have the board against you. It's like running uphill.

So I had to work out a plan. Get intel from a few employees that I can trust. Make a list of suspicious people and remove them from their positions without stepping on too many toes.

The list was longer than I'd expected so it was going to be a rough start.

But I don't give up.

Last year had been hectic but healing. I focused mainly on my mental health and co silted many professionals. It was time-consuming and hard but I'm at a much better place.

I have this to work for, my relationship with Alexander and trying to fix my bond with my family.

A year was a very long time to not see them but I needed the distance. I had to know that I was not too dependent on them. Also, I didn't want them to see me like how I was.

I wasn't ashamed of my bad mental health. It was building up and I'm glad that I got help but my family has never seen such a dark side of me. They saw the panic attacks and the nightmares, but never my suicidal thoughts.

I already burdened Alexander and Nicolas with that. I don't want to do that to any more people. Especially not when I don't feel like that anymore.

I don't want to be hurt or hurt other people around me. I wanted to move on from all of this but that comes with confrontation.

Today was my confrontation with my mom. We had a board meeting in an hour but she came in first to see how I was doing. The last time I saw her, things were bad. I was angry with her for threatening me to break up with Alexander. She was angry at me for being with Alexander.

It was awkward. She sat down on the sofa in my office while I poured her a glass of water. My hands shook slightly when I handed her the glass and took a seat opposite from her.

I used to be able to talk to her about everything and now I'm terrified to talk to her.

"Your papa showed me the pictures of graduation. You looked stunning." She started.

The only ones who came to my graduation were: Nicolas, Nestor, papa, Amelia, my friends, Dahlia, and Ariana. Normally Leonardo and Victor would come as well, but Victor was on an interim ship in Japan and Leonardo overslept. My other brothers sent congratulations through text.

"I invited you all," I said.

I did. But I didn't expect everybody to come. I hadn't said anything to them in a whole year. It was fair for them to be upset with me. I understand.

"We didn't want to upset you." She almost whispered.

Mama never apologised to me for her hurtful words. I wanted her to apologise but she seems to think that everything will upset me even more.

"I had a rough year. I needed time for myself to focus on healing. To be honest, the past eight years have been very difficult for me. I don't think that I ever allowed myself to stand still and process everything. I took that time and I feel lighter now."

She looked down at her lap with an embarrassed look on her face.

"You did hurt me. I love Alexander and I wanted to confide in you, but you got so angry with me. I still don't understand why."

She sighed and placed her glass down on the coffee table between us. Her blue eyes came up to mine and I could see the sorrow in them.

"I was out of line. I let fear take over and I accused Alexander of things he didn't do. That was wrong. I'm sorry." She apologised.

An apology after a year.

"What were you afraid of?" I wondered.

She buried her head in her hands and took deep breaths. I've never seen her so undone. Her lips shook as she started to speak.

"I was an outsider too and I know how they act towards outsiders. Many men tried to use me against your papa. They wanted to use me in their sick games."

My mom wasn't born into this life like my papa and siblings. She stepped into this life because she fell in love with papa.

"Then we relate to each other, don't we?" I crossed my arms over my chest.

Dimitri used me to get revenge on my family. And many other men have tried to ask me out or propose to me. They seem to think that having me as their wife was the way to power or closeness to my family.

"I wanted to protect you. I panicked and went over the line. I'm ashamed of what I did."

Although I still didn't understand her entirely, I accepted her apology. She was my mother and I'd already lost one. I can't lose the only mother figure in my life.

"I accept your apology, but it won't be like it used to be," I spoke.

She nodded but I could see the tension in her shoulders. I felt bad but it was the truth. Fights and arguments change the dynamic of bonds. We have to grow and learn from this situation to avoid it in the future.

"I want you to know that I really love you, Elena." She whispered while tears filled her eyes.

I handed her a napkin and gave her a firm look.

"This has nothing to do with love, mama. This is about rebuilding trust and respect. Just because you tell me that you love me won't make things alright again."

She gaped up at me.

"I love you too but that doesn't mean that we can't be at odds right now," I added.

I did love her but we needed to work things out first. I tended to forgive people I love because I love them. That isn't a good reason anymore.

"We'll figure things out but first I need to discuss something important with you regarding the company."

She nodded slowly but sat up straighter. I took out a list and handed it to her.

"I will have fired every one of this list by the end of the first quarter," I explained.

"There are members of the board on this list." She frowned concernedly.

I can't save a company while keeping corrupt people in their places.

"This company is a sinking ship and the only way to save it is to get rid of the reason why it's sinking." I insisted.

She closed her eyes. It was a truth that was hard to accept. Mama started this company herself and I knew how much it meant to her.

"You're the biggest shareholder, so your support will be greatly appreciated."

I saw some hesitation on her face before she handed me back the list. If she backs out, then I'm totally screwed. I can't make major changes without her support.

"You have my support, but you'll also need Christian Walker's support."

Now I understood her hesitation. Christian Walker was the second-biggest shareholder of our company. He was one of mom's oldest friends but they had a big fallout years ago.

"And he's on that list." She added.

I smiled at her and grabbed her hands.

"Don't worry about him. He's the first one to go." I assured her.

She frowned confused but I had a plan. Christian Walker was going to cry like a baby when I was done with him.

"You're going to hate me for saying this..."

My heart dropped. This wouldn't be a good start to trying to fix our relationship.

"But you look a lot like Hector right now."

A soft smile played on her lips. I'd gotten used to people making that comment but I hadn't heard it in a long while.

I haven't seen my older brother in over a year. But I'll visit him soon, along with my other brothers.

//////////////////

"You are a little evil genius. I fucking love it!" Dahlia grinned while she worked on the computer.

It was a week after the board meeting and I was busy working on my plan. I wanted to take down the biggest threat first because once he's done, the rest will go down easily.

"I won't let this company go down." I meant it.

She nodded in agreement and finished up. She held up a USB stick and handed it to me with her little devilish grin. Hacking was her favourite thing to do and when I asked for help, she gladly agreed.

"I'm proud of you, baby girl. When did you become so grown up?" She pulled me in for a hug.

I hugged her back and felt her growing belly dig into me. She was pregnant again and was about five months. Normally she wasn't supposed to leave the house but she came over when I asked for help. I think Hector gave up trying to argue with her.

He always lost.

"You know that he's following everything, right?" She asked me softly.

I nodded against her shoulder. Hector still had this annoying habit to check up on everything I did. I hadn't caught the person who's reporting to him yet. I would if I actually cared enough. If this made him sleep better at night, then let it be, but I was using this as blackmail on him.

Might come in useful in the future.

"They miss you." She added.

I missed them too.

"I'll fix it, okay?" I promised her and myself.

Things were better now and I wasn't prone to break down while confronting them.

//////////////////

Christian Walker was in his mid-fifties but didn't look a day over forty. I don't know how he aged so well but his looks were his lure. I had researched him and his ways. The man had married eight times, all too much richer women who all tragically passed away leaving their will to him.

Fucking sus.

I was very excited to drag him down. Especially with the way he was watching me. He walked into my office and stared too long at my breasts before giving me a dirty grin.

"Having such a young CEO is purely a blessing." He commented.

I wanted to rip his dumb face off but I swallowed and pointed at the chair in front of my desk.

"Have a seat, Mr Walker." I smiled sweetly.

Oh, I was going to ruin this man's life and I'd enjoy every single second of it.

He sat down and leaned back in his seat.

"I have to say that you're a much more pleasant sight than Fiona was." He chuckled.

My aunt had thrown a tantrum when she got fired a few weeks ago. She knew that I'd replace her and that mama wouldn't allow her to stay in the company, but the woman had put up the fight of her life.

"I'll go straight to business. I've received some very alarming information on you, Mr Walker, that I'd like to discuss with you."

If I didn't cut to it, he'd just continue to make inappropriate remarks about me. Paul, my bodyguard, was standing by the door and he'd gladly kick Walker's ass, but I wanted to destroy him myself.

"Alarming information?" He raised his eyebrows, still looking amused.

I turned my computer screen to him and waited for it to sink in. I watched how his face paled and his mouth dropped open. He was speechless and I leaned forward.

"This is only half of it. The files you have on your computer are so big. But I think the police will take their time going through all of it."

His brown eyes snapped to me and he started to tremble.

"P-p-police?"

He's starting to stutter.

"Yes. This type of material is disturbing and illegal." I nodded.

He had tons and tons of videos that I couldn't even begin to describe. I'd asked Dahlia to hack into his computer to find something damaging, but I didn't expect to find what I found.

I want him to suffer in the worst ways possible.

"No police. We can work something out, Elena." He leaned forward and grabbed my hand.

Paul tensed but I pushed Christian off me and glared at him.

"It's Ms Cassano to you and you better remember to address me properly if you want to work something out." I snapped.

He nodded rapidly and stumbled over his apology. I watched him while I took out the contract. He was going to sign over his shares to me. I had him right where I wanted him.

"Here's a deal. I won't go to the police if you sign me over your shares."

He shook his head and jumped out of his chair in rage.

"This is a trap! You fucking set me up." He screamed at me.

Paul came closer while I calmly sat back in my chair.

"It's your choice, Mr Walker. I can either go to the police with this evidence or we can work out an agreement. I must tell you that they don't play around with child molesters in prison."

He fell through his knees. I didn't know much about prison but I did know that they didn't treat child molesters nicely. Christian knew that as well. I watched him as everything set in.

Desperate people made rushed decisions that they'll regret later on. I didn't care about that. I wanted him out of my company and I wanted him to pay for what he had done. If he truly thought that I'd let him walk away without any repercussions, he was an idiot.

"You won't tell, right?" He asked after signing the contract.

"Not to the police, no," I replied truthfully.

I had access to more effective and cruel people who could deal with a fucking pervert like him.

"The USB stick." He demanded.

I got up from my chair and handed it to him. Perhaps the thought of copies didn't cross his mind because he didn't demand anything else. He pushed his hands in his pockets and glared at me.

"I don't even want to be part of this company anymore. I doubt you'll make it in the next quarter." He grinned wickedly.

I smiled and pointed at the door.

"I have big plans for this company. But I don't think you'll be around long enough to see it flourish."