Ava's POV

The morning sunlight streamed through my office window, illuminating the stack of damning documents on my desk. Photos, doctored emails, and fabricated accusations stared back at me, each one a calculated attempt to tarnish my name and shake the foundations of Miller Enterprise.

Rose hovered nearby, her face pale with worry. "Ava," she began, her voice trembling. "This... this is catastrophic. It's worse than anything we've ever faced."

I remained seated, my face calm and unreadable. “They’re emptying their rifles,” I said, my voice steady, almost amused.

Orion paced behind me, his tension radiating like a storm waiting to break. “Ava, this isn’t just about you,” he said sharply. “This is bigger. They’re coming for the company. They’re coming for us.”

I raised a hand, silencing him. “Orion, stop.”

He froze mid-step, turning to face me. “How can you be so calm? Do you even realize what’s at stake?”

“I do,” I replied, standing and brushing off my blazer. “And I know exactly who’s behind this. The Jamesons.”

His brows furrowed in confusion. “How can you be so sure?”

“Because this is their style. Desperation. Cheap shots. Lies spun from shadows to destabilize us. They don’t have the power to win outright, so they’re playing dirty.”

Orion clenched his jaw. “These documents—they’re not just lies. If they gain traction, they’ll bury us. The board is already questioning your position, and if the media picks this up—”

“They’ll pick it up,” I said smoothly, cutting him off. “But let the Jamesons dig their graves with their own desperation. They’ve already shown their hand, Orion. It’s only a matter of time before they realize they’ve misplayed.”

Orion looked unconvinced, but before he could argue further, Rose spoke up, visibly flustered. “Ava, the board is demanding answers,” she said. “They want you in the conference room immediately.”

I turned to Orion, a faint smile playing on my lips. “Shall we?”

His eyes searched mine, worry etched across his face. “You have a plan, right?”

I walked past him toward the door, throwing a glance over my shoulder. “We’ll see.”

---

The conference room was a battlefield before we even entered. Raised voices echoed through the corridor as we approached, tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Rose walked beside us, her heels clicking rhythmically against the marble floor, while Orion stayed close, his protective instincts on high alert.

The moment we stepped through the doors, the chaos came to an abrupt halt. Every head turned toward us, and the room fell into a heavy silence. I met their stares with unwavering calm, my hands resting lightly on the back of the CEO’s chair as I took my seat. Orion stool his seat next to me, his presence a silent comfort.

The first question came swiftly, like a bullet aimed at my chest. “Mrs. Miller, what do you have to say about these allegations? Financial mismanagement, fraudulent activity—the headlines are everywhere!”

Another board member jumped in, his voice laced with panic. “Our stocks have dropped again! We’ve barely recovered from the last scandal. How do you expect us to stabilize if this continues?”

A third voice chimed in, colder and sharper than the rest. “With all due respect, Mrs. Miller, your leadership has been called into question before. Can you honestly say you’ve been transparent with us?”

More questions followed, each one a jab meant to corner me. I listened quietly, my expression calm as the storm swirled around me.

When the noise reached a fever pitch, I raised a hand. “Enough,” I said, my voice cutting through the chaos like a blade. The room fell silent again, all eyes on me.

I took a moment to let the tension simmer before speaking. “As of this moment, I am stepping down as CEO.”

Gasps erupted around the room, the air charged with disbelief. Orion stiffened beside me, his hand gripping the back of my chair as he leaned toward me, his voice low and urgent. “What are you doing, Ava?”

I turned my chair to face him, the rest of the room fading into the background. It was just the two of us now.

“Do you trust me?” I asked softly, searching his face.

He ran a hand through his hair, his brows furrowed in confusion. “This isn’t about trust, Ava. This is your company. Why are you stepping down?”

“No, Orion,” I corrected him gently. “This is our company. Now, do you trust me?”

His hesitation lasted only a moment before he nodded. “I do.”

“Then follow my lead.”

I stood and gestured for him to take my place. He hesitated, but the silent determination in my eyes left no room for argument. As he settled into the CEO’s chair, I moved to sit beside him, my hand resting lightly on his thigh.

Orion addressed the room, his voice steady and authoritative. “Ladies and gentlemen, I assure you that every claim made against this company and my wife will be thoroughly investigated. We will not leave a single stone unturned.”

The board members exchanged uneasy glances, their skepticism obvious.

“We’ve already contacted the appropriate authorities,” Orion continued, “and they will be conducting an independent audit of all financial records. Everyone in this organization is expected to comply fully.”

A murmur rippled through the room, but no one dared interrupt.

“By the time we reconvene,” he promised, “this matter will be resolved. In the meantime, I urge you all to focus on stabilizing the company, just as you’ve done before.”

He rose from his seat, his commanding presence leaving no room for dissent. “This meeting is adjourned.”

Extending a hand to me, he led me out of the room, the weight of the board’s scrutiny trailing behind us.

---

In the privacy of my office, Orion closed the door and turned to face me. “What’s going on, Ava?” he asked, his voice low but urgent. “Do you know something I don’t? Care to share?”

I exhaled deeply, placing a hand on his cheek. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

A knock interrupted us, and Rose stepped in. “Ava,” she began hesitantly, “are you sure about this? Do you know what you’re doing?”

I nodded, my confidence unshaken. “I do. But now I need to know one thing—who gave the Jamesons access to our files? Someone on the inside is working against us.”

As if on cue, another knock came, the tension in the room sharpening. When the door opened, I wasn’t surprised to see who stepped inside.