The heiress he never saw

Sorry changes nothing, Lucas

Chapter 3

David's bar was closed in the afternoon but he let Maya in through the back and she sat at the empty counter while he poured two glasses of whiskey without asking and set one in front of her.

"You did it," he said,

"Yes,"

"How does it feel,"

Maya picked up the glass and turned it in her hand, "Empty," she said.

David nodded like he had expected that, "Always does, fills you up while you're planning it and the moment it lands there's nothing left holding the walls up,"

"I don't want your philosophy right now,"

"I know, drink your whiskey,"

She drank it, it burned clean and she was glad for something that felt like something,

Her phone buzzed on the counter, Lucas, she declined it, it buzzed again, she declined again, then a text.

We need to talk, please

She set the phone face down,

"He's not going to stop," David said,

"Let him call,"

"He'll come here eventually,"

"Then I'll be gone before he gets here,"

Her phone rang again, Richard this time, she answered,

"Elena released a statement," Richard said, "the engagement is off, she went to the press without telling Lucas, it's already everywhere,"

Maya straightened, "When,"

"Twenty minutes ago,"

"Why,"

Richard was quiet for a moment and when he spoke again his voice was heavier, tired in a way that had nothing to do with business, "Because my son lied to her, she didn't know about the pregnancy, didn't know how it ended, she found out today in that room with everyone else and she made her decision and walked out,"

Maya said nothing.

"The board wants Lucas removed by end of week," Richard continued, "your grandfather has already been in contact. Chen International is prepared to take majority control, they want you in the chair,"

The bar was quiet, somewhere outside traffic moved, a door closed somewhere down the street.

"I'll think about it," Maya said,

"Don't take too long,"

She hung up, set the phone down, David was watching her with his arms folded.

"CEO," he said,

"Yes,"

"Are you going to take it,"

"I don't know,"

"What's the hesitation,"

Maya looked at the bar top, the worn wood, the ring marks from a hundred glasses left by people who had no idea they were leaving a mark, "I came back to make him feel it, not to spend the next ten years inside his company,"

"It wouldn't be his company anymore,"

"It's not that simple David,"

"No," he agreed, he refilled his own glass, "but I'll tell you what is simple, Elena Silvercrest just lost everything in one afternoon, the merger, Lucas, her public position, all of it, and she didn't cry when she walked out of that building, I know because I was in the lobby when she left," he set the bottle down, "she looked calm, too calm, the kind of calm that means someone has already started counting,"

"Counting what,"

"Steps," he said, "toward whoever she blames for this,"

Maya felt something move through her that was not fear exactly but lived close to it,

Her phone buzzed again, Lucas,

I'm sorry

She stared at the two words for longer than she meant to, she sat with them, she let herself feel the full weight of what they were and what they were not and everything they could not bring back, then she typed four words and sent them.

Sorry changes nothing Lucas

She blocked his number, set the phone face down again, stood up.

"I'm taking the position," she said,

David raised his glass but said nothing, which was the right call.

Maya picked up her bag and walked to the back door and out into the late afternoon, the sun was lower now and the air had that early evening coolness that comes before the city lights take over.

She stood still for a moment.

Somewhere across the city Elena was sitting with her calm face and her counting and Maya could feel it the way you feel weather before it arrives, not seeing it yet but knowing it is already on its way,

She walked to her car, she had a meeting with Grandfather in the morning and a company to learn and a life to rebuild, she had enough,

But when she pulled out of the alley she checked her mirror once, just once,

The street behind her was empty,

For now.