Chapter 4
1136 Words
By six that evening, the Sinclair estate was no longer quiet.
Elena had barely stepped through the front door when she heard voices coming from the formal dining room.
Her family had gathered again.
She stopped in the hallway.
Apparently, the announcement hadn't ended with the morning meeting.
It had only started something much bigger.
Elena walked into the dining room.
Her father, Nathaniel, sat at the head of one side of the table. Her mother, Victoria, was beside him. Damien sat across from them, his expression tense.
Victor was there too.
Clara was seated near the window, watching everyone carefully.
Alexander stood at the end of the table.
Elena looked around.
“What's going on?”
Alexander motioned toward the empty chair.
“Sit.”
She didn't move.
“Is this another surprise?”
Damien gave a humorless laugh.
“You could say that.”
Elena looked at him.
“What happened?”
Victor answered before anyone else could.
“The family is going to vote.”
Elena's brows furrowed.
“Vote on what?”
“Whether you should be allowed to continue.”
The room went silent.
Elena looked at Alexander.
“You said the board would decide at the end of my probation.”
“The board will.”
Victor leaned back.
“But the family owns the controlling shares.”
Elena's eyes narrowed.
“So?”
“So if the family doesn't support your succession, the board will have a very different situation to consider.”
Damien finally spoke.
“Victor, that's enough.”
“No,” Victor replied. “It isn't.”
He looked directly at Elena.
“You've been given something people spend their entire lives working toward.”
Elena folded her arms.
“And you think I don't deserve it.”
“I think the decision should be made based on qualifications.”
Elena looked at him.
“Then you should have no problem with the probation.”
Victor's jaw tightened.
“I don't.”
“Good.”
Alexander tapped his fingers against the table.
“Enough.”
Everyone fell silent.
He looked around the room.
“I called this meeting because the family needs to understand what happens next.”
He turned toward Elena.
“Your succession will not be automatic.”
Elena nodded.
“I know.”
“You will need support from the family.”
“I understand.”
“And that support will not be given simply because you're my granddaughter.”
Elena looked at each person around the table.
“Then let's vote.”
Her mother's eyes widened.
“Elena.”
“If they don't believe I'm capable, they should say it now.”
Damien stared at her.
“You don't need to prove yourself tonight.”
“Yes, I do.”
She pulled out the empty chair and sat.
“Because if I'm going to spend twelve months proving myself to the board, I need to know exactly who I'm fighting against.”
Victor's expression hardened.
Alexander nodded.
“Then we vote.”
He looked at Nathaniel first.
“Do you support Elena's succession?”
Nathaniel glanced at his daughter.
There was worry in his eyes.
But also pride.
“I support her right to prove herself.”
Elena exhaled.
It wasn't a complete yes.
But it wasn't a no.
Alexander turned to Victoria.
Victoria didn't hesitate.
“Yes.”
Clara smiled.
“Yes.”
Then came Damien.
The room became quiet.
Elena looked at her brother.
Damien stared down at the table.
Finally, he raised his eyes.
“I don't believe she's ready.”
Elena's expression remained still.
“But,” he continued, “I support her probation.”
Victor immediately looked at him.
“Damien—”
“I said I support the probation.”
Damien looked at Elena.
“If she proves herself, I'll support her.”
Elena nodded slowly.
“That's fair.”
Alexander turned toward Victor.
“And you?”
Victor sat back.
“No.”
The single word hung in the room.
Elena felt something tighten in her chest.
Victor continued.
“I don't support Elena becoming the head of the Black Empire.”
“Why?” Elena asked.
“Because the position requires experience.”
“You've already said that.”
“And I'll say it again.”
Victor leaned forward.
“You're twenty-five, Elena. You've never managed a company this large. You don't know the executives. You don't understand the board. You haven't spent years dealing with billion-dollar negotiations.”
Elena met his stare.
“Then I'll learn.”
“You can't learn leadership in twelve months.”
“Maybe not.”
She leaned forward.
“But I can learn enough to prove you wrong.”
Victor's eyes darkened.
Alexander looked toward him.
“Your vote is recorded.”
Victor nodded.
Then Alexander turned to the final family member.
His own sister, Margaret Sinclair.
She had been silent throughout the meeting.
Margaret slowly looked at Elena.
“I don't support you.”
Elena wasn't surprised.
Margaret had always believed Damien was the natural successor.
But then Margaret added,
“Not yet.”
Elena's eyebrows lifted.
Margaret continued.
“You haven't earned my support.”
Elena nodded.
“That's fair.”
“But if you survive the probation and prove yourself, I'll change my vote.”
Elena felt a strange sense of relief.
Alexander looked around the table.
“Then the family position is clear.”
He counted the votes.
Three definite supporters.
Two conditional votes.
One against.
It wasn't unanimous.
But Elena hadn't expected it to be.
She stood.
“I want to thank everyone for being honest.”
Victor scoffed quietly.
Elena turned toward him.
“Especially you.”
He frowned.
“You're going to need people who disagree with you,” she continued. “If everyone around me tells me I'm doing well, I'll never know when I'm failing.”
Victor didn't answer.
Elena picked up her handbag.
She was almost at the door when Alexander spoke.
“Elena.”
She turned.
“Your first official evaluation is tomorrow.”
“I know.”
“You'll be meeting Adrian Vale.”
“I know.”
Alexander's gaze sharpened.
“Then prepare yourself.”
Elena frowned.
“For what?”
Alexander didn't answer.
Victor did.
“For the first time in your life, you'll be sitting across from someone who doesn't care that you're a Sinclair.”
Elena looked at him.
“Good.”
She opened the door.
“Neither do I.”
She walked out.
But as she entered the hallway, she couldn't shake the feeling that the family vote had been only the beginning.
Because tomorrow, she would face Adrian Vale.
And unlike her family, he wouldn't have any reason to give her the benefit of the doubt.
End of Chapter 4
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