THE LAST LAUGH OF THE FORGOTTEN

Chapter Nine — The Assistant’s Mask

The boardroom was alive with murmurs, the polished table reflecting the ambition of those seated around it. HGpower’s success had drawn attention from every corner of the city, and now Richard’s company—steady but stagnant—was eager to forge a connection.

Paige sat near the end, her posture composed, her heart racing. She had prepared for countless meetings, but nothing could have prepared her for this one. When the door opened and Richard strode in.

Richard’s eyes swept the room, landing briefly on Paige. He didn’t recognize her—not as the architect of HGpower, not as the woman who had built it from nothing. To him, she was just another assistant.

“Paige,” he said, his tone clipped, as her name as it appeared on the schedule. “So you’re the one representing HGpower today?”

Paige forced a polite smile. “Yes, sir. I’m assisting with the company’s affairs. Still… figuring out my own path.”

Richard chuckled, the sound sharp and dismissive. ““You’re doing fine as an assistant here at HGpower, I’ll give you that. But let’s be honest—you’d be better off returning to the family firm. With HGpower backing us, I could double our profits and finally take control of this town.”

Richard leaned forward, his watch catching the light. “Think of the stability, Paige. Family is stronger together.”

Paige’s hands tightened around her notes, but her expression remained calm. Inside, fire burned. Every word was a reminder of the years she had been dismissed, mocked, belittled. Now, he wanted to claim her triumph as his own.

“I’ll… consider it,” she said softly, masking the steel in her voice.

Richard’s smile widened, satisfied. “Good. When HGpower stands with us, we’ll be unstoppable.”

The meeting ended with handshakes and hollow promises. As Richard left, Paige remained seated, her mask intact. Only when the door closed did she allow herself a long, steady breath.

He had no idea. No idea that the “assistant” he mocked was the very force behind HGpower’s rise. No idea that the power he coveted was hers alone.

Paige gathered her papers, her resolve sharper than ever. HGpower would never be a pawn in Richard’s empire. One day, the truth would come out—and when it did, Richard would realize that the daughter he dismissed had built something far greater than he ever imagined.