The Hawthorne Holdings boardroom was colder than usual.
Ava stood at the center — alone, flanked by lawyers and whispers.
Across from her sat the board's PR consultant, tapping a manicured nail against a tablet.
“We believe the company’s survival depends on perception,” the consultant said. “Right now, you’re a liability.”
Ava smiled. A sharp, elegant thing.
“I built the GreenTech division from nothing. I pulled it through the Vale audits. I negotiated clean energy contracts that tripled shareholder value. You didn’t mind my reputation then.”
“But that was before Delilah Vale entered the public sphere,” the woman replied. “And before you became romantically linked to the CEO while hiding a child from him.”
The implication cut deep.
Then came the ultimatum.
“If you publicly distanc
