Love in the Shadows of Legacy

I stood at the base of the Thompson Enterprises tower, craning my neck to take in the sixty-storey building.

My hands trembled as I clutched the leather portfolio that Willis had given me. It was filled with documents I barely understood, despite studying them, and keys to offices I'd never seen.

The blazer I had borrowed from Sophia felt foreign on my shoulder, and my feet ached from standing in these pointy heels for so long.

You can do this, I whispered to myself, It's just a building. Just a job. They're just people...

Oh God.

The lobby was exquisite with high ceilings and a waterfall that probably cost more than okay people's houses.

Employees moved around in expensive suits, having conversations in low tones.

"Miss Lily Rose?" A woman approached me with a warm but professional smile, "I'm Janet Morrison. Mr Thompson's – I mean, your executive assistant. Welcome to Thompson Enterprises,"

It all felt surreal. I have an executive assistant now.

"Thank you," I breathed as I shook Janet's perfectly manicured hands, "I have to admit, I'm a little overwhelmed,"

"Perfectly understandable. Shall we head up to your office? The meeting begins in twenty minutes,"

As we rode the elevator to the executive floor, Janet explained a few things about the company's structure, key personnel, and upcoming meetings.

And all it did was make me feel even more overwhelmed.

My mind kept racing ahead to all the ways I could fail spectacularly.

Janet opened a set of massive doors, revealing the most beautiful office I had ever seen, "This is your office, Miss Rose,"

I stepped inside and felt my knees go weak. Never, in all the years I had spent on earth, had I witnessed such luxury.

The office was way larger than my apartment with a huge seat in the middle. Behind this huge desk, windows stretched from floor to ceiling offering a view that felt like I was floating above the city.

"The previous Mr. Thompson preferred traditional decor," Janet said, "But if this does not suit your taste, we can redecorate,"

She had to be kidding.

"The boardroom meeting is in the Meridian Conference Room." Janet went on, "All your briefing materials are ready and Mr. Willis will be there to assist you with any legal questions,"

Twenty minutes later, I found myself seated at the head of a conference table, surrounded by the most intimidating people ever. They studied me with mostly hostility.

My heart raced wildly as Willis did the introductions.

After him, a stern-faced man with silver hair spoke up, "Miss Rose, I'm Robert Hartley, Chairman of the board. I think I speak for everyone when I say we're curious about our qualifications for this position,"

My heart raced wildly, and it was difficult to get any words past my lips, but I had to say something.

"I...well, I understand this is...unconventional..."

"Unconventional?" Another woman cut in, leaning forward, "Miss Rose, do you have any experience running a company? Any business education at all?"

I shrugged, hating how intimidated I felt, "I have a degree in fine arts,"

That sounded pathetic in a room full of MBAs and years of corporate experience.

"According to this background check," Another man began, "You work at an art supply store. No management experience, no finance background, no corporate training whatsoever,"

"I may be lacking the traditional qualifications and –"

"And nothing, Miss Rose," The first woman said again, "Thompson Enterprises employs more than fifteen thousand people worldwide. It's a responsibility, not a hobby,"

A bead of sweat ran down the space between my breasts, "Very well then, I understand that. But Mr. Thompson obviously saw something in me–"

"Mr Thompson was clearly not thinking straight in his final months. Perhaps grief clouded his judgement,"

There were murmurs of agreement and I felt myself shrinking in my chair. Just a few minutes in and I felt like dying.

"What my colleagues are simply trying to say is," Hartley said, "that perhaps you would be more comfortable in an advisory role. While we arrange for proper leadership?"

Anger flared hot in my chest. Who did this man think he was, "Proper leadership? You mean someone you approve of,"

Before anyone else could speak, the door swung open with enough force to rattle the glass walls.

Alexander Thompson strode into the room, his presence commanding. He looked even more dashing than I'd remembered. His dark eyes did a full sweep of the room before landing on me. Recognition flashed through them.

"Well, well, so you're the mysterious Lily Rose," He said.

My heart stopped as I took in the gorgeous, infuriating man I had last seen at the Grand Palma hotel.

The same man who's caught me in my most vulnerable moment.

Who'd made me feel things I was still struggling to forget.

Oh God. Oh God. Oh God.

Willis rose quickly, "Alexander, this is a private board meeting –"

"Save it, Willis. I don't give a bloody damn," He said, "I think I have every right to meet the woman who stole my inheritance,"

Stole? Good to know he was still every bit of a jerk.

My voice came out shakier than I hoped, "I did not steal anything. I was legally named..."

"Legally named by a man who lost his mind," He smirked, "Tell me, Miss Rose. How exactly do you convince an elderly man to give you his life's work?"

The accusation hit like a slap.

"I never manipulated anyone. I didn't even know your great uncle existed until five days ago,"

"Mmm. Hard to believe," He circled me like a predator. I was painfully aware of how every board member was watching this confrontation, " A complete stranger suddenly inherits billions. Tell me, what did you do? Seduce him? Promise him something that his family couldn't,"

"That's disgusting," I spat, my cheeks burning, "I never even met Richard Thompson,"

"And yet here you are, playing CEO in a world you know nothing about," He said. "Tell me, princess, do you even know what Thompson Enterprises does?"

The nickname was a confirmation of what I already knew – he recognised me.

"I'm learning,"

He laughed, mockingly, "Learning? You're going to learn how to run a billion-dollar corporation. How charmingly naive,"

"That's enough," Willis cut in but Alexander ignored him, never taking his eyes off me.

"Here's what's going to happen, Miss Rose," His voice dropped to a whisper that was meant for only my ears, "You're going to realise that you're in over your head and you're going to walk away. Because if you don't –" He leaned closer to me, " – I will make your life very, very difficult,"

I stared into the same dark eyes that had looked at me with desire just days ago.

"Are you threatening me, Mr. Thompson?" I asked, tilting my head ever so slightly.

"I'm educating you about reality. Some lessons are harder than others,"

Every instinct screamed at me to back down and just go home and choke on a bucket of ice cream or something, but I lifted my chin and met his stare head-on.

"Then I guess you'd better be prepared to be disappointed." I said, "Because I'm going nowhere,"