Chapter 14 - The New Matriarch
Alexander raised an eyebrow, surprised and deeply impressed by the fire blazing in his daughter’s eyes. ""What are you suggesting, Clara?""
Clara stood up, ignoring the dull ache in her ribs, and walked toward the bedroom balcony doors, looking out over the waking city. ""Madeline Robas ran three charity boards and controlled thirty percent of the downtown redevelopment fund. She used that influence to hide her family's rot.""
""Those seats are vacant now,"" Eleanor noted, setting down her teacup, her expression sharpening with sudden understanding.
""I want them,"" Clara said, turning back to face her parents. ""I don't want to hide in Europe for six months waiting for the scandal to blow over. I want Javier’s office at the harbor. I want the redevelopment portfolio. I want to build something on the ashes of what they tried to steal from us.""
Alexander stared at his daughter, seeing for the first time not the innocent girl who played with horses at their country estate, but the true heir to the Vance empire. A slow, proud smile touched his lips.
""The port terminal requires an iron hand, Clara,"" Alexander cautioned gently. ""The union leaders are ruthless. The international shippers do not respect tears.""
""They won't see tears,"" Clara said, lifting her chin, the fading dark purple bruise along her jawline resembling a warrior’s brand rather than a victim's wound. ""They will see what happens when a Robas crosses a Vance.""
Eleanor rose from the bed and took Clara’s hand. ""Then we begin today. Donald has already scheduled the emergency board meeting for noon.""
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Just then, Alexander’s phone buzzed on the nightstand. He picked it up, glancing at the encrypted text from an unlisted number.
His brow furrowed deeply, the fleeting warmth in the room freezing over instantly.
