“You see, Jason Haines was not picked as a mentee in favor of Maria Montgomery. He didn’t like a powerful woman who was smarter than him getting a one up over him in our world. Like a spoiled child, he did not accept the offer from my grandfather and set out to compete with him instead. A while later, he meets a woman by the name of Sylvia Montgomery who has the drive to destroy her sister’s life’s work. Once her sister dies of cancer, she takes to enacting her revenge on her niece, the soul heir of Montgomery Group. Jason, believing he is in bed with an ally, discovers that he is not. Back to square one, he crawls back asking for crumbs from the table.”

The puzzle pieces made sense. I only saw them from one side—Sylvia’s side and what she wanted me to see. How was I blind for so many years to her antics?

“Since this involves both of us,” Dave cut in. “We are going in on a joint effort. Our department has the skills necessary to rip weeds out by their roots. Unfortunately, the garden is overrun, and it may take some time. Evans, you have had close dealings with Augustus and should be up to speed on plans.”

The relationship between Montgomery Group and Chamberlain Industries ran so deep that someone looking too hard wouldn’t be able to distinguish where one ended and the other started. My mother left me with a very confusing situation to manage, but I didn’t think she could foresee this type of betrayal and plotting against me. She also didn’t know her aunt was going to get guardianship over me. Sylvia volunteered.

Now we know why.

“While we work on the legal nightmare, you all have the list of those who are suspicious characters from this company. I bode you well in your endeavors. Miss Montgomery, I assume you are up to speed with current events of the company’s high-level overviews this week?”

“Yes,” I replied, hoping I could hold an aura of assuredness. “My birthday is around the corner, and I am looking forward to the transition. Media training has reached out and we will begin our efforts to make me not so...me.” My heart rate was running wild. Things were happening quickly, and I was still sorely unprepared for it all.

The press coverage on a CEO transition. The news about what my movements were and how I ran a company would be brutal—my life to be scrutinized at every turn. It would be an endless twenty-four-hour news cycle, and I would be the star of it in my role. If Brent could do it, I could too, right?