***
As soon as I walk into the building, the eyes of the staff follow me. It’s exactly how I imagined it would be. I am the future of this company. I can feel the whispers behind my back. People are already talking about me. Perfect. They should be. They’ll be calling me ‘boss’ soon enough.
I find Claire in her usual spot, organizing papers that don't matter.
She glances up, giving me a curt nod. "Good morning, Meghan," she says, in her typical, polite voice. I can practically feel the judgment radiating from her, but I don’t care. I’m too focused on what’s to come.
"Good morning," I reply, my gaze fixed ahead as I brush past her. "From now on, I expect you to address me as Ms. Fletcher."
I almost think I hear her mumble an apology, but I don't stop to acknowledge it. My attention is fully on the boardroom doors ahead.
"This is it," I whisper as I open the door and walk in. I can almost hear the collective gasp as all eyes turn to me. There it is… respect. I don’t even need to say a word. They can feel it. They know they’re in the presence of greatness.
“Good morning,” I say, shooting everyone a beaming smile as I settle into my seat at the head of the table.
“I’m here to lead this company into the future," I say, the words slipping out effortlessly, like they were meant to be spoken by me. "Let’s get started, shall we?”
Just then, the door swings open, and Claire walks in, carrying a stack of folders.
“We’re still waiting for one more person,” she says, handing out a folder to each of the attendees.
I sit back, flipping through the documents in front of me, trying to appear engaged, though my thoughts are already starting to wander. My eyes drift to the agenda paperclipped to the front of the folder. The names of today’s attendees are listed, along with their respective titles.
I find my name: Meghan Fletcher, Director of Operations. This can't be right. How am I not listed as the Vice President?
I pause as my gaze lands on another name with three little letters behind it: CEO. My mind struggles to comprehend what I’m seeing.
“No. It can’t be,” I whisper, my voice sounding distant, almost like it belongs to someone else.
My heart stutters in my chest, and the room seems to grow impossibly still. I stare at the name, blinking, hoping it’s some cruel mistake or twisted joke.
And then, that unmistakable voice slices through the silence. “Excuse me. I believe you’re in my seat.”
The words hit me like a punch to the gut, a visceral blow that knocks the breath right out of me. I feel the air rush from my lungs, my body frozen in place as my eyes lift slowly, almost unwillingly, to meet hers.
Elle.
Chapter 37
Danielle
I stand before the mirror, smoothing the white satin skirt before turning to look at my reflection in the mirror. I catch my breath as I take in the image staring back at me. The dress is simple and sleek, with a subtle V-neck that draws the eye upward. The sleek mermaid silhouette adds a touch of elegance and grace, enhancing the natural lines of my figure. I chose this option because it’s beautiful yet uncomplicated. It’s the one that makes me feel most like myself. The band of lace I decided to add around my waist is so delicate, it almost looks like it’s been painted onto the satin.
I examine my hair one more time, making sure the loose waves that took an hour to perfect are still holding up.
“The only thing missing is the veil,” Tina says as she settles it into my hair and secures it with a delicate comb embellished with pearls and lace. The veil is a single layerof silk tulle, edged with the same lace as the waist. When it falls softly around my shoulders, the whole look comes together.
Jo stares at me, wide-eyed, her smile impossible to hide. “Oh, Elle, you look beautiful,” she whispers, her voice thick with emotion.
“I feel like a bride,” I say, matching her smile.
Beth and Hannah can hardly contain their excitement. Beth is speechless, her eyes glistening. Hannah is fighting to keep her feet on the floor, clasping her hands together to stop herself from jumping up and down in pure glee.
The quiet knock on the door announces that it's almost time before Mitchell opens it gently. "Everyone's ready," he says, meeting my gaze.
***
The sun is starting to dip lower in the sky, casting soft shadows over the backyard as the cool October air settles around us. Mitchell and Jo's backyard has been transformed into a picturesque wedding venue. The flowers, soft tulle, and twinkling lights give the space an intimate, almost magical feel. Outside, the guests are seated, waiting for the procession to begin. Inside the house, just behind the glass patio doors, we all wait for our moment.
