Chapter 10 - The Heir
Three years later.
The corner office of Navarro & Hazel Holdings was bathed in warm, golden afternoon sunlight. I sat behind a massive, modern desk, reviewing the quarterly earnings reports. We had tripled our valuation since I took over. The stock was soaring.
The door to my office opened, and Maya walked in, holding a small hand.
Hazel, now three years old, bounded into the room with a head full of dark curls and a bright, fearless smile. She was wearing a tiny blazer over a pink tulle dress.
"Mama!" Hazel cheered, running toward my desk.
I dropped my pen, pushed back my leather chair, and scooped her up, burying my face in her neck as she giggled.
"How was the park, my love?" I asked, kissing her cheek.
"We saw ducks!" she announced proudly.
Maya sat down on the leather sofa, kicking off her heels. She was now the Head of Corporate Communications, and she was thriving. "She ran me ragged. But we brought you a coffee."
I smiled, looking around the office. Photos of Hazel covered the credenza. A portrait of Aunt Beatrice hung proudly on the wall. The room was filled with light, laughter, and absolute security.
My phone buzzed on the desk. An unknown number.
I let it go to voicemail. I didn't care who it was. The past was dead and buried.
Julian had tried to call a few times over the years, leaving pathetic, weeping voicemails on holidays. I never responded. He was a ghost, haunting the edges of a life he had thrown away. He had chosen an illusion of power, and in the end, it had left him completely empty.
I stood up, holding Hazel on my hip, and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Manhattan skyline.
"Look at all of that, Hazel," I whispered, pointing to the sprawling city below.
She pressed her tiny hand against the glass, her eyes wide with wonder. "It’s big."
"It is," I smiled, kissing the top of her head. "And one day, it will all belong to you."
May you like
She didn't need the Sterling name to have a legacy. She had something infinitely more powerful. She had a mother who had walked through the fire, burned down a corrupt dynasty, and built a kingdom where she would always be the rightful heir.
I held her tight, feeling the steady, unbroken beat of her heart against mine. We were finally safe. We were finally home. And we were untouchable.
