They had expected her to sit quietly, overwhelmed by the weight of her new position, relying on them to make the real decisions while she enjoyed the title. But it was obvious now that Valentina had no intention of being a puppet.
She want to oversee everything herself.
That realization alone was enough to sour their moods. But there was nothing they could do now. Not yet.
So they kept their expressions neutral, nodded stiffly at each other, and walked away.
At that moment Valentina returned to her office, settling into her chair. The weight of the morning's events still lingered, but she didn't let it distract her. There was still work to be done, and she wasn't about to let anyone undermine her position.
Valentina had barely settled into her chair when her secretary, Harper, stepped into the office, looking slightly flustered. She hesitated at the doorway for a moment before clearing her throat.
