The scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the air as I meticulously reviewed a presentation on my laptop. Sunlight streamed through the expansive windows of my corner office, highlighting the organized chaos of my desk. A sudden, frantic knock shattered the peaceful silence.
"Eleanor, the directors are waiting in the boardroom!" Elvis, my personal assistant, practically burst through the door, his voice laced with barely concealed panic.
I raised an eyebrow, my expression unreadable. "Calm down, Elvis," I said in a monotone voice that belied the storm brewing in my eyes. "I'm already leaving."
Elvis, usually the picture of composure, stammered, "B-but they said it's urgent. They wouldn't say what it's about."
A flicker of unease crossed my face, momentarily breaking my calm facade. I closed my laptop with a decisive snap. "Tell them I'll be there in five minutes."
As Elvis scurried out, I took a deep breath, willing my racing heart to slow down. Whatever the directors wanted, it couldn't be good. The suddenness of the meeting, their cryptic message, it all sent a shiver down my spine. But I, ever the professional, straightened my power suit and marched towards the boardroom, ready to face whatever storm was brewing.
I stepped into the boardroom and all heads turned towards me. Hate and disdain flickered across their faces, but beneath it, I could sense a grudging respect. In the center sat my father, flanked by my two elder brothers. Their inferiority complex practically oozed from them, unable to swallow the fact that the "girl child" had surpassed them. I looked at my father, our shared features - the fiery red hair, the piercing green eyes - undeniable proof of our connection, yet he merely waved a dismissive hand in greeting. Years of emotional neglect had built a wall around my heart, rendering his indifference meaningless.
"Hello, father dearest," I replied with the fakest smile I could muster.
He simply waved his hands in acknowledgment, a dismissive gesture that wouldn't faze me anymore. I had learned from a young age not to expect any affection from him, after all, I wasn't the son he needed and he hated me so desperately for it.
I turned to my brothers, ignoring their glares. Jonathan, the eldest, sneered, "You think you're all that now, eh? Can't wait to see you fall."
I rolled my eyes at his childish jab. "At least I have somewhere to fall from," I retorted, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Unlike you, who's been scraping the bottom of the barrel your entire life."
Jonathan's face contorted in rage, his body tensing, but my father's sharp gesture halted him in his tracks. A flicker of fear, masked by bravado, danced in his eyes. My father, despite his outward disapproval, still held a power over them, a power I intended to use to my advantage.
The silence hung heavy in the air, pregnant with unspoken animosity.
My father cleared his throat, the sound sending a shiver down my spine. I braced myself for the verbal onslaught, but what came next surprised me.
"Eleanor," he began, his voice laced with an uncharacteristic uncertainty, "I think I speak for everyone here when I say that you've done well for yourself and the company." His fingers tapped nervously on the armrest, a gesture betraying his usual stoicism. "But I think it's time you take a break."
His words hit me like a bucket of ice water. Take a break? After years of dedication, of proving myself worthy in their eyes, this was their reward? I glanced at my brothers, their smug smiles confirming my suspicions. My blood boiled, a primal urge to lash out rising within me.
"What?" I spat, my voice tight with barely contained fury. "You're kicking me out? After everything I've done for this company?"
My father's jaw clenched. "I'm not kicking you out, Eleanor. I'm asking you to take a break. Go on a vacation, go sightseeing, whatever it is you want."
His explanation only fueled my anger. "Don't insult me with your lies," I hissed. "You let me work like a dog, pushing myself to the limit, and now you want to cast me aside? To hand over my hard-earned success to, let me guess, Jonathan?" I let out a humorless chuckle, scanning the boardroom where members averted their gazes, unable to meet my accusing stare.
Turning back to my father, I met his gaze head-on. "You think your sons, with their inflated egos and zero work ethic, could even come close to what I've achieved? You may have won this battle, Father, but this war is far from over."
With that, I stormed out of the boardroom, slamming the door shut behind me. The echo of the impact resonated through the hallway. Tears welled up in my eyes, a mixture of anger, frustration, and a flicker of fear for the uncertain future ahead.
Blinking away the tears that blurred my vision, I marched into my office, Elvis trailing behind me like a loyal shadow. Reaching my desk, I unlocked a drawer and retrieved the documents for the new merger I was working on with our rival company. Glancing over my shoulder at Elvis, I said, "This is my mess, Elvis. I don't expect you to follow me down."
He chuckled, a low rumble in his chest. "You underestimate me, Eleanor. We're a package deal. If you go, I go. Besides, who else would trust me with their coffee and waffles?"
A reluctant smile tugged at the corner of my lips. "Alright then, Sherlock. Shoot Sterling Enterprises a message. Tell them the deal fell through and fill them in on the details."
With my bag slung over my shoulder, I marched towards the door. "Meet me at the penthouse when you're done," I instructed.
"Aye aye, captain," Elvis replied, mimicking a quirky SpongeBob voice before disappearing down the hallway.
Once outside the suffocating confines of the company, I made a beeline for my car, the taste of freedom sweet on my tongue. As I merged onto the highway, a text message buzzed on my phone from an unknown number. Before I could even glance at the screen, a blinding flash of light filled my vision.
A deafening screech pierced the air, followed by the sickening crunch of metal. The world spun wildly, my body thrown against the seatbelt with a bone-jarring impact. Pain exploded through me, momentarily stealing my breath.
Through the haze of shock and disorientation, I felt the car careen off the road, tumbling down a steep embankment. My consciousness wavered, slipping towards the abyss of darkness.
"I can't believe this is how it ends," a desperate thought flickered in my mind. "After everything!"
Then, amidst the deafening silence, a voice cut through the fog. A woman's voice, soft and calming, whispered, "Do you want to live, Eleanor?"
My lungs burned, my body a mangled mess. I couldn't speak, but the primal urge to survive pulsed through me. With every ounce of remaining strength, I mustered a single, raspy word, "Yes."
It was the last thing I remembered before the darkness claimed me once more.