Aurexx Co.—a towering skyscraper—loomed over one of the country's most prominent cities. As the nation's fastest-growing tech company, it had dominated the market with mind-blowing inventions and owned two of the most successful social media apps, making it worth billions of Dollars.
But now, the giant lay exposed—vulnerable to the hungry vultures waiting for a chance to feast. Ever since the founder's passing, the company had been an open target.
Flashy cars glided into the parking lot, their owners striding confidently toward the boardroom, ready to decide the company's fate.
What they didn't know was that a storm was coming—one that would make even the mightiest bow.
James drove into the parking lot, which was already almost full.
"Seems like we're a bit late," he grumbled.
"Just park anyway," Julia instructed.
They made their way toward the building's elevator. Despite arriving late, Julia walked with calm confidence, as though she owned the place. And technically, she did.
She wasn't much of a fashion person, yet she had put together an elegant red suit, paired with white Christian Louboutin stilettos and a white Chanel purse. It wasn't difficult—after all, the former owner had practically owned a boutique at home. At least she had taste, Julia thought.
Her red hair was pulled into a sleek updo, lips painted a bold red. She'd read a book the night before—become that girl. As a hardcore introvert, she already had the intelligence and skills. What she was cultivating now was aura.
Rule number two: Dress like you own the room and make the rules. Don't do low-key. Be the moment.
"James, ever been to a board meeting?" Julia asked, turning her head slightly toward him.
He looked serious as usual, his expression unreadable. Even behind his glasses, his sharp features were hard to miss.
"No, ma'am," he answered curtly.
"Hm. Me neither," she chirped. "But guess what? We're going to make it unforgettable."
A cold smile curved her lips, sending a chill down James's spine.
Ding.
The elevator doors opened.
Julia walked straight toward the boardroom, James following closely behind. Lily, who was in the middle of a speech, paused. Her eyes tracked the room's attention to the doorway—where Julia stood, wearing a sweet smile Lily didn't like one bit.
Lily's face twisted in confusion. Julia was never this confident—at least not within the company walls. What caused this sudden change?
Her gaze drifted to James, who stood beside Julia with a stoic expression. Lily scoffed inwardly.
The board members reacted differently—some clearly irritated, others looking eager, as though they couldn't wait to embarrass the young woman.
"Thanks for your patience," Julia said lightly, a hint of sarcasm lacing her tone.
Her father had once mentioned that meetings couldn't begin without the chairperson present, despite her mother urging him to be punctual.
Julia strode toward her seat at the center of the table. A plaque rested before it, the word Chairwoman boldly engraved. At least Lily had made sure the seat was positioned correctly—proof she was still hiding her true intentions.
Lily sat in the CEO's seat.
For now, she was only the acting CEO. Her plan was simple: get the board to vote her in permanently, seize control of the company, and leave Julia as the clueless chairwoman.
With Julia present today, Lily intended to worsen the shareholders' displeasure.
"Continue," Julia said into the mic.
Several faces immediately darkened.
Maintaining her graceful smile, Lily spoke again. "Sorry, but I'll have to start from the beginning since the chairwoman just arrived.
It would be rude not to carry her along."
The implication was clear—and it worked.
The shareholders grew more irritated. Someone muttered, not even trying to hide it, "It's not like she'll understand what's being said anyway."
But if Julia failed to catch Lily's intention, then her previous life would have been lived in vain.
Lily glanced at Julia, who remained calm, as though she wasn't the one being ridiculed. Instead, a faint smirk played on Julia's lips.
"I was discussing the company's next step—our expansion into the gadget market," Lily said, signaling her PA, who immediately began distributing documents.
Julia scanned the papers nonchalantly. She had already hacked into Lily's system and gone through every confidential file. At this point, she had only one word for it all.
Mediocre.
Lily watched her carefully. Julia barely reacted to the documents, and a sly smile crept onto Lily's lips.
"Julia," she called softly, using a tone reminiscent of an older sister. "These documents show the market survey results. The diagrams might look complicated, but—"
Julia raised a hand, cutting her off.
She shot Lily a look—one that clearly said are you serious?
The board members grew even more displeased. Not only did she seem incapable of understanding a simple document, but she also appeared arrogant.
"Poor Lily," a female shareholder remarked, someone clearly close to her. "If I had a sister who was not just dumb but ungrateful, I wouldn't bother helping either."
Lily looked apologetic, as though she never intended for things to escalate.