Chapter 2 - Welcome Home
The Maybach pulled through the iron gates of the Voss estate, and Iris pressed her palm against the cool window glass. The mansion was as she remembered: white stone, tall columns, and ivy climbing the walls like it always had.
Nothing had changed, but she had.
Her phone buzzed in her lap with another message from an unknown number. She didn't need to open it to know it was someone from Harper Tech, probably asking where she'd gone and why she'd left without a word to anyone.
She deleted it without reading.
The car rolled to a stop in the circular driveway, and Iris took a slow breath before stepping out. The afternoon sun was warm on her skin, but she felt cold inside.
"Iris!"
Her father was already descending the front steps with his arms wide open. The sight of him—grey hair, kind eyes, and that familiar smile—made something in her chest crack open.
She barely made it three steps before his arms closed around her.
"I'm home, Dad," she whispered, her voice breaking despite her best efforts.
"Welcome home, pumpkin." His hand smoothed down her blonde hair the way he used to when she was little.
He didn't ask what happened or demand explanations. Her father just held her, and for the first time since she'd signed those papers, Iris let herself feel the weight of it all.
Her eyes burned with unshed tears, but she blinked them back. Not yet. She couldn't fall apart yet.
When they finally pulled apart, her father studied her face with the careful attention of someone who knew her too well.
"You don't have to talk about it," he said gently. "Not until you're ready."
Iris nodded gratefully. "Thank you."
He smiled and gestured toward the house. "Come. Your mother had the kitchen prepare all your favourites. She's been fussing over the menu since Ace called to say you were coming."
"Everything's still the same," Iris murmured as they walked up the steps together and caught her father's wide smile.
The fountain in the courtyard, the rose bushes lining the path, even the faint scent of jasmine in the air… it was all exactly as she remembered.
"Your mother insisted," her father said with a fond chuckle. "She wanted you to feel like you never left."
But Iris had left. And she'd stayed away for far too long, chasing a dream that had turned into a nightmare.
They entered the grand foyer, and the familiar sight of marble floors and crystal chandeliers wrapped around her like a blanket. This was home… this had always been home.
"I know why you came back," her father said quietly as they paused at the base of the sweeping staircase. "And I want you to know, there's no pressure. Take all the time you need before stepping into this life."
Iris met his eyes. "I've already made my decision, Dad. I'm ready to take over."
Something shifted in her father's expression, pride mixed with relief. "I've been waiting for this day for a long time, Iris. But I won't lie and say I wished it had come under better circumstances."
"Life doesn't always give us what we wish for," Iris said, and the bitterness in her own voice surprised her.
Her father squeezed her shoulder. "No. But sometimes it gives us what we need." He paused, then added, "Ace is waiting in the study. He'll brief you on everything. But first, there's something I need you to prioritise."
"What is it?"
"The Hales," he said. "You remember Sebastian Hale, don't you?"
Iris's steps slowed. Sebastian. She hadn't thought about him in years. "I remember."
"Their company has grown exponentially over the past few years, coming head-to-head with ours. Sebastian took over after his father's stroke and turned Hale Corp into one of the top firms in the country." Her father's expression grew serious. "But our partnership with them has weakened. We need to rebuild that alliance, Iris. Make it stronger than before."
"I understand."
"Good." Her father's smartwatch beeped, and he glanced down at it with a small frown. "I have to take this. Ace will fill you in on the rest."
"Of course, father."
He kissed her forehead before turning to leave, and immediately, the two men in black suits that had stayed two feet away fell into step behind him.
Iris watched him go, then turned to find Ace approaching from the hallway, a tablet tucked under his arm and his ever-present dark shades hiding his eyes.
"Welcome back, Ms. Voss," he said with a slight nod.
"Good to see you again, Ace." Iris straightened her shoulders. "Brief me."
They walked together through the familiar halls, passing portraits of Voss' ancestors and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the estate gardens.
"Financials are stable," Ace began efficiently. "No major losses in the past quarter. However, I've flagged two senior executives, Morgan and Pierce. They've been moving funds through shell accounts. The paper trail is solid."
Iris stopped walking. "How much?"
"Combined? Just over ten million."
Her jaw tightened. "Names and evidence?"
Ace handed her a slim folder. She flipped it open, eyes scanning the documents. Bank transfers, falsified invoices, offshore accounts. It was all there, laid out in black and white.
"Good work," she said, closing the folder with a snap. "They'll be the first lesson. I want everyone to know exactly what happens when they try to steal from the Voss family."
"Understood." Ace made a note on his tablet. "The board meeting is scheduled for this afternoon. I've already sent out the notices."
"Perfect." Iris glanced at him. "Let's go. We've got work to do."
Just as Iris continued walking, she noticed Ace wasn't by her side or behind. Turning, she found him still rooted where she left him.
"Ace?"
"My apologies Ms. Voss, but your mother has prepared a feast for you. Leaving right away would hurt the Madam."
Iris's shoulders slumped as she reached up to massage her temples. "I know, Ace, but I'd rather root out some rats, before returning home to celebrate. Let's go."