Chapter 28

Chapter 28

And so each passing day felt like a small triumph for Laura as she slowly began to recover from the heartbreak that once consumed her. Though the sting of it lingered, it no longer defined her. She made a conscious decision to leave behind the pieces of herself that had been trapped in the past. In the quiet hours of morning, instead of thinking of Jonathan, she'd throw herself into her work at her family's company, a car merchandising business her parents had built from the ground up.

Unlike the silver-spooned world Jonathan came from, the Levines' had forged their own path through grit, determination, and countless sacrifices. Their wealth wasn't passed down through generations—it was earned. Laura had always admired that about her parents, and now, she found herself more than ever wanting to contribute to their legacy. What had once been a background hum in her life, the family business, was now becoming her focus.

Her father, Mr. Levine, had always been a strong presence—wise, patient, and never one to shy away from a challenge. Laura had looked up to him all her life, and now, she wanted to make him proud, not just as his daughter, but as someone capable of leading the company he and her mother had worked so hard to build.

In those first few days of working at the company, Laura spent most of her time observing and learning, familiarizing herself with every aspect of the business. From walking through the warehouse floors to sitting in on marketing meetings, she immersed herself in all areas, absorbing knowledge with a quiet intensity. She kept her head down, determined to prove that she wasn't there just because of her last name—she was there because she wanted to earn her place.

Then came the day when her father officially introduced her to the entire team.

Laura hadn't expected it to be a big deal. She had already met most of the senior staff in passing, and many knew her from her occasional visits to the office over the years. But Mr. Levine, always a man of formality and respect, insisted on calling a company-wide meeting to mark the occasion.

The conference room was spacious, its glass walls overlooking the busy city streets below. The long table was filled with department heads, senior managers, and executives—people who had worked under her father's leadership for years, some even decades. They were a seasoned, tight-knit team, and Laura knew she would need to prove herself to them.

As she sat at the far end of the table, her heart pounded in her chest, but outwardly, she remained composed. Her father stood at the head of the table, commanding the room with his presence.

"Thank you all for joining me today," Mr. Levine began, his voice strong yet kind. "I won't take up too much of your time, but I wanted to call this meeting to officially introduce someone very important to me—and to the future of this company."

He paused, casting a glance at Laura with pride evident in his eyes.

"As many of you know, my wife and I built this company from nothing. It wasn't always easy, and we faced our fair share of challenges along the way, but we persevered. We grew. And today, this company stands as a testament to hard work, dedication, and the incredible team we've assembled."

There was a murmur of agreement around the room.

"And now," Mr. Levine continued, "as we look to the future, it's time to begin thinking about the next generation. So, I'm proud to introduce my daughter, Laura, who have been training here and learning every aspect of our business."

He gestured toward Laura, and every eye in the room turned toward her. She smiled politely, though her heart raced.

"Now, many of you already know Laura," he said. "But this is different. She was not just visiting for these past few days—she has been working with you. She'll be learning everything, from sales to logistics to management, just like anyone else who's starting fresh. I expect her to be treated no differently than any of you were when you began here. I want her to understand what this company is about, what we stand for, and what it takes to run a business like this."

There was a moment of silence as the words sank in. Laura could feel the weight of their expectations on her, but she welcomed it. She wanted this.

Her father's gaze softened as he looked at her, and with a smile, he added, "She's going to do great things, and I trust that all of you will support her as she takes this journey with us. This company is her future, and I'm confident that she will help lead us into the next chapter."

As he finished speaking, the room erupted in polite applause. Laura stood, shaking hands and exchanging greetings with the department heads and senior managers who approached her. There were polite smiles, encouraging words, and a few nods of approval, but she sensed the unspoken challenge in their eyes. This wasn't going to be an easy road, but Laura was prepared for that.

Later, after the meeting had ended and the office had emptied out, Laura found herself standing by the large window in her father's office. The city lights flickered below, casting a soft glow into the room. It felt surreal, being here in the place that had once seemed so distant, so disconnected from her life.

Her father, Mr. Levine, stepped up behind her, watching her quietly for a moment before speaking.

"You did well today," he said, his voice warm and filled with pride. "I'm proud of you."

Laura turned to him as a small but genuine smile tugged at her lips. "Thanks, dad," she said softly, her voice tinged with both of relief and reflection. "I never thought I'd come to love this company. I didn't see it before, how much it means... not just to you and Mom, but to me too." She sighed. Then, a realization settled over her as memories of her past—of wasted time and misguided hopes—flickered in her mind. "I spent so much time... chasing after things, after people that were never really worth it."

Her father watched her closely, understanding what she wasn't saying aloud. He had seen her struggles, her heartbreak, and now he was witnessing her growth, her return to herself.

"But you guys," Laura continued, her smile widening as she looked up at him, "you and Mom, you built something real. Something I can be proud of. And now... I'm proud to be a part of it."

Mr. Levine chuckled, his eyes shining with affection. "You have always been part of this. We built this for you after all. You're going to do great things here, Laura. I always knew you had it in you, even when you didn't see it yourself."

She grinned, feeling a sense of comfort in her father's words. For the first time in a long while, she felt like she was exactly where she needed to be. "Well, you and Mom did all the hard work. I'm just stepping in now," she teased lightly. "But really... you guys did an amazing job with this business."

Her father smiled as the lines on his face softened with pride. "We couldn't have done it without each other. And now, we've got you on board. It's the best decision we could've made."

Laura's heart swelled at his words.

Then, Mr. Levine patted her on the back with a warm chuckle. "Now, let's head home," he said, turning toward the door. "And on the way, let's pick up something nice for your mother. She'll be thrilled to hear how well today went."

Laura laughed, following him out of the office. "You spoil her too much," she said with a playful grin.

"Well, that's what husbands are supposed to do, aren't they?" Mr. Levine replied with a wink.

For a moment, Laura paused in her tracks, her father's words lingering in her mind. 'How nice it would have been,' she thought, 'if I had been treated like how Dad treats Mom.'

Mr. Levine, noticing his daughter had stopped, turned to her with a gentle smile but concern in his eyes. "What are you doing back there?" he asked with a soft chuckle. "Come on now, let's not keep your mother waiting."

Laura shook off her thoughts and smiled up at him, the warmth in his voice pulling her back. "Mhm!" she hummed, nodding as she fell back into step beside him.