She leaned back in her chair, her eyes still on him.
"My mother respected you. She spoke highly of you more times than I can count. And you don't get to hold ten percent of a company like this unless you know something. Unless you've fought hard to earn it. So I'll respect that. And I'll count on that."
The man slowly raised his head, his eyes meeting hers again.
"I may be taking the lead now," she said, "but that doesn't mean I don't need insight. And when the time comes that I do… I'll be expecting you to give it."
Upon hearing what Abigail just said the man's heart thudded in his chest. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Not only had he been forgiven, but he was being trusted again. Given a second chance.
That was more than he expected—more than he deserved at this point.
In that moment, he melted completely. All the pride, the scheming, the bargaining—gone. What remained was someone who genuinely wanted to be close, to belong, to matter in this next chapter.
