Aaron stood in front of the mirror, buttoning his shirt. He could hear Vivian pacing behind him.
"You're really doing this?" she asked.
Aaron smirked. "Why do you sound surprised?"
Vivian sighed. "I don't know… maybe because you got this company yesterday, and today you're already passing it off to me."
Aaron shrugged. "I don't need to be CEO to control it."
Vivian shook her head but said nothing else.
The drive to Acadia Media Group was silent. Aaron parked, checked his watch, and got out. Vivian followed without a word.
Inside the boardroom, the members were already seated. The air was tense, their expressions unreadable as Aaron took his seat at the head of the table. Vivian stood behind him, quiet as always.
Aaron didn't waste time.
"I'm keeping this short," he said. "Effective immediately, Vivian is the new CEO of Acadia Media Group."
Silence.
A few exchanged confused looks. One of the older board members finally spoke up.
"Mr. Turner, you just arrived yesterday. We assumed you would be leading the company yourself."
"You assumed wrong."
Another cleared his throat. "It's just… unusual to have a leadership change so quickly."
Aaron leaned back. "Unusual doesn't mean wrong."
There was a beat of hesitation, then—polite applause. Some clapped because they agreed, others because it was the expected response.
Not Todd.
His fists were clenched. His face red.
"This is ridiculous," he spat.
Aaron raised a brow. "Something to say, Todd?"
"You took this company away from me, and now you're giving it to her?" His voice shook with rage. "I built this company! I've been here for years! You think you can just walk in and decide everything?"
Aaron tilted his head. "Yes."
Todd's jaw tightened. "You're making a mistake."
Aaron smirked. "I'll take my chances."
Todd stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. "I won't let this happen."
Aaron stood too, his voice calm but sharp. "You don't have a choice."
For a second, Todd looked like he might argue, but one look at Aaron and he knew better. With a final glare, he stormed out.
Aaron turned back to the board. "Meeting's over."
No one argued.
Back home, Aaron threw his jacket on the couch and got to work. He scrubbed the floors, dusted the shelves, washed the dishes—everything Amanda would complain about later.
When he was done, he sat on the couch and turned on the TV. Vivian's press conference was live.
She stood behind the podium, a calm and unreadable expression on her face as reporters threw questions at her.
"Miss Vivian, do you have enough experience to run a company of this size?"
Vivian gave a small smile. "I wouldn't be standing here if I didn't."
"What changes do you plan to make?"
"The ones that matter."
"Some say your appointment was rushed. Do you think you're ready for this responsibility?"
Vivian's smile didn't waver. "If I wasn't, I wouldn't be here."
Aaron smirked. Perfect answers. No commitments, no unnecessary details.
She was exactly what the company needed.
Then—
SLAM.
Amanda burst into the room.
"You're unbelievable."
Aaron didn't even look away from the screen. "Good evening, Amanda."
"Don't start with me." She crossed her arms. "You've been sitting on your butt all day, haven't you?"
Aaron sighed. "The house is spotless."Amanda scoffed. "And that's enough? You think just because you cleaned, you get to sit around?"
Aaron finally turned to her. "What exactly do you want from me?"
"I want you to act like a man, Aaron!" Amanda snapped. "You should be working, earning money—doing something instead of being useless all the time!"
Aaron let out a slow breath. "You do realize that I do all the work in this house, right?"
Amanda waved him off. "And what, you think that makes you competent, you are just a useless idiot."
Aaron pinched the bridge of his nose. "Amanda, I don't have the energy for this today."
She scoffed. "You never have the energy for anything."
And with that, she stormed off. Aaron turned back to the TV, shaking his head. She's impossible. A few hours later, Aaron's phone rang. Natalie.
He picked up. "What's up?"
"We need you to travel," she said. "Several of your companies have urgent issues that require your attention."
Aaron exhaled. "How bad?"
"Not catastrophic, but important. The board expects you to address them personally."
Aaron rubbed his temple. "When?"
"Soon."
Aaron sighed. "Fine. Send me the details."
"Already did."
Aaron glanced at his inbox. A long itinerary. Meetings, site visits, business decisions.
No rest.
"Got it," he muttered.
"Good night, sir," Natalie said.
Aaron hung up, tossed his phone aside, and leaned back.
Tomorrow was going to be a nightmare.
---Later that night, Aaron made dinner. Amanda didn't help, but she was the first to sit at the table.
Sarah joined a few minutes later.
"Dinner smells good," she muttered, sitting down. Aaron handed her a plate. "Long day?"
She sighed. "You have no idea."
Amanda scoffed. "Oh, she had a long day? Try dealing with a lazy son-in-law who does nothing all day."
Aaron rolled his eyes. "You really have to make everything about me?"
Amanda smirked. "If the shoe fits."
Aaron ignored her and ate. After dinner, he finally crawled into bed.
Exhausted. Sleep came fast. Then—
Smoke.
Heat.
Aaron's eyes snapped open.
Something was wrong.
His room was dim, except for the flickering orange glow under the door.
His stomach dropped.
Fire.
The smell hit him next—thick, suffocating smoke.
He threw off the covers and rushed to the door. The second he opened it, heat rushed in.
"Amanda! Sarah!" he shouted.
"Aaron!" Amanda's voice, panicked, came from the other room.
"We need to get out!"
Flames licked the hallway walls. The fire was spreading—fast.
Aaron ran to Amanda's door and kicked it open. She was stumbling, coughing, eyes wide with terror.
"Move!" Aaron grabbed her arm.
Sarah ran from her room, covering her mouth with her sleeve. "The front door!"
They ran.
Smoke filled the air, thick and suffocating. The heat was unbearable.
The front door was in sight—then—CRACK!
A wooden beam collapsed in front of them.
"No—!" Amanda shrieked.
Aaron grabbed her and Sarah, pulling them back. "Back door! Go!"
They turned, sprinting through the kitchen. The fire was everywhere.
Aaron kicked the back door open. Fresh air.
They stumbled outside, coughing.
Neighbors were shouting. Sirens wailed in the distance.
Aaron turned back. His home—engulfed in flames.
Amanda clutched her chest. "Everything's gone," she whispered.
Aaron stared at the inferno.