EPOV
I wasn't sure what exactly was more pathetic at the moment.
Was it pathetic that she just made a fool out of me in front of the board and I couldn't do anything about it?
Or was it more pathetic that even after all that, I was more impressed with her than I'd like to admit!
Damn, she was so good!
I didn't think she would ramp up so quickly. And it was not just about this meeting! She had been showing a glimpse of her brilliance here and there, and well, I guess she was going to be a better asset to this company than my uncle ever was!
She was just... too good!
I always wanted a woman for me who would tell me on my face when I was wrong.
She was that girl.
Smart, intelligent, brilliant, hardworking, courageous.
She was everything.
She was everything I'd ever dreamed to find in my ideal partner.
But unfortunately, she was my uncle's widow!
Why would she marry him?
Well, money and power.
Those could be the only reasons.
Life hadn't been fair to her since the childhood, and she always said she was going to achieve everything someday by hook or crook.
But I didn't think she was capable of doing something like this.
Why would she marry my dying uncle, for God's sake!
Love?
I mean, that was a possibility, but I didn't think that was the case here.
Jacob and Riley always said that their step-sister was one of the most shrewd people in the world. I wouldn't say I always agreed with them, but I thought they knew her better. I had been the culprit in pulling some horrible pranks on her with them, but well, I didn't want to think about it right now. Those weren't my proudest moments!
But... Then I met her years later, and I got to know her a bit, and I realized I couldn't have been more wrong about her.
She was... perfect.
She was the answer to all my questions.
She was everything I was looking for.
And then she married my uncle!
And I realized probably Jacob and Riley were right about her.
She was shrewd.
She knew what she was doing when she met my uncle.
She had everything planned out.
She was horrible!
"Let me know in case you need any help from me," she said as she was leaving the room, "I mean, I'm just offering the help because you seem to be a slow learner, and I think I could be a good help."
Yeah, she was horrible!
And yet I was impressed with her!
Yeah, I was pathetic!