Chapter 8

Avery stood to her feet, taking a deep breath and opening her eyes as she ascended the steps to the higher seat.

The eyes of the room were upon her, but she remained calm and collected, as if unfazed by the attention. She had been through much worse than this, and she knew how to handle herself with grace and poise.

As she reached the top of the steps, she turned to face the crowd, her head held high. She was ready for whatever was to come.

"Hello everyone," Avery said, her voice clear and confident. "I am Avery Rodrigo, daughter of Richard Rodrigo, and I am here to take over the helm of Star Technologies. I hope we can all work together to take this company to the top."

A hush fell over the crowd, as people whispered and exchanged looks. Some were skeptical, while others were intrigued. But all were watching her closely, waiting to see what she would do next.

In the back of the room, Stephen was staring at her in a daze. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. His world was spinnin