Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Tiana was sitting in the sitting room frozen, the family's doctor had come by and done a preliminary check to see if he could figure out the cause was, so far his guess was a heart attack. Because of his salt intake, he said but Tiana didn't believe him so she watched as her mother guided the doctor out the door next to Anton's dead body that's being rolled out the door. She sucks in a shuddering breath as she ran a hand over her mouth. Her lip trembled but she held back the tears, she couldn't cry. Not right now, she had to be strong for her Mother and get ready to take the next steps to take over the business.
She wiped her eyes discretely as she stood up, after wiping her tears she straightens her skirt before she starts to walk to where her mother was standing. "How are you doing?" Tiana asks grabbing Vera's hand and squeezing it comfortingly. "Not good honey, I told Leif and he's on his way. More importantly." Vera lifts her hand and pushes a piece of hair behind her ear. "I'm okay." Tiana lied plastering a fake smile, she wasn't okay but she had to be especially since Leif is on his way. He'd use this to try and manipulate Tiana into giving over complete control to Leif but Tiana had no plans to do that.
Tiana kissed her mother on the cheek before patting her on the shoulder, Tiana walked behind Vera and walked over to Anton's office, which Tiana guessed will now be her office. She ran her hand over the doorknob carefully before twisting it open. As she walked towards the chair she tried to forget the image of Anton's body slumped over his desk. She gathered her hair and pulled it to the side as she sat down, she scooted the chair closer and she started to run her hands over the wood grain. She's always been in the seat opposite of this chair, she's never been on this side before but she has to admit, it feels good.
Tiana breaks out into a slight smile when she sees the grainy photo of her and Vera placed at the corner of the desk, she grabs the photo before opening the drawer and placing the photo inside. Tiana sniffs as she rubs her hand across her nose, she jumps and looks up quickly when the door to the office starts to open. "Oh hello, I expected I would find you here," Leif says smirking as he walks into the office without Tiana's permission. Tiana breathes out slowly before looking at Leif with a smile while letting her hands rest in her lap. "Hello."
Leif chuckles as he pulls out the chair in front of the desk. "Your Dad died in the same spot you're sitting and you're already taking over." Leif scoffs out making Tiana shake her head. "That's not true and you know that. I'm the rightful heir to the Malinowski Empire and you know that. You may control the finances but I control everything else. So know this Leif, I will not disappoint him, I will fight for the empire just the way my father does because I am Anton Malinowski's daughter and nothing can change that." Tiana was proud of herself, she crossed her arms and glared daggers at Leif who just smirked at her. "That was a great speech, how long did you prepare for that? 20 minutes? You're just a little Zemeni girl who doesn't belong with us, and Anton knew that which is why I control the finances. So, starting today since you're taking over the Malinowski Empire." Leif chuckles humorlessly as he spread his arms to gesture toward the office. "I am placing conditions, you will only get access to all of the financials when I know you are capable of handling them. Until then I will be giving you a certain amount of money that you have to live off to pay the workers. Out of the kindness of my heart, I'm allowing you and Vera to keep living in this house. But know this though, I can revert that decision so don't test me, Tiana." Leif stood up so fast that the chair almost toppled over.
Tiana was silent as she watched Leif leave the room, she jumped when the sound of Leif slamming the office door vibrated the whole room. She took a deep breath trying to will the tears that is filling up her eyes away, she scrubbed her hand over her face harshly but she could still feel the prickles of tears trying to make their appearance. She couldn't cry, not yet. Crying was for when Tiana was alone in her bedroom not when she was in her new office when anyone could walk in just as Leif did.
She scooted her chair back and looked around the office before standing up, she walked over to the bookcases that lined the walls. Tiana ran her fingers over the bindings of the different books that were lining the shelves. The books weren't for reading to take someone into different worlds, they used to be but once Tiana was old enough Anton tossed them out and started to line them with the detailed ledgers he would take, Tiana wasn't big on that so she knew she wouldn't do that but she was still planning on keeping the books in the office, as a reminder of Anton and how she was made.
She was Anton Malinowski's daughter and no one. Not even Leif Malinowski can change that, Anton believed in Tiana and that was enough for her.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
