Nolan slumped in the plush leather chair, his mind aching with the tedium of his father's insistence on his presence at the meeting when he never agreed to any of their suggestions.

Seated across from him was Lexie, his step-sister, who never missed a chance to curry favor with their father. Her eyes gleamed with a hint of smug satisfaction, relishing their ongoing conflict.

"We should consider implementing a rotation," Nolan ventured once more, his voice tinged with frustration. He watched as his father dismissed the idea with a casual wave of his hand.

"No, that's not a viable option for our business. We've invested in talent from our competitors, and simply rotating them won't serve our purpose," his father countered, a sly smile curling at the corners of Lexie's lips.

Nolan persisted, his determination fueled by empathy. "Think about the workers and their families; laying them off would be a hardship for all of them."

"Well, doing otherwise would be bad for business instead," Lexie, always quick to support their father, chimed in, gaining a nod of approval from him.

Frustration boiled within Nolan, and he could no longer conceal his anger. "If you don't value my suggestions, why am I even here?" His disdain for these meetings was obvious.

"Take a break, son. Return when you've cooled off," their father suggested, gesturing towards the exit.

Nolan stared at his father for a moment, his resentment simmering, before exiting the conference room. As he began to descend the first step, he heard the door swing open and shut.

Lexie approached him quickly, her words dripping with condescension. "You know why you'll never match up to Father's position when he retires? You're too emotional. Business isn't about feelings."

Nolan couldn't contain his anger any longer. "What do my emotions matter to you, if they even exist? It's none of your concern."

"It shouldn't bother me but it does," Lexie retorted sharply, her eyes locking onto his. "Your gender is what gives Father the notion to put you in his will and, worse, in charge of his empire— an empire I helped him build."

Nolan turned partially to face her, his tone biting. "An empire you helped build? How highly you must think of yourself. Do you really believe that if I inherit the company, it's solely because I'm male and you're not? I can't tell if it's self-importance or insecurity that's eating away at you, big sis." His words cut deep, a deliberate strike at her ego.

Lexie's massive ego was on display in the way she conducted herself as if the world owed her something. Her posture oozed dominance, with her chin lifted high as if looking down on the world.

She did not just accept failure when circumstances did not coincide with her desires. Instead, she effectively played the blame game, blaming everyone but herself. Her default reaction was to point fingers.

"Don't call me that. We only share a father, and I wouldn't be surprised if he picked you up from a street corner, considering your mother's profession; she was a prostitute," Lexie repeated, a refrain she'd sung every day; at least seven times in the past two days. Nolan had grown immune to her jabs, which only fueled his resentment toward his father for not correcting her. That was if she was ever wrong about his mother.

Before Nolan could retort, his phone vibrated in his pocket, and he fished it out, keeping his eyes locked on his step-sister.

"What?" he answered curtly, his irritation apparent.

"I'm guessing you didn't check the caller ID before answering, Nol," Ailee's cheerful voice rang through the phone. Nolan pulled it away from his ear and glanced at the screen, realizing his oversight.

"Oh, hey, sorry about that," he replied with a sheepish chuckle. He noticed Lexie rolling her eyes and retreating into the hall.

Ailee's laughter filled the conversation as she playfully teased Nolan, "I almost thought you were finally done with us. You sounded angry at first. I hope you're doing okay over there. Is there any murder we need to hide?"

Nolan joined in the banter, jesting, "Come on, we don't want that pretty face of yours behind bars, do we?"

Her voice remained light as she continued, "Sure. If not that, how about driving to pick us up? Dad was thinking of sending his driver, but I just thought you'd be able to come pick us up." She sensed his smile through the phone.

"I needed to get out of here anyway. Give me a few minutes; I'll swing by my office first," Nolan replied, and they continued chatting for a while before hanging up.

The Orlando family and his had always been good friends. Their grandfathers were best friends and so their fathers grew up together and they also did.

Nolan had a soft spot for Ailee. Her unwavering optimism and carefree spirit had captured his heart. She possessed a charm and intelligence that only added to her already radiant personality.

Nolan had spoken to her family about his intentions to marry her someday, and they had welcomed the idea with open arms. However, Ailee always brushed off his advances, considering him the perfect brother she never had, insisting he shouldn't jeopardize their bond with romantic notions.

With his office tasks completed, Nolan eagerly headed to the car park, ready to leave the premises and meet with the one person who could brighten even the darkest of his days.