Loving DAD 1064

But the path ahead for Sharon was far more treacherous. No one would offer her a hand up; instead, those same people would exhaust every means to block her way. 

Though she held a crucial stake in the company, the gulf between owning shares and wielding real power was vast and perilous. Perhaps the shares Shayla left her were a final safeguard–a contingency plan, not a genuine inheritance. 

If given a choice, Shayla would likely have still wanted Sharon to pursue her own dreams–to live for her passions, not be shackled by the cutthroat politics of the Kalen Group. 

Shayla had worked there herself. She knew how murky, suffocating, and corrupt the inner workings were. Those in power were often forced to compromise their principles. 

Even men like Thomas, Jamie, and Carter–who now stood at the pinnacle–had taken years to seize control. Behind the scenes, who knew how many ruthless maneuvers they had employed to secure their positions? 

And even after claiming that throne, one needed constant cunning and leverage to hold it. The moment a weakness appeared, the vultures would circle, ready to tear the fallen to pieces. 

Otherwise, Carter wouldn’t have rushed back to manage the scandal with Kelly. Nor would Jamie’s empire have been thrown into chaos by Sharon’s single live stream. 

If Sharon lacked the necessary ruthlessness, her ascent to power would remain out of reach. The authority that was rightfully hers could be easily stripped away. 

In contrast, Victoria, backed by the full force of the Kalen family, could build her own empire in record time. 

One side was lifting Victoria up; the other was determined to drag Sharon down. Her road would be long and arduous. 

Thomas glanced at the stack of documents beside her. “Have you decided on a company?” 

“I’ve shortlisted three,” Sharon replied. “They all show strong potential. I plan to select one from them.” 

She paused, then added, “I’ve already sent their profiles to Xavier for his assessment.” 

As a newcomer to the business world, Sharon was acutely aware of her own learning curve. She refused to bluff or pretend to knowledge she didn’t have. 

Even Victoria, with her formal business education, constantly relied on Silas and Scott. Sharon would be a fool to trust her instincts alone. 

As for asking Rick… that was out of the question. 

She didn’t trust any of the three Kalen brothers. She half–expected they would sabotage her given the chance. 

“Mind if I take a look?” Thomas asked. 

Sharon handed him the folder. Since he would be accompanying her to her new job in the Kalen Group, there was no point in secrecy. 

Chapter 1064 

As Thomas reviewed the documents, Sharon’s phone buzzed–a call from Xavier. 

+25 BONUS 

He had recently shifted his operations from Zachemaine to Marcentine and was still settling in. Yet, the moment Sharon requested his help, he had cleared his schedule to analyze the materials she sent. 

“Sharon, I’ve reviewed the files. You have a good eye. The three companies you selected are indeed the strongest contenders with excellent growth potential. 

“However, if you’re operating under a one–year management mandate, two of them may not deliver optimal returns within that timeframe. 

“I’ve annotated the key advantages, drawbacks, and future development strategies for each. I’ve also highlighted the critical points for your review. 

“Take your time going through it. If anything is unclear, feel free to ask me anytime.”