Nancy stood in the middle of the office, still clutching Richard’s letter. The applause died down slowly, replaced by a hum of whispers. She felt the weight of every gaze fixed on her—some curious, some skeptical, others cautiously hopeful.

For a moment, she doubted herself. She had been just an assistant, the person people barely noticed except when they needed something typed, scheduled, or fetched. But Richard’s words echoed in her mind:

“Lead the company with kindness and wisdom, and everything else will fall into place as you go along.”

She folded the letter gently and tucked it into her jacket pocket, her spine straightening as if Richard’s voice itself was holding her up.

The First Day as Owner

Nancy walked to the corner office that had always been Tom’s domain. It felt foreign stepping through the door—a place she had only entered when summoned, usually to be barked at for the smallest mistakes. The heavy oak desk and the sleek leather chair seemed designed to intimidate.

She placed the letter on the desk, then turned back to the waiting employees.

“I’m going to need everyone to gather in the conference room in ten minutes,” she said. “We have a lot to discuss.”

People exchanged looks but began moving. Some appeared nervous, fearing that a major shake-up might cost them their jobs. Others, especially those who had seen Tom’s cruelty firsthand, walked with a spark of curiosity in their eyes.

The Meeting

The conference room filled with employees from every department—finance, sales, marketing, customer service. Nancy stood at the head of the table, gripping its edge lightly.

“I know you’re all wondering what’s going to happen now,” she began. “Richard spent his life building this company. But in the last months of his life, he saw something that worried him.”