The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman)

The moment Anastasia walked in, the room collectively forgot how to breathe. Flynn was just as surprised as anyone. He'd been so swamped yesterday that he hadn't caught up on the latest news. Everyone had assumed Anastasia was still in Springfield, nursing her heartbreak. But here she was, sharp and composed in a sleek black pantsuit, her hair tied back with precision. There was an unmistakable air of confidence about her, reminiscent of Herman himself. As she strode into the room, the silence was palpable; it was as if Herman had returned through her.

With Herman's recent troubles, everyone knew Anastasia was now the rightful figurehead of the company. And who would've thought? A billionaire like Herman had truly left everything to his wife. It sounded crazy, but that was Herman for you -absolutely smitten with his wife.

As Anastasia entered, Flynn stood up and offered her his chair. "Ana, take a seat," he said, pulling it out for her.

She settled in, her gaze sweeping over the room, cool and collected. "You all seem a bit on edge seeing me here," she noted with a hint of dry humor. "Surprised? Well, you'd better get used to it. You'll be seeing me every Monday morning from now on."

That was the announcement-Anastasia was back and ready to take the reins.

It didn't take long for someone to voice their doubts. A senior sales executive, Mr. Tristan, was the first to speak up. "So, Mrs. Salstrom, are you saying you're stepping in as CEO?"

Anastasia met his gaze calmly, her expression unreadable. "Do you have a problem with that, Mr. Tristan?" she replied smoothly.

Before coming in, she'd memorized the profiles of all the key players. Tristan was a seasoned veteran in the sales department, pushing forty-five, and had been with the company for nearly two decades-practically since graduation.

Tristan's skepticism was plain as day. With a smirk, he said, "From what I hear, Mrs. Salstrom, you only graduated high school. Managing a company of this scale isn't exactly a walk in the park, is it? Back when Mr. Salstrom was around, he could indulge you. But now, if things go south, who's going to clean up the mess? You can't just gamble with the livelihoods of thousands of employees."

His words resonated with the room, and everyone waited to see how Anastasia would handle the challenge.

Flynn bristled at the disrespect. "Tristan, you better watch your tone when speaking to Ana."

Tristan, emboldened by his years of service and track record, didn't back down. He stood, his expression defiant. "I'm just stating facts. This is serious business. We all need to earn our keep. So, I ask again, Mrs. Satstrom, what's your plan? Why not stick to home and family instead of stirring things up here?"

Flynn was about to lose his cool, but Anastasia raised a hand to stop him. Her

gaze was steady on Tristan, and her words were as sharp as ever.

"Mr. Tristan, eighteen years with the company is no small feat. Thank you for your service. You can head to finance and settle your dues."

Her declaration left the room in shock. Tristan's face paled with disbelief, then twisted into a bitter smile. "You're firing me? We have a contract. I've brought in countless deals for this company. You someone with just a high school diploma, think you can just dismiss me? Do you even know the cost of letting me go?"

Anastasia's eyes were fierce. "You're aware it's a contract with the company, right? As the legal owner, 1 have every right to terminatenoveldrama

anyone. Whatever the contract ne

stipulates, I will personally see to it. Herman may be out of commission, but Elysian Technologies is still standing, and so is the Salstrom family. Are you suggesting that a few million in compensation is beyond our reach? Or that the company would crumble without you, Tristan?"

She stood, her presence commanding. Today, Tristan was the example she would set.

Her gaze swept over the room, challenging anyone to meet her eyes.

"Anyone else ready to leave? Speak now. I'll see if I can afford to let you go." Her voice was firm. "Those who are loyal and contribute to the company, I, Anastasia, will ensure you're rewarded. But anyone looking to cause trouble, undermine us, or betray the company-there will be no mercy."