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I wanted to soothe them. They only knew me as a cold-hearted bastard but deep down, I cared for them both. That was the only reason I was such a hard ass. My only wish was to protect them.
I glanced toward Milla. She was comfortably answering to people calling her Miss Azalea and Miss Amhurst. Part of me wanted to hate her again but my mind and heart refused to cooperate with my logic.
I still owed her.
The guilt of hurting her and keeping her away from her mom during her last moments still weighed heavily on me. Both mother and daughter had been innocent of the charge I placed upon them.
My brothers and I regretted hurting her. Guilt and shame shadowed our hearts and minds. Her memories never stopped haunting and tormenting us.
But did that mean I could let her wreck the legacy my parents built for me and my brothers?
No, my mind answered immediately.
Composing myself, I looked toward Milla. For a moment, our gazes met.
She stopped mid-sentence.
“Problem, Mr. Amhurst?” she asked in a curt tone.
I drew in a breath. If she was determined to fight me on this, so be it.
“Your track record in setting up and running the electronic firm in Silicon Valley is impressive,” I said with a nod. “But, running a construction business is very different. Do you understand that?”
“Of course, I do,” she replied in a grim tone.
“Can you assure me you can run the construction business as well as me?”
Her lips curled upward, her eyes darkening a shade. “As well as you, sir?” she asked, leaning over the table. “I’m certain I’d run it better than you.”
“Can you prove you’re not all just talk?”
“My work speaks for me,” she said, straightening her back. “I established an industry from ground zero and in five years, there’s no other company that can parallel the products we deliver. We are a trusted brand already. Of course, it wasn’t just me. I have a dedicated team that works hard for me. In turn, I motivate, plan and direct them in the right direction.”
Milla gazed at the people around the table. “Isn’t that what you’re looking for? Someone reliable and competent who can take Amhurst Co. to the next level?”
“And you think that you’re that person?” I asked with raised brows.
She scoffed. “It’s definitely not you.”
I bristled at her direct rudeness.
“You’ve been in charge of managing the construction business for the past five years,” she continued. “In that time, you’ve only managed to maintain the brand value and profit margin. There has been no innovation. No development. We’re the new generation. We should be building on top of what’s been given to us and not rest on the laurels your parents won.”
“Well said!” said a voice from beside me.
To my shock, Caleb was smiling adoringly at Milla.
I cursed my luck. How could my brothers take her side so easily? Was it so easy to forget all the pain she caused by disappearing like that?
“That’s the kind of attitude we want in our young executive officer,” said Mr. Keating, weaving his fingers together. “You’ve impressed me too, Miss Amhurst.”
“This meeting has been an eye-opener,” said Mrs. Schmidt, a senior manager and investor. “I’m very interested to know how you plan to innovate in the construction business. Unlike electronics, there aren’t as many inventions happening in this sector.”
Milla slowly closed her eyes and shook her head. When she looked up again, she was lightly smiling. “You’re wrong there, ma’am.”
“Ohh?” Mrs. Schmidt hummed questioningly.
“There have been several innovations in construction over the past few decades, especially in China. Did you know they can construct a multi-storied residential tower in the span of a few months?”
