Chapter 44: The Pushback
IZZY’S POV
The council room was still buzzing after Durk’s words. He had just confirmed Izzy was to be declared heir, and the weight of it sat heavy in the air. Some members looked furious, others doubtful, and a few smug like they had been waiting to see her fail. Izzy kept her back straight, not letting her face twitch.
“Are we seriously supposed to accept this?” Marco, one of the older councilmen, leaned forward on the table. “Vincenzo can’t even walk. And now we hand the family name to a girl who hasn’t proven anything?”
“Watch yourself, Marco,” Durk warned, but his voice stayed level. “This isn’t up for debate. Vincenzo’s word stands.”
Izzy spoke before anyone else could cut in. “If you have something to say about me, say it directly. Don’t pretend you’re questioning the decision when you’re just questioning me.”
Marco’s eyes narrowed. “Fine. You don’t have the experience. You haven’t run businesses, you haven’t dealt with rivals, you haven’t..”
“Neither did my father when he was my age,” Izzy cut him off, her voice sharp. “He was handed power, and he learned. If you think I can’t do the same, that’s your problem.”
Across the table, another councilwoman, Teresa, let out a laugh. “Learn? You think there’s time for you to learn? The sharks are circling already. Do you know how many people are waiting for Vincenzo’s empire to collapse?”
Izzy held her stare. “And do you know how many of them will regret underestimating me?”
The room went quiet for a beat, broken by another voice, Ricci, a heavyset man who always acted like he spoke for everyone. “It’s not just about underestimating you. This family needs someone who can project strength now right now. You walking in here and pretending like you’re ready isn’t enough.”
“I didn’t walk in here pretending,” Izzy snapped. “I walked in here ready. Whether you like it or not, I am the heiress, my father named me. You don’t get to erase that.”
Ricci leaned back, shaking his head. “You’re too emotional. Look at you snapping already. If someone insulted you in public, what would you do? Throw a tantrum? That’s not leadership.”
Durk finally spoke up again, his voice firmer this time. “Careful with your words. She’s young, but don’t mistake youth for weakness. She’s Vincenzo’s daughter. Blood counts for something.”
“Blood doesn’t run businesses,” Marco shot back. “Blood doesn’t handle alliances. Blood doesn’t keep enemies at bay. Skills do and power does and she doesn’t have it.”
Izzy leaned forward, refusing to let them corner her. “So what’s your suggestion, Marco? That one of you takes over instead? That you hide behind the excuse of my age so you can claw your way up?”
Marco didn’t deny it. He smirked. “At least I’ve been around long enough to know how things work.”
“That’s exactly why you’ll never be more than a council member,” Izzy fired back. “You’ve been around long enough, and yet here you are still sitting in the same chair, taking orders from Vincenzo. If you were as capable as you pretend, you’d have made a move years ago.”
Some members chuckled quietly, but Marco’s face flushed red.
“That’s enough,” Teresa said, raising a hand. “This bickering won’t change anything. But if she really thinks she’s ready, let her prove it. Actions speak louder than declarations.”
Izzy tilted her chin up. “Fine. I’ll prove it. Give me whatever test you think I can’t handle. I’ll pass it, and then you’ll have no excuse left.”
Teresa smiled like she’d been waiting for that answer. “Be careful what you ask for, child. Once the council sets a task, there’s no backing out. If you fail, the seat won’t be yours anymore.”
“Then I won’t fail,” Izzy said flatly.
Ricci snorted. “Confidence is cheap. Competence is expensive. Let’s see if you can pay the price.”
The debate kept going, each member trying to jab at her with questions.
“Do you know how to handle the unions?” someone asked.
“I’ll learn,” Izzy replied.
“What about the investors from overseas?”
“I’ll deal with them.”
“Do you even know the books, the numbers, the way your father kept everything balanced?”
“I know enough, and I’ll know more by tomorrow,” Izzy shot back.
“Arrogant,” Marco muttered.
“No,” Izzy said coldly. “Prepared.”
Durk finally slammed his palm on the table. “Enough. You wanted clarity, you’ve got it. Vincenzo named Izzy as his heiress, and that stands. If you don’t like it, too bad. The family doesn’t wait for the approval of every doubting voice in this room.”
The older men scowled, but no one openly challenged him.
Izzy took that silence as her chance to close it. “You don’t have to like me. You don’t even have to respect me right now, but you will. I’ll make sure of it.”
The room froze on her words. She didn’t raise her voice, but the certainty in it landed harder than any shout.
Marco finally muttered, “We’ll see.”
“Yes,” Izzy said. “You will.”
Izzy slammed the council room door behind her once the meeting was over. Her hands were shaking, but she clenched them into fists so no one would see. Janet was waiting just outside in the hallway, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.
Janet raised an eyebrow. “Well, that was a show.”
Izzy shot her a look. “You were listening?”
“Of course I was,” Janet said, pushing off the wall. “Half the council was practically yelling. Hard not to hear.”
Izzy sighed and walked toward the window at the end of the hall. “They’re all the same. Mocking, doubting, pretending they care about the family when all they really want is power.”
Janet followed. “That Marco guy really hates you.”
“He hates that my father chose me instead of him,” Izzy said bitterly. “He thinks he deserves it because he’s been around longer.”
Janet shrugged. “Experience doesn’t mean much if you’ve done nothing with it. He’s just mad he didn’t get picked.”
Izzy turned around sharply. “They’re all mad. They think I’m too young, too emotional, too… whatever excuse they can come up with. It doesn’t matter what I say in that roo
m. They’ve already decided I’m not good enough.”
“Then prove them wrong,” Janet said simply.