Chapter 145

Even though I was enjoying my time with Victor, I was curious about the surprise waiting for me at the mansion.

I savored the drive home in the Lamborghini and said goodbye to Victor before I hurried inside to find Alex.

I found him in the living room with Benson. Their smiles and the way Benson left quickly with his clipboard made me wonder what was going on.

Alex rose to his feet and took me into his arms. “Congratulations, my darling. I knew you would do well.”

“Then you heard I passed,” I said. “Word travels quickly.”

“Indeed it does,” he agreed. “Word of your triumph is spreading along with John Cameron’s shame. He is no longer connected in any way to Wilson, Inc.”

“That’s good news,” I said. “I heard you have a surprise for me.”

“Yes, I’ll give it to you at dinner this evening,” Alex replied. “Why don’t you take an hour to go to your room and rest? You had a long, trying day.”

“A nap sounds good,” I said. I was full of fast food, and all the adrenaline from the test drama had worn off.

I patted Alex’s shoulder and went upstairs to my bedroom.

Moments after I laid down, I was asleep. Jennifer’s voice woke me two hours later.

“Miss,” she gently called. “It’s time to dress for dinner. Your father asked me to make sure you look nice tonight.”

“Okay,” I mumbled, still trying to wake up. “Alex wants me to look nice this evening. Was it because of my surprise?

Curiosity got me moving.

I rolled off my comfortable bed and headed for the shower.

An hour later, I was ready for anything, dressed in an olive green silk knee-length dress. My hair was pulled to one side with long waves spilling over my right shoulder.

Jennifer touched up my eyebrows and pronounced me ready for my surprise.

“Thank you for making me look this amazing again, Jennifer,” I said. “I’m lucky to have you taking such good care of me.”

Jennifer blushed, but I could tell she was pleased by my words. “It’s my pleasure, Miss.”

My curiosity led me downstairs. What was my surprise?

The family dining room was empty, but I found Benson in the hall wearing his formal serving attire.

“If you will follow me, Miss Wilson, I’ll take you to your father,” he said.

“Thank you, Benson,” I said. My heart fluttered with anticipation as I followed Benson to the formal dining room.

Two footmen threw open the double doors as I approached. As I stepped into the room, Alex was there and offered me his arm.

“Ladies and gentlemen, may I present my heir and the new CEO of Wilson, Inc., my daughter, Daisy Alberta Wilson.”

Applause crackled through the room from at least fifty guests.

Alex had thrown me a surprise dinner party to celebrate my passing the CEO test!

Victor and his parents were there, along with the three Alphas who administered my test. I also recognized several members of the board of directors.

Before I was seated at the head of the table, I was introduced to many high-ranking Alpha businessmen and their wives. There were so many introductions that they blurred in my mind.

I would never remember all their names, and I suddenly felt tired again.

My exhaustion was magnified when the new chairman of the board of directors spoke to me after we were introduced.

“We are expecting great things from you, Miss Wilson,” he said. “I will be watching the business reports closely.”

I smiled and tried to say all the right things, but this was no celebration for me. It reminded me of the responsibilities and the fights ahead of me.

If I didn’t perform perfectly, I could still easily be replaced as CEO of Wilson, Inc.

“I’m not ready to run the company alone,” I whispered to Victor as he sat to my left at the table. “All these Alpha’s expectations are freaking me out.”

“I felt the same way when my father turned our company over to me,” Victor said. “You’ll relax in a little while. But you’ll always have to stay on your guard against takeovers.”

“Try to think of these men as possible allies for the future,” Victor continued. “Stay on friendly terms with them, and avoid trusting the vultures who want to use you.”

“How do I know the difference?” I asked. Being CEO was sounding more and more complicated. It wasn’t the work or the decisions weighing down my spirit. I could handle that.

But the stress of navigating the politics of being a successful CEO was terrifying.

“You will develop a sense for who is honest and trustworthy,” Victor replied. “And I will always help and advise you in any way I can.”

“Thank you,” I said as the first course was served.

Benson had put together a meal of my favorites. From pate’ to steak tartare to ice cream, the food was scrumptious. Despite my nerves, I ate hardily.

After eating, the wives of some of the executives approached me.

“You must meet our daughter,” Mrs.Thomas said. “Megan is your age, and you have much in common.”

I heard the same from several other mothers of Alpha girls who were my age. I was pleasant and agreed to meet them all when I had time.

“You look exhausted,” Alex said. “Perhaps it’s time to end the evening. Your charity ball is tomorrow evening, and you need some rest.”

“I am tired,” I admitted. “But this dinner party was a lovely surprise.”

Alex soon signaled an end to the evening, and the guests began to leave.

But after I returned to my room, I felt restless. I stripped off my dress and wrapped myself in a robe before going onto my balcony to watch the moon rise.

The full scope of my new responsibilities weighed heavily on me.

I wanted to be the CEO of the company, but I wasn’t sure if I had the emotional intelligence to navigate all the pitfalls of the position.

I needed to form alliances with people I didn’t know without being taken advantage of or ruined by greedy Alphas who wanted to exploit me.

“Daisy, let’s run,” Diana said.

I slipped off the robe and called for Diana.

My body instantly responded, and I saw in the glass balcony doors that I had shifted into a dark brown wolf.

It was still pure freedom.

Diana and I leaped from the balcony and ran along the side of the mansion and to the fields.

It was a gorgeous night to be outside. The air was soft and cool, and the night sky was lit with twinkling stars and a glowing quarter moon.

Diana and I ran until we were tired and then lay down in the high grass and rolled over to look up at the sky.

It was breathtakingly beautiful and made me feel like there were friendly forces watching over me.

Was it my mother? The Goddess? Or perhaps it was both.

I could imagine the woman in the painting looking down at me as I lived my life. Was she pleased with what she saw?

My life wasn’t turning out the way I had expected. Yes, it was better than being a poor Beta, fighting for everything I wanted.

Best of all, I had a father who loved me and new good friends like Victor and William.

I never thought I would feel this fond of wealthy Alphas like these two males. But it would be hard not to care about them after all the wonderful things they do for me.

I now had a powerful job and was responsible for a multimillion-dollar charity that would help many in need.

Yet, none of this had been in my plans less than a year ago.

“Do you really have anything to complain about, Daisy?” Diana asked. “Your life isn’t perfect, and there will be challenges, but you are better off and are now in a better position to help others.”

“I have been lucky,” I said and sat up.

“You are in the middle of a great adventure,” she said. “Enjoy it.”

Diana was right. Where would life lead me next?

“Perhaps you should rest,” Diana said. “Your charity ball is tomorrow evening.”

“Let’s go back to the house,” I said. “I love balls, and this one will be special.”