That evening, her daughter brought over a new picture bookn had just bought her.
Eleanor opened the book, and warm illustrations filled the pages, telling the story of two parents who poured all their love into their child from the moment of birth.
Evelyn Goodwin leaned against her, chin propped on her hand, and asked, "Mommy, did you and Daddy love me this much when I was born?"
Eleanor''s heart melted. "Of course. Mommy and Daddy love you more than anything."
Evelyn snuggled happily into her arms. "I love you the most, too."
After reading the book and tucking her daughter in, Eleanor felt a swirl ofplicated emotions. But the long day at work had exhausted her, and she fell asleep before long.
The next morning, Eleanor was about to take Evelyn to school when she opened the door to findn waiting there, right on time.
As Evelyn held her father''s hand in the elevator, she suddenly pouted. "Daddy, can I take a day off? I don''t want to go to school. I want to go to your office with you."
"No, it''s just been so long since I visited yourpany. I want to go y there," Evelyn said, her voice full of charm.
"Yay!" Evelyn threw her arms around him in a happy hug. "Daddy, you''re the best.''n ruffled her hair, then took her hand and led her to the car, heading straight for Goodwin & Co.
At school, the teacher received the notice of her absence.
Goodwin & Co. upied a prime location in the city center. Asn led his daughter through the lobby, her small figure, d in a little blue uniform with a backpack, seemed to carry an aura of its own.
Everyone around them turned to look, their faces breaking into smiles as they studied her with careful curiosity. After all, as things stood, this adorable little girl was the sole heir to Goodwin & Co.
"Daddy, why is everyone looking at me like that?" Evelyn asked, tilting her head up at her father.
In the CEO''s office, a secretary brought in a specially prepared kids'' meal and some cartoon toys.
"The young miss looks just like Mr. Goodwin!" the secretary couldn''t help but remark upon returning to her desk.
During the ten o''clock meeting, Evelyn was seated beside her father, having promised to be on her best behavior.
The managers giving their reports all seemed to soften their voices. Whilen discussed business with them Evelyn sat quietly, drawing Whene she looked up and saw theplex diagram on the screen, she asked curiously, "Daddy, what kind of drawing is that? I''ve never seen one like it before."
Evelyn nodded, only half-understanding, then pointed to the box at the very top. "Daddy, what does that one represent?"
"That represents the project''s decision-making level, like the king in a castle,"n exined gently. "When you grow up, how about you be the king of the castle?"
The meeting room fell even quieter. The managers exchanged nces. Although they all knew she was Mr. Goodwin''s daughter, this was the first time they had heard him so openly confirm her role as his sessor.
"Would Evelyn like to learn how to manage thepany?"n asked his daughter in a low voice.
Evelyn nodded happily. "Yes, I want to be amazing, just like you."
"You''ll be even more amazing than me,"n said, his eyes filled with pride as he looked at her.
In that moment, everyone saw the same confidence in Evelyn''s young features as in her father''s, as if her destiny was already encoded in her DNA. She would one day be the one with the highest authority in thispany.
As long as Mr. Goodwin had no other children.
This little girl would one daymand a multi-billion-dor corporation.
The meeting continued, and Evelyn went back to her drawing. This time, she was sketching the framework diagram, carefully coloring it in with her crayons.
Eleanor was working in her office when her phone buzzed with a notification. It was a message fromn. She opened it and saw a photo of their daughter sitting in his office chair, drawing.
"Why didn''t you take her to school?" Eleanor texted back with a frown.
"She said she wanted to spend the day with me at the office. Sorry, I
should have told yo
on
"Your daughter has the makings of my future sessor."