AFTER HER

CHAPTER ONE

One summer morning, a warm breeze drifted gently through the streets of Santa Monica. Children played along the quiet sidewalks while neighbors busied themselves inside their homes. Televisions hummed in the background, one of them rapidly changing channels as a stranger searched for something to watch.

Grace, meanwhile, sat in front of her computer, taking a sip on her coffee, while deeply focused on a project. Her fingers moved quickly across the keyboard. Until a breaking news report from the television caught her attention.

“Can you go back?” she asked suddenly.

Her partner, John, had already changed the channel before she could fully process what she had heard.

“Tragic news from Silicon Valley tech,” the newscaster reported after John switched back. “The former CEO of OMNImedia died last night at Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles. Her family confirmed her passing at the age of fifty-six.”

“Was she your boss?” John asked quietly.

Grace nodded in silence.

A few minutes later, she called the office to confirm the news herself.

“Hello?”

“Yes… I saw it on the news.”

Her voice trembled. Tears slowly filled her eyes as memories of their years together surfaced all at once.

Sarah Ellis.

She had been Grace’s mentor—the best boss she had ever worked for. Patient, brilliant, and kind in ways few people in the industry ever were.

John walked toward her and wrapped his arms around her tightly. Grace could no longer hold back her tears.

All she could do was cry and let the silence take over.

Meanwhile, inside the busy offices of OMNImedia, creative teams rushed from one project to another. Employees moved through the halls carrying laptops and coffee cups, exchanging ideas as deadlines drew closer. Some teams were locked inside conference rooms meeting with clients, while others sat quietly in their own corners, focused on reports and endless streams of typing.

Across the reception area, the phones rang continuously until one of the receptionists finally answered a call.

“Hi, this is OMNI. How may I help you?” the receptionist sighed.

“Can you transfer me directly to the head of OMNImedia?”

“Of course, ma’am. I’ll transfer you to their assistant.”

After several transfers, the call finally reached the CEO’s office.

“Hello, this is Neil Burnham’s office,” the secretary answered politely.

“Can you transfer me to Neil, please? This is Mary, Sarah’s daughter.”

The secretary knew Sarah Ellis from way back, she also had worked for her for a long time. So reaching the CEO office wouldn’t be a great deal for Mary to reach through.

“Oh—yes, ma’am. One moment.” she whispered gently.

She then quickly pressed the transfer button and made Neil’s line ring. And it only rang once before he answered.

“Hello?”

“This is Mary… Sarah’s daughter.”

He turned around with his chair, making himself comfortable.

“Oh, Mary,” Neil said gently. “How are you? How’s your mother?”

“That’s why I called.” Mary sighed. “It’s about mom.”

A brief silence lingered on the other line.

“I came bearing news,” she replied softly. “I wanted to tell you before you heard it somewhere else.”

Neil turned back, facing his table and stayed quiet. He patiently waited for Mary to continue talking.

“Mom died last night,” Mary finally said, her voice breaking slightly. She let out a shaky breath before continuing.

“Can you help us deal with the media? Maybe help minimize the reporters around the hospital and the house?”

Neil lowered his head, stunned by the news.

“Oh… Mary, I’m so sorry.” His voice softened. “Yes, of course. We’ll do everything we can to help.”

“Thank you” Mary whispered.

He then dropped the call and called his assistant.

“Alex? Can you set up an emergency meeting with the head immediately?”

Alex came forward and nodded quickly. She left immediately and messaged everyone available in the office.

While Neil stood up, walked towards the window pane, trying to process the news. His thoughts then flew across the corners of the office where he and Susan used to work together.

He still could remember it. Everything they did. Especially from the start where he first met Sarah.

Executives filled every chair inside the conference rooms. Representatives from ModelClick and AlphaCorp. sat across from their respective conference halls while law firms carefully reviewed the details of the merger.

Documents covered the long tables, acquisition figures highlighted and revised over and over again as negotiations continued.

Minutes turned into hours.

Both sides waited for someone to finally agree to the final amount.

Tension quietly spread throughout the room. The executives from ModelClick exchanged uneasy glances, worried that AlphaCorp might suddenly back out of the deal.

“Our company is in good condition,” Neil assured his colleagues in a low voice. “AlphaCorp. will go with us. They know our value.”

Meanwhile, inside the other conference room, overlapping conversations filled every corner. Some executives still doubted ModelClick’s long-term potential, while others seemed uninterested in the debate altogether.

Then a call rang from one of the representatives.

It was Sarah Ellis calling from the other line.

“Continue with the merger.” She said in a calm yet firm, as she guided the discussion back into focus.

Even though the negotiators moved tirelessly between conference rooms, reviewing proposals, clarifying concerns, and convincing hesitant executives to move forward. While others grew exhausted from the endless negotiations.

Sarah continued pushing through every disagreement with determination.

By the end of the day, both companies finally agreed on a final acquisition amount.

The deal was sealed, marking the successful acquisition of ModelClick by AlphaCorp.

The success of the merger filled Neil with determination and relief. Not long after the acquisition, he was called to the head office of AlphaCorp. to discuss several important documents concerning ModelClick and its future within the company.

Neil arrived earlier than expected.

He parked in the visitors’ area and walked toward the massive glass building, straightening his coat as employees hurried past him. After presenting his identification at the front desk, a receptionist greeted him politely and guided him through the busy hallways toward one of the conference rooms.

“Someone will be with you shortly, sir,” she said before leaving him alone inside the room.

A few minutes later, she returned.

“Would you like some coffee, sir?”

Neil nodded once. “Black.”

He took a seat near the window overlooking the city below. Minutes passed quietly before the door finally opened again.

The receptionist entered first, followed by one of the executives leading the acquisition deal.

Sarah.

“Good to see you, Neil Burnham,” she said warmly as she approached him.

Neil immediately stood up. “Yes… I’m very honored to meet you.”

Sarah placed a folder on the table before taking her seat across from him.

“Let’s discuss our plans moving forward,” she explained calmly. “We want you to work with us in making ModelClick even more productive under AlphaCorp.”

Neil listened carefully as she outlined their goals, partnerships, and future expansion plans. Every word only strengthened his confidence in the merger.

By the end of the meeting, Neil had made his decision. And signed the contract.

“Pleasure working with you soon,” Sarah had said with a faint smile.

Then suddenly, someone called his name. Neil blinked and snapped back to reality.

“Sir?”

“Yes?” Neil answered quietly.

“They’re all ready, sir,” Alex said with a careful breath.

“Good.”

Neil straightened himself before walking swiftly toward Conference Room A with his assistant beside him. When they reached the doors, Alex quickly opened them for him.

Inside, the room was already filled with executives seated around the long conference table. Creative directors, managers, supervisors, and department heads from across YouTube waited in uneasy silence.

Neil took the seat at the center of the table.

For a moment, nobody spoke.

The silence stretched heavily across the room until Neil finally gathered himself and began.

“Our predecessor… one of our greatest mentors… and one of the founders of AlphaCorp, Sarah Ellis, unexpectedly died last night.”

The room fell completely still.

Some lowered their heads. Others exchanged shocked glances, unable to fully process the news. The silence lingered far longer than anyone expected.

Neil inhaled deeply before continuing.

“I need a team to help the Ellis family minimize the chaos caused by the press outside the hospital and their home.”

Several employees immediately nodded, already taking notes.

“We also need something to commemorate her years with us,” he added quietly. “A tribute, perhaps.”

No one interrupted him.

“How do we handle this?” Neil finally asked the room. “How do we make sure her funeral happens peacefully… and with the dignity she deserves?”

It was a good thing that many people were willing to help with the arrangements after Susan’s passing. Some volunteered to coordinate with the family, while others handled calls, press concerns, and preparations for the funeral.

“Alex, clear all of my schedules for the week,” Neil told his assistant.

“We need to speak with her family about how we’re going to release the news properly.”

“It’s already done, sir,” Alex answered swiftly. “The car is also ready to take you to the hospital.”

“Good,” Neil breathed quietly.

Without another word, Neil headed straight toward the elevator, setting aside every concern about the company. He trusted the team enough to keep things running while he was gone for a few days.

As soon as he reached the lobby, he stepped into the waiting car and sat down in the passenger seat.

“To the hospital, Dan,” he muttered.

His driver simply nodded, already knowing where to go.

The car slowly pulled away from the towering offices of OMNI, disappearing into the heavy traffic of the city. Neil stared silently through the window as memories began flooding back into his mind.

He had always seen Sarah as a visionary.

Even during the difficult negotiations surrounding AlphaCorp., she never allowed uncertainty to weaken her resolve.

The memories returned vividly.

Late nights inside the offices of AlphaCorp. Endless discussions. Hallways are still glowing long after midnight.

Sarah sat alone in her office, the city lights of Los Angeles stretching endlessly beyond the glass windows. A document rested in her hand while her thoughts drifted somewhere deeper.

Neil appeared by the doorway, a concern written across his face.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked softly.

He walked farther into the office before taking a seat across from her.

“I know there will be problems acquiring your company, Neil,” Sarah admitted with a tired sigh. “But I’m not giving up.”

Neil watched her quietly, still convinced that ModelClick was in one of the worst positions it had ever faced.

“The company has potential, Neil,” she continued. “It just needs something that allows us to take full control.”

“We can’t just give in to what Maxmedia wants from us, Sarah,” Neil said worriedly.

“Yes… I know.”

Sarah reached for another document resting on the table beside her.

“We still have to deal with this, Neil. This is a serious threat to the company.”

She stood and slowly walked toward the window overlooking the city.

“We need to take another step. Reboot. Realign the people behind ModelClick,” she explained. “Maybe even lay people off if we have to.”

Neil stayed silent.

Deep down, he knew something inside the company was already breaking apart. And somehow, Susan always seemed to know exactly where the problem was—and how to solve it.

The memory suddenly faded.

“We’re here, sir,” the driver said.

Neil looked up through the car window and released a deep breath before stepping out. He headed straight toward the hospital entrance and made his way to the third floor where the intensive care unit was located.

The atmosphere inside the hospital felt unbearably quiet.

As he approached the elevators, he noticed Mary walking toward the billing center, holding several documents tightly against her chest as she processed the final payment for her mother.

“Mary!” Neil called out.

She turned around immediately.

The moment she saw him, the strength in her expression collapsed. Tears streamed down her face as she stood there helplessly, unable to hold herself together any longer.

Neil quickly walked toward her and pulled her into a tight embrace.

“Dear… dear, I know,” he whispered gently, trying to calm her while she cried against his shoulder. It