Trauma wasn't something new in her life. It had happened multiple times ever since she was seventeen. In a way, she was better prepared than her siblings to deal with the trauma that was the death of their father; she was even equipped to deal with the loss of her child because it was familiar.

            Death was not new. She knew death like the back of her hand. And, yes, she was sad but she wouldn't let it plague her like death seemed to. 

          So, the morning after her father had passed. She got a new phone since she broke hers that night and then she enacted her plan. She tweeted out to the masses that she was no longer in a relationship with Lukas Matsson.

         It started up another string of missed calls and texts from Lukas. She ignored every single one of them. It was necessary for now.

Then she went to the wake for her father at his penthouse. She stepped out of the car in a knee-length dark blue velvet long-sleeve dress with heels. She wore sunglasses as she was immediately bombarded with cameras snapping pictures as the paparazzi screamed out questions.

"Rose, how do you feel about your father?"

"Did you really break up with Lukas?"

She ignored them as she went inside. Once she was on the elevator, she took off her sunglasses to let them hang on the neckline of her dress. She stepped out of the elevator once it reached the top. She was immediately greeted by Marcia.

"Rose," she smiled sadly before giving her a small hug. "My condolences."

"Thank you," she said blankly. "You as well."

Marcia placed a hand on her cheek affectionately for a small moment before she said quietly, "It was not the company Logan loved most, you know."

She clenched her jaw as her heart squeezed painfully and she swallowed harshly as she nodded, "Thank you."

           "Of course," Marcia smiled softly at her and Rose nodded before moving along.

         As she walked down the hallway, Connor pulled her into a side hug, "Hey. How is the Rosebud doing?"

          Rosebud. She swallowed as she thought about how she'd never hear her father say that name again. His nickname for her.

          "I'm fine," she said blankly with her icy blue eyes that didn't let anyone in.

          "Yeah. Of course you are," Connor smiled knowingly before whispering. "But if you need to talk, I'm here."

           She smiled softly as she squeezed Connor more tightly, "Thank you."

          "That's what big brothers are for," he smiled. "Man, I always wanted to say that line."

           She chuckled lightly before she pulled away from Connor, "And where are my other big brothers?"

          "Oh, you know. Plotting the takeover," Connor mused. "Same old shenanigans."

         "Not for long," she said quietly before she parted from Connor.

          She found the rest of her siblings in a private room on the phone with Oskar. She rolled her eyes at the little power play Lukas was so obviously doing. Then she heard Shiv ask desperately and Rose shook her head, "Is he still buying the company?"

         "Oh, sure, man. Maybe, if you don't squeeze too tight," Oskar said. "Now, who will be leading?"

                Rose stepped into the room as she spoke up, "I will be. And he'll be squeezed as tight as I think he should be."

             And Rose leaned down before hitting the end call button. Her siblings looked at her like she'd grown two heads but she looked at them the exact same way.

           "Rose, what are you..." Kendall started to question in bewilderment.

          "Are you three idiots?" she asked. "You were letting him bulldoze right over you."

           "We knew what we were doing, Rose," Kendall argued like he was talking to a child.

            She raised her eyebrows, "Clearly not."

         "And what are you talking about that you're leading?" Shiv questioned.

           "Because I will be," Rose informed like it was obvious.

          "Really? I don't remember all of us having a discussion on it," Shiv stated.

            "I don't need to," Rose replied blankly. "I have Dad's board seat. I'll simply present myself to the board and it'll be done."

           "You think they'll just accept you that easily?" Kendall asked.

           "Well, everyone knew that she was like Dad's choice," Roman scratched the back of his head. "Just saying. Also, can you tell your boyfriend to stop blowing up my fucking phone asking about you?"

           "He's not my boyfriend."

           "Really?" Shiv raised her eyebrows. "One tweet and you're done?"

            "Yes, Shiv," Rose gave her a fake smile. "I can end a relationship without you trying to end it for me."

             Shiv felt her jaw drop and Roman had his eyes widen before he let out a little chuckle, "I fucking love it when you two fight. It's like TV gold."

          Kendall sighed, "Okay, but guys can we not? For today?"

           Rose and Shiv glared but, nevertheless, nodded. That was when Tom stepped into the room and told them Frank needed to see them upstairs. So she and her three siblings all assembled up there where Frank, Karl, and Gerri were at.

"How are you doing?" Frank asked.

"We're fine, Frank. Now spill," Rose said as she stared at him with those icy eyes that reminded him so much of her father.

Frank sighed, "So, look. Uh...I'm one of the executors of your dad's affairs. This is not a legal matter. But certain wishes have been discovered. And it appears at a certain point, undated, it was suggested that it was your dad's wish that Rose take over as CEO."

"Well, everyone knows that," Roman said.

"No," Kendall shook his head. "When, uh, when was this?"

"Well, it was in the safe," Karl explained. "Uh. Between pieces on the Raymada acquisition and the first U.S. Virgin Islands reorganizations. So, it's...old. So, as far as we can tell, from four years ago or so. Then, it looks like there are pencil addendums from another time."

"We don't know its status," Gerri stated. "And I mean...it doesn't hold any legal value. But we wanted you to know, but we wouldn't want it to feel more significant than it should."

"Because the family no longer has majority control of Waystar, so any such suggestions are non-binding," Frank pointed out.

"Yeah, we get it because Dad changed his mind all the time," Shiv shrugged like the paper held zero value.

Roman furrowed his eyebrows, "Uh, not when it came to Rose he didn't."

"Can we just...let us see it?" Kendall asked before Frank handed him the paper. He looked at it to see his name crossed out with Rosebud written over his.

He felt like his heart plummeted; the one thing he'd always wanted and the one thing she didn't his father wanted her to have. He knew Rose had been the favorite child but that had never been an issue when it came to Waystar...until now.

"Harsh," Roman commented as he peeked at the paper over his shoulder.

"This...this doesn't mean anything," Kendall waved the paper. "It's old. We don't...we don't know what Dad really wanted."

"Of course," Frank said but the old guard was all looking at Rose like they were waiting for her to give them orders.

          _____

           They all went back downstairs. There was a little speech about Logan and him being a conservative. She merely shook her head at it before she grabbed Tom and pulled him aside into a private room.

"Woah," Tom said as she practically dragged him into a room. "What are we doing?"

"We need to talk," she said as she shut the door.

"Okay?"

It was silent for a moment as some tears welled up in her eyes before she asked, "Was it peaceful?"

"What?" Tom was confused before he pieced it together; did her father pass peacefully? "Oh, well...it was quick so yes. Yes, I believe so."

She leaned back against the wall as she closed her eyes before blinking the tears away. She sighed and they were drenched in silence again.

"Rose..." he said carefully.

"How would you want to go if you had to choose?" she asked.

"Well..." he thought as he stared at her and he knew he wanted to die getting the one thing he wished for: to taste her lips only for a moment. "I..."

He stepped closer to her and she could feel his breath fan out across her cheek, "I think you know. I think you've always known."

She moved her gaze to stare up at him and his gaze of desire. She did know. How could she not when he made it so obvious? And it satisfied her to know he wanted her. It was a sick, twisted game because her satisfaction came only from getting one over on Shiv. But she'd never stoop as low as Shiv did.

"You'll never get it, Tom," she said carefully.

"I know," he nodded sadly.

_____

Rose left Tom when there was a commotion with Marcia and Kerri. Rose actually sided with Marcia as she thought of the incident. But after the commotion, she found that Stewy, Sandi, and Sandy arrived.

         Stewy gave her a smile as he held his arms out, "I thought this was a wake. Not a fashion show."

           She smiled as she giggled a bit before giving him a side hug. He kissed her cheek delicately as he complimented, "You look absolutely beautiful. I was always a fan of the red."

            "You should've seen me yesterday," she replied.

            "From my own account of you crying, you're still stunning," Stewy flirted.

           She rolled her eyes with a small blush before kissing his cheek as well. Then she pulled away as she asked, "Are you going to the board meeting?"

          "You're already focused on the board meeting?"

           "I plan to take over, Stewy."

          "Wow," Stewy felt his eyes widen before he placed his hands in his pockets. "Well, I like it. There wouldn't be a single board member that would vote against you. It makes sense. And I'm pretty sure your Dad would literally be jumping for joy right now."

"I know...so vote for me," she smiled seductively.

Stewy gazed at her smile before he smiled flirtatiously, "You don't even have to ask, beautiful."

"Good."

_____

Before the board vote, she talked to her three siblings since Connor never had any part in business talks. Roman spoke first, "Well, I think it's what Dad would've wanted so...you have my vote."

"How does it even make sense, Rome?" Shiv argued. "You didn't even want the company?"

"So what? We should give the company to you who doesn't even have experience?" Rose pointed out.

Shiv glared.

"Look, Rose, I think you were the clear choice for the board...before you dated Matsson," Kendall said calmly. "I mean, we're selling to him and people may think that you'll swing this deal for him."

"We're not dating anymore," Rose said blankly.

"Okay, well, the point still stands," Kendall said. "I think you need another name as a co-CEO to make sure you're impartial. I mean, it could be me...."

"Well, of course, you'd say that," Shiv rolled her eyes.

"I think he makes a point, though," Roman said hesitantly. "About Matsson..."

"Fine. This is a family business. It makes sense," Rose agreed. "But don't expect me to hold your hand and show you how to do your job."

"I do have experience, Rose. I'm not Shiv," Kendall said before he looked at Shiv. "No offense."

"Then it's agreed?" Rose looked at Shiv and Roman. "It'll be me and Ken?"

"Yeah, sure, whatever," Roman shrugged; he would go along with whatever Rose decided because it was the same as going along with what their father wanted.

"Fine," Shiv agreed reluctantly. "But we're all equals on everything...the deal, everything."

Rose let Kendall assure Shiv as he nodded, "Yeah. Sure. Of course."

And so during the board meeting at noon that they attended through a phone call the siblings pitched Rose and Kendall as co-CEOs. It was agreed upon with a unanimous vote.