Page 4
“Well, if it isn’t the woman of the hour,” Eric, their father’s right hand, beamed as he approached the two. “You did an amazing job, Elle.”
“Thank you, Uncle Eric,” Ilaria exclaimed. “It went in one of her little ass ears and out of the other when I said it. Maybe she’ll listen to you.”
Eric wasn’t their uncle by blood, but he’d been around as part of their father’s security team and a close friend before either of them was born.
“Ha, ha, ha.” Aella playfully shoved her away. “You’re hilarious.”
“And you’re nervous for nothing,” Eric tossed a protective arm around her shoulder. “This shindig is going to be one of the most talked-about events among the Family for weeks, especially since it’s invite-only and their messy asses get to use it as a claim to superiority.”
“I’d rather them be talking about how great the bourbon is.”
“All press is good press,” Ilaria chimed in.
“Exactly,” Eric agreed.
“I—”
“Excuse me,” their father, Severo’s, baritone thundered through the room before Aella could finish her sentence. “May I have your attention, please?” The room immediately quieted as every eye in the room turned to him. “I’d like to thank everyone for coming out to support our family’s endeavor and the newest release of our Winter Reserve series. My daughter put an unmatched amount of blood, sweat, and tears into executing tonight’s celebration. While I had the utmost faith in her ability to get this project done, she surpassed my wildest expectations.” His eyes scanned the crowd until they met hers. “Congratulations, Baby Girl. You did an amazing job.”
“See,” Ilaria murmured under the applause, nudging her sister. “I told you.”
“With that said,” Severo continued, “I think this is the perfect moment to speak on something that has defined not just my career, but my life.”
A soft murmur rippled through the room, curiosity tightening the air. Aella’s breath stalled.
“For generations,” he said, voice rich with pride, “Aged Creek Whiskey has been more than a brand. It has been our legacy. Our pride. Every barrel we age and every blend we release carries the weight of our name, the weight of our history.” He paused, his gaze drifting across the room with the quiet reverence of a man honoring ghosts.
“But,” he exhaled, “there comes a time in every family, every empire, when the torch must be passed.”
Aella’s stomach dipped.
“I have fought, bled, and sacrificed to bring Aged Creek to where it stands today,” Severo said. “And I would do it all again. But tonight marks the beginning of a new chapter. My time at the helm is coming to an end.”
Gasps fluttered at the edges of the crowd. Even Ria stiffened beside her.
Severo lifted his glass, his eyes locking with Aella’s as if no one else existed in that room. “There’s only one person I trust to carry this family forward. One person who has proven, time and time again, that her strength rivals my own, that her loyalty is unshakeable, that her vision will take this legacy further than I ever could.”
Aella felt her pulse hammer in her throat.
“My daughter,” Severo announced, voice echoing with finality and pride. “Aella will be taking over Aged Creek Whiskey.”
The room exploded into applause, but for Aella, the sound blurred into a warm, electric hum. Her heart hammered as heat bloomed in her chest, bright and fierce, pushing away every ounce of doubt she’d carried into the night.
Severo’s expression softened when he looked at her again, his eyes full of pride, certainty, and unconditional love.
“You’ve earned this,” he said, raising his glass in her direction. “Every triumph, every late night, every impossible task, you met it head-on. And this family legacy belongs to you now. Buckle up, Baby Girl.”
A ripple of applause reverberated throughout the room as she stepped forward to join her father at the front of the room.
“Thank you,” she said, breathless but smiling. “Aged Creek has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up smelling oak barrels before I could spell my own name, listening to my grandfather talk for hours on end about blends and batches, and somewhere along the way, that legacy became my passion too. I saw what this brand meant to people, our people, and I knew I wanted to be part of shaping its future.
“So tonight, standing here, knowing my father trusts me with our family’s history…” Her voice tightened with emotion that she didn’t bother hiding. “It’s the greatest honor I could imagine. I’m excited, and I’m ready.”
One of the servers handed her a fresh glass of Frostfire that she raised high.
“To Aged Creek. To new beginnings. And to making my father proud. Though I plan on giving him a run for his money while I’m at it.”
Laughter and cheers erupted, glasses lifting to meet hers.
