“My 40th birthday.” She laughed hollowly. “Forty years old. A billion dollars in assets. Companies on three continents. And I sat at that table tonight surrounded by 500 people who would slit each other’s throats for my approval. I have never felt more completely alone.”
Daniel said nothing.
“They toasted my vision. My leadership. My uncompromising standards. The woman who never lets anything stand in her way. The woman who chose empire over everything else.” She tilted the empty bottle. “They have no idea what I sacrificed.”
She told him about Marcus, her fiancé 10 years earlier. About his request that she take 6 months off to plan a wedding and start a family. About her refusal. About the merger that mattered more. About him marrying someone else and having 3 children.
“Every man since then wanted my money or my connections. So I let it be transactional. At least transactions are honest.”
She looked up at Daniel, eyes sharp despite alcohol.
“Do you have children?”
“A daughter. Emma. She’s 5.”
“Your wife must be proud.”
“She passed away during childbirth. It was complicated. They had to choose. Emma survived. My wife didn’t.”
