The corner office on the 40th floor had a spectacular view of the city. It used to be Henderson’s office, but he had insisted I take it when I officially stepped in as CEO.
The decor was changed. Gone were the dark mahogany and leather. It was now bright, modern, and filled with white orchids.
I sat at the desk, signing the quarterly reports. Apex Innovations was thriving. Our stock was up 15%.
My intercom buzzed.
“Ms. Sterling?” my assistant asked. “There’s a man in the lobby. He says he’s your ex-husband. He doesn’t have an appointment.”
I paused, my pen hovering over the paper.
“What does he want?”
“He says he’s applying for a job. He says he has… inside connections.”
I smiled. A genuine smile.
“Tell him we aren’t hiring,” I said. “Actually… wait.”
I remembered the look on his face when he introduced me as the nanny. I remembered the feeling of being invisible.
“Tell him the custodial staff is looking for a night shift trainee,” I said. “Minimum wage. No benefits. If he wants to clean floors, I’ll give him a chance.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the assistant said, sounding amused.
“Oh, and Lisa?”
“Yes?”
“Make sure he knows who the boss is.”
I hung up.
I turned my chair to look out the window. The city lights twinkled below me, a vast ocean of possibilities.
I had spent so many years making myself small so David could feel big. I had hidden my intelligence, my wealth, and my power because I thought that’s what love required.
I was wrong. Love doesn’t ask you to hide. It asks you to shine.
And if someone can’t handle your light? You don’t dim it. You buy the power company and turn it up.
I picked up my pen and signed my name with a flourish.
Maya Sterling, CEO.
It looked good on paper. It felt even better in real life.
The End.
