Chapter 10 - Reign Supreme
The gala stretched late into the night, filled with toasts to the firm's future, announcements of upcoming international acquisitions, and genuine celebration among the executives and partners who had weathered the storm by my side.
Around midnight, I stepped away from the crowded ballroom, slipping out onto the private stone balcony that overlooked the glittering panorama of Central Park and the endless lights of Manhattan.
The night air was crisp and biting, carrying the sharp scent of approaching winter.
I rested my hands on the cold stone railing, closing my eyes for a brief moment as the wind caught the strands of my silver hair, making them dance across my shoulders.
Footsteps echoed softly behind me on the marble flooring of the balcony.
I didn't need to turn around to know it was Marcus. He walked up beside me, leaning against the railing and looking out over the city.
“You’ve built an empire out of the wreckage, Chloe,” Marcus said quietly, his voice filled with genuine awe. “Most people would have packed their bags and run after what Victoria tried to do.”
I opened my eyes, turning my head to look at him, a calm, unshakeable peace settling deep within my bones.
“Running is for people who expect to lose,” I replied, my voice steady and clear against the night wind. “When someone hands you poison, you don't drink it. You bottle it, label it, and sell it back to them at a profit.”
Marcus laughed—a warm, rich sound that blended into the hum of the city below. “Remind me never to get on your bad side, Madam Managing Director.”
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“Just remember the rules, Marcus,” I smiled, looking back out toward the endless horizon of shining skyscrapers. “I don't play dirty. I just play to win.”
The city stretched out before us, vast, powerful, and entirely under my command. Victoria wanted the spotlight, but she had given me the stage. And I had no intention of ever stepping down.
