She was silent.
Then I smiled.
“But I will be.”
A month later, Prescott Technologies had a new CEO.
Me.
The company survived.
The employees kept their jobs.
The patents were secured.
And the investigation into Aaron uncovered far more than any of us expected.
He had lied about the origins of the company.
He had hidden money.
He had manipulated investors.
And worst of all, he had spent years convincing everyone that his success belonged entirely to him.
It didn’t.
Not even close.
One afternoon, months later, I attended the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting.
When I entered the auditorium, everyone stood.
I looked across the room.
Executives.
Engineers.
Investors.
Employees.
People who had once believed I was nothing.
Now they were applauding.
I didn’t feel victorious.
I felt free.
After the meeting, I walked outside.
The sun was setting over the city.
Daniel approached me.
“You know,” he said, smiling, “there’s still one question everyone keeps asking.”
“What question?”
He laughed.
