“Send Miranda at Bellmont Bridal a handwritten note. Ask Olivia to arrange something appropriate.”
Lena’s brows lifted slightly but she only said, “Of course.”
Then the day resumed.
That is another thing people misunderstand about power. It rarely pauses to admire itself. It keeps moving.
There were calls to return, earnings revisions to review, a sovereign fund presentation to approve, two internal disputes to settle, and an analyst who had made the mistake of confusing aggression with intelligence in front of the wrong managing director. By evening I had lived nearly an entire workday in the aftermath of destroying my own engagement and kneecapping the future of a prestigious law firm.
Only when I got home did the silence become audible again.
I kicked off my shoes, changed into cashmere lounge pants and a silk shirt, and poured a glass of Barolo. The city outside was jeweled and enormous. My apartment, for all its beauty, felt too large for one person carrying that much adrenaline and memory.
I took the wine into the library and sat in the leather chair by the fire.
It is a dangerous thing, after decisive action, to be alone long enough for childhood to re-enter the conversation.