Chapter 13 - THE FIRST SUNRISE ALONE
The autumn air turned crisp as October rolled into November.
I woke up at 7:00 AM.
No alarm set by someone else's business hours.
No frantic schedule to manage.
I made a cup of fresh black coffee, walked out onto my private balcony, and watched the sunrise paint the Chicago skyline in brilliant shades of amber and rose.
For seven years, I had believed my worth was measured by how well I fit into a fifteen-minute slot.
I had believed love meant waiting in silence.
Now, looking out at the endless horizon, I knew the truth.
I wasn't a secondary character in someone else's life story.
I was the author of my own.
My phone chimed on the kitchen table.
I picked it up.
It was Marcus, calling from his new office at Bennett-Sterling Capital—the venture firm I had just founded to invest in female-led startups and medical research.
“Good morning, Boss,” Marcus said cheerfully.
“Good morning, Marcus,” I smiled.
“Are you ready for the keynote speech at the Chicago Business Summit?”
May you like
“Always,” I said.
“I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
