Chapter 10 - The Empire
One year later.
The cover of Forbes magazine sat framed on my mahogany desk. The photo featured me standing in front of the newly constructed skyline of Dubai, with the bold headline: CLAIRE STERLING: THE $5 BILLION WOMAN RESHAPING GLOBAL ARCHITECTURE.
Apex Core had become the industry standard worldwide. Thorne Global’s profits had tripled, and as a major shareholder and President of Innovation, I possessed more wealth and influence than Richard could have ever dreamed of in his most narcissistic fantasies.
Speaking of Richard, I occasionally read the legal briefs Evelyn sent me for amusement. He had taken a plea deal for the corporate espionage and wire fraud to avoid a twenty-year sentence. He was currently serving five years in a minimum-security federal facility, bankrupt, divorced, and entirely forgotten by the elite society he had worshipped.
I stood up and walked to the window of my penthouse office, looking out at the glittering lights of the city.
The door opened behind me. Marcus walked in, holding two glasses of vintage champagne. Over the past year, our professional respect had slowly blossomed into something deeper, something built on equality, trust, and absolute mutual power.
"Celebrating a successful quarter?" Marcus asked, handing me a glass.
"Just reflecting," I said, clinking my glass against his.
"On the past?"
"On the investment," I corrected softly.
Marcus smiled, his eyes warm and admiring. "I paid five million dollars for you, Claire. It was the best deal I've ever made."
May you like
I took a sip of the champagne, looking out over the empire I had built.
"You didn't buy me, Marcus," I whispered, turning to face him. "You just funded the revolution."
