chapter 25

She relayed the conversation she’d overheard, watching his expression darken from concern to anger. “Wilson and Peterson,” he growled. “I’ll speak to them tomorrow.” “No, you won’t.” Emma’s voice was firm. “That would only confirm their belief that I need you to fight my battles.” “This isn’t about fighting battles. It’s about basic respect.” “The respect has to be earned, not enforced.” Emma gazed out the windshield. “What if they’re right, Alek? What if I am just trading on my name and our relationship?” “That’s ridiculous.” “Is it?” She turned to face him. “I never completed my MBA. My business experience before the Blades was minimal. I learned hockey operations on the fly.” “While developing revolutionary pricing models, community engagement strategies, and player development approaches,” Alek countered. “Emma, you’re brilliant at this job. Wilson and Peterson are threatened by competent women, nothing more.” “Maybe.” Emma wasn’t convinced. “But perception matters in leadership. If the Board and staff believe I’m unqualified, it undermines every decision I make.” Alek studied her, recognition dawning. “You’re not just upset. You’re planning something.” Emma nodded slowly. “I’m going to get my MBA.” “What?” “I started the program years ago, before Jack’s career took precedence. Left with only my capstone project incomplete.” Emma straightened in her seat. “Harvard’s executive program would allow me to finish while continuing to work.” “Emma, you don’t need another degree to prove yourself.” “It’s not about the degree itself. It’s about removing any legitimate basis for questioning my qualifications.” Alek sighed, restarting the car. “You’ve already decided.” “I have.” The rest of the drive passed in thoughtful silence. Emma could sense Alek processing her decision—not opposing it exactly, but concerned about the motivations behind it. When they reached her apartment, he came up as usual, their evening routine continuing despite the underlying tension. “How would this work logistically?” he asked finally as they prepared for bed. “The executive MBA is still a significant time commitment.” “Classes every other weekend, plus evening sessions.” Emma removed her earrings, setting them carefully in their case. “Some travel for intensive modules.” “While maintaining your full-time role with the team.” “People do it all the time.” Alek sat on the edge of the bed, watching her remove her makeup. “This is about proving something to yourself, not just to Wilson and Peterson.” Emma paused, cloth pressed to her face. “Maybe. Is that wrong?” “Not wrong. Just unnecessary.” Alek’s voice softened. “You have nothing to prove, Emma. To anyone.” “Except myself.” She finished her routine and joined him on the bed. “Don’t you see? Every time I’ve faced a challenge—from Jack, from the media, from the Board—I’ve relied on you or Grandpa to help navigate it. I need to stand completely on my own.” “You don’t think you already do?” “I think I want to be so unquestionably qualified that even men like Wilson can’t dismiss me as a pretty figurehead.” Alek was quiet for a long moment. “I understand the impulse. I just hate that those idiots’ opinions matter to you.” “Their opinions don’t matter. The principle does.” Emma took his hand. “I need your support on this.” “You have it. Always.” Alek kissed her palm. “I just don’t want you running yourself into the ground trying to prove something to people who aren’t worth the effort.” “It’s not for them,” Emma insisted. “It’s for me. For my future in this industry.” Later, as Alek slept beside her, Emma lay awake, scrolling through the Harvard Business School application on her tablet. The executive program started in three months—enough time to prepare her application and arrange her work schedule. She had no illusions about the challenge ahead. Running a professional sports franchise while completing an intensive MBA program would test her limits. Time with Alek would inevitably be reduced. Sleep would become a luxury rather than a necessity. But as she looked at the man sleeping peacefully beside her, Emma felt a renewed sense of purpose. She loved him deeply—loved the partnership they’d built, the future they were planning together. But she couldn’t truly be his equal partner if doubts about her qualifications lingered, either in others’ minds or her own. Some things worth having required sacrifice. Some blocked shots hurt but prevented greater damage. And sometimes, the most important person to prove yourself to was the face in the mirror. “You’re really doing this.” Alek’s statement held no judgment as he helped Emma carry boxes into her study the following weekend. After confirming her eligibility for the program, she’d thrown herself into application preparation with characteristic intensity. “I am.” Emma arranged reference books on her desk, creating an efficient workspace. “Application due in three weeks.” “And if you’re accepted?” “When I’m accepted, classes start in April.” Her confidence wasn’t arrogance—her undergraduate record was stellar, her professional achievements impressive, her recommendation letters from industry leaders including her grandfather would be compelling. Alek set down the last box of materials. “Have you told the Board yet?” “Meeting with Wilson tomorrow. Then the full Board next week.” Emma straightened, stretching her back. “I’ve prepared a detailed schedule showing how I’ll manage both responsibilities.” “Of course you have.” Alek’s smile held equal parts admiration and concern. “You’ve thought of everything.” “Not everything.” Emma approached him, wrapping her arms around his waist. “I haven’t figured out how to clone myself so I can spend proper time with you while doing all this.” “We’ll manage.” Alek kissed her forehead. “I’m a patient man.” “Too patient sometimes.” Emma looked up at him. “Are you really okay with this? Honestly?” Alek considered the question seriously. “I admire your determination. I support your goals. I understand your motivations.” He brushed hair from her face. “I just wish you could see yourself through my eyes, so you’d know how unnecessary this particular proof is.” “What do you see?” Emma asked softly. “Brilliance. Integrity. Natural leadership.” His voice deepened. “The most capable person I’ve ever worked with, who happens to also be the woman I love.” Emma’s chest tightened with emotion. “That’s why I need to do this. To become the person you already think I am.” “You already are that person.” Alek’s hands framed her face. “But if this is what you need, I’m with you. Every step.” As they stood in her newly organized study—textbooks stacked, application materials sorted, the future simultaneously more complicated and more focused—Emma felt a curious mixture of determination and gratitude. The blocked shot she’d experienced at the gala hadn’t stopped her momentum; instead, it had redirected her toward a goal she hadn’t realized she still wanted. And unlike her previous academic pursuits, sacrificed for Jack’s career, this one would move forward with Alek’s unwavering support—not because he thought she needed the validation, but because he understood she needed to prove something to herself. The journey ahead would test them both—their relationship still new enough to feel the strain of divided attention, their professional partnership entering uncharted territory as she added student to her already demanding role. But unlike the last time she’d faced this crossroads, Emma wouldn’t be sacrificing her ambitions for someone else’s comfort. This time, she was choosing herself—her growth, her validation, her future. The fact that Alek supported that choice without hesitation told her everything she needed to know about the foundation they were building together.