ログインDave POVThe rest of the afternoon disappeared beneath an avalanche of signatures, conference summaries, investor calls, and enough paperwork to make me question every life decision that had led me to becoming a CEO.By the time my final in-person meeting wrapped up, the clock on the wall read 5:38 p.m.Perfect.For once…I wasn’t late.As I stepped into the underground parking garage, my driver was already waiting beside the car.He hurried forward to open the rear door.“Good evening, sir.”“Evening.”I slid into the back seat, immediately setting my briefcase beside me.“Home?”He glanced at me through the rearview mirror.“Yes, sir?”I checked the time again.5:42.“…Actually, let’s head home, but don’t rush. I’ve got a video call in a few minutes.”“Of course.”The city slowly came alive around us as we pulled out of the parking structure.Office workers poured onto sidewalks in neatly pressed suits.Street vendors arranged evening snacks beneath glowing lanterns.Traffic thicken
Dave POVBy the time the meeting entered its third hour, my migraine had evolved from a dull ache behind my eyes into something that felt dangerously close to a personal vendetta.I sat at the head of the polished walnut conference table, one hand resting against a stack of financial reports while the other absentmindedly tapped a fountain pen against my notebook. Around me, fifteen people occupied their respective seats, each representing a different part of the company that had consumed nearly every waking hour of my life for the past several weeks.The atmosphere inside the room had changed dramatically since I returned.A month ago, most of the conversations had revolved around whether I was even capable of leading the company again.Today…The conversations had shifted toward how quickly I could repair what had already been broken.Unfortunately, confidence did not magically erase problems.It simply meant more people expected you to solve them.The massive screen at the far end
Lydia POVBy the time I finally pushed open the door to my office, I could feel every ounce of energy drain out of me.The silence was almost startling after spending the entire morning inside conference rooms filled with executives talking over one another, lawyers quoting policies, investors demanding reassurance, and journalists calling every five minutes.I shut the door behind me, leaned against it for a second, and closed my eyes.Today had been…A lot.Not bad.Not impossible.Just…Heavy.The kind of heavy that settled into your shoulders before slowly working its way into your bones.I loosened the top button of my blouse before walking toward my desk.Almost on cue, there was a soft knock.“Come in.”My assistant peeked her head inside.“I figured you hadn’t eaten.”I looked at the clock.Nearly three in the afternoon.“…You’re right.”She smiled knowingly.“I already guessed.”I laughed.“I hate that you know me this well.”“It’s literally my job.”“Fair.”She stepped fully
Lydia POVThe silence only lasted a few seconds.Then, just as I expected, someone broke it.The head of Legal, a silver-haired man named Mr. Wallace, adjusted his glasses and leaned forward.“I appreciate the sentiment, Ms. Lydia,” he began carefully, “but we still have to protect the company, sentiments don’t pay the bills.”I nodded.“Of course.”He looked relieved.“However…”His relief disappeared.“…protecting the company is no longer our first objective.”A few eyebrows rose around the table.“The company survives if people trust it again.”I folded my hands on the conference table.“And people won’t trust a company that spends more time protecting itself than protecting children.”Nobody interrupted.Mr. Wallace looked thoughtful.“The law exists to reduce liability,” I continued.“My job exists to rebuild trust.”“They’re different jobs.”The room remained quiet.“Legal should absolutely do its job.”I looked directly at him.“But Public Relations cannot sound like Legal.”Th
Lydia POVBy eight o’clock on Monday morning, I was already halfway through my second cup of coffee.Monday mornings had a personality of their own.Emails multiplied overnight like rabbits.Clients suddenly remembered “urgent” issues they’d apparently forgotten to mention on Friday.Assistants moved through hallways with the speed of people trying to outrun disasters.And somewhere, someone was always asking for a meeting that could have been an email.I wasn’t complaining.This was the life I’d chosen.The life I’d built.As I stepped out of the elevator, my assistant immediately fell into step beside me, tablet in hand.“Good morning, Lydia.”“Morning.”She glanced down at her schedule.“You’ve got the strategy session with Mr. Theo’s team at nine.”“I know.”“They confirmed everyone will be attending.”“Everyone?”She nodded.“The executive board. Legal. Marketing. Investor Relations. Human Resources. Digital Communications. Corporate Affairs. Operations. Even two outside consulta
Lydia POVNature had other plans.Within minutes, Ava rubbed her nose.Then again.Then again.I noticed immediately.“You okay, sweetheart?”She nodded.“I think so.”A second later—“Achoo!”Another sneeze.Then another.Brooke’s mother looked concerned.“Seasonal allergies?”I smiled apologetically.“Rhinitis.”“Oh.”Another sneeze interrupted us.Then another.Poor Ava’s nose had already turned pink.She looked genuinely annoyed.“I don’t like pollen.”“I know.”“It’s rude.”“I completely agree.”Brooke quickly disappeared inside before returning with tissues.“I get allergies sometimes too.”Ava accepted them gratefully.“Thank you.”“I still want to finish the experiment.”I gently brushed a loose strand of hair away from her forehead.“You can finish after antihistamines.”She sighed dramatically.“Fine.”“It’s not surrender.”“It feels like surrender.”“It isn’t.”“It emotionally is.”Even through her blocked nose…She somehow managed to sound offended by flowers.Lunch was se
Dave pova light tap landed against my shoulder. I turned immediately. And froze slightly. An older woman stood there elegantly dressed in cream and gold with dark glasses resting lightly against her face. Sixties maybe. Possibly older. But there was something sharp about her presence. Compo
Lydia’s POVThe morning after the birthday party, I woke up expecting destruction.A headache.Body pain.Emotional exhaustion.At least some form of suffering after hosting what essentially became a miniature festival disguised as a children’s birthday party.Instead?Nothing.I actually felt refr
Lydia POV“Hm?”“If sharks had jobs, what jobs would they do?”I blinked slowly.“What?”“I think sharks would work in finance.”Ava nodded from the couch.“That feels accurate.”Then thirty minutes later:“Mom.”“What now?”“If aliens came to Earth and saw chickens first, do you think they’d respe
Lydia’s POVAfter Dave left, the house finally became quiet again.Not peaceful quiet.Just exhausted quiet.The kind that settled after too many emotions had happened in one day.I stayed in Eli’s room for almost the entire evening after that. I didn’t trust myself enough to go too far from him. E







