I don’t tell Lucian what I’m planning. Not yet. He’d try to stop me. Or insist on helping. Or take over completely.This needs to be mine. My move. My proof.After the Wall Street Journal interview, I call Sophia. Not at the office. Private line. Personal cell.“I need your help. Something I can’t tell Lucian or Marcus about. Not yet.”“I’m listening.”“I want to take on a client. Solo. Without Lucian’s involvement. Without his network. Without his money. Prove I can land business based purely on my expertise. My story. My value.”Silence. Then, “That’s risky. What if you fail? What if the client says no? It proves the article right. That you need Lucian.”“Then I fail. And I learn. And I try again. But I have to try. Have to prove to myself, if no one else, that I’m qualified. That I earned this.”“Okay. What’s your plan?”“You mentioned companies reaching out. Three inquiries Marcus referred away because we weren’t positioned for crisis work yet. Do you still have those contacts?”“
Last Updated : 2026-05-09 Read more