Chapter 15

[ 1,125 words ]

Katia’s POV

My voice was calm but assertive, mid-conversation with an investor from Zurich. We were finalizing terms for the upcoming IG Technologies expansion into Central Europe, and my mind was already on timelines, rollout logistics, and hiring regional managers.

I didn’t hear the door open. But I heard her voice. “Katia, what is this thing I’m hearing on the news p>

I froze.

Only one person walked into my office like that, and it has to be my assistant, Sam. I am suddenly starting to regret ever letting my family back into my life because they act like this office is some marketplace. I hear heels clicking against my office floor, and I can tell it wasn’t one person.

I looked up and, sure enough, my mother stood inside my office with Delia by her side, both wearing expressions that danced between self-righteousness and disbelief.

“Apologies, Stefan,” I said into the phone, keeping my tone smooth. “Something unexpected has come up. I’ll call you within the hour p>

I hung up and set the phone down carefully, like I wasn’t about to let my mother see the way her presence still had the power to spark annoyance through my veins.

“I saw the news, even though they didn’t show your face,” she continued. “It said IG Technologies is working with Windsor Empire Group p>

Delia, behind her, bit her lip.

“And?” I asked, resting my elbows on the table.

“How could you meet your sister’s fiancé before she’s even had the chance?” she snapped.

I almost laughed, but I didn’t, though I wanted to. Instead, I stood. Slowly and calmly. “Since when,” I said coolly, “do I need your approval to run my company p>

They both blinked.

Delia shifted in discomfort. My mother bristled but tried to hold on to the righteous indignation in her voice.

“Julian Windsor is Delia’s future husband. You shouldn’t be meeting him, professionally or otherwise, before she does p>

I rounded my desk and stood across from them, folding my arms, watching them both squirm beneath the weight of the woman I’d become.

“Your ignorance is showing,” I said. “Business has nothing to do with your daughter’s arranged engagement p>

My mother narrowed her eyes. “It’s not just business when it involves your sister’s future. Your father worked hard to build connections with the Windsors. This deal you’ve made could complicate everything p>

“Did it ever occur to you,” I asked, “that perhaps Julian Windsor doesn’t care about your arrangements p>

“Don’t be insolent,” she snapped.

“And don’t forget,” I said, stepping closer, “I own this building. That chair you’re sitting on? Mine. This glass? Mine. That pen you’re gripping like it’s a dagger? Mine p>

She put the pen down.

“I built this from nothing, after you threw me out in a bathrobe. So don’t march into my office like you’re entitled to dictate how I operate my empire p>

Delia finally spoke up. “Katia… I didn’t come here to fight p>

I turned to her.

“Then what did you come here for? To ask why your future husband happens to be the CEO of a company that values results over gossip? To ask, Why am I the one getting contracts and not our father p>

Delia’s face fell. “That’s not fair p>

“No, Delia,” I said, softening slightly. “What’s not fair is pretending everything’s fine between us while your mother storms into my office like I’m still that powerless girl you all threw out like garbage p>

“I didn’t throw you out,” Delia whispered.

“But you didn’t stop it either p>

They both looked at each other, and then I went on, “This is my company; how I run it is none of your business. Never again come here to order me around, ever p>

“I’m sorry,” Delia said. “I guess I just… felt blindsided. I saw the name WEG and thought p>

“You thought I did it to spite you,” I interrupted.

She nodded.

I sighed and moved back toward my desk, pressing the intercom. “Send in my 10:00 a.m.; I’m ready p>

My mother stood quickly. “We’re not done here p>

“Oh,” I said, sitting down, “I think we are p>

“You still owe me an explanation,” she said.

“No,” I said, locking eyes with her, “I owe you nothing. And from now on, I’d appreciate it if you called ahead before coming here p>

“I’m your mother p>

“And I’m a CEO. In this space, you will respect both p>

The door opened again, and Sam entered with a quiet smile, followed by Jared from finance. “Your 10:00, ma’am p>

My mother looked at Sam with visible contempt. “I suppose this one helped you rise above us, hmm p>

Sam didn’t flinch. “Ma’am, I’ve been with Katia since the day you threw her out. Watched her build every brick of this place with grit and fire. If that’s rising above, then yes—I helped p>

I smiled faintly and gestured to the door. “Thank you both for stopping by p>

They didn’t respond; they just turned and left. Delia hesitated at the threshold and gave me a small wave. I returned it with a nod. Once the door closed, I let out a long breath.

Sam pulled a chair beside me and opened her folder.

“I knew they’d come,” she said.

I laughed bitterly. “I almost admire the audacity p>

“They came in here thinking you’d still bow to their approval p>

I sipped water from my glass. “And now they know better p>

Sam paused. “Want to talk about it p>

I shook my head. “No. Let’s talk numbers. WEG. Distribution channels. AI logistics p>

Sam grinned. “That’s the Katia I know p>

We worked for the next forty minutes straight, running over financials, deliverables, and team structuring. But even as I spoke confidently about future projections and user integrations, a small part of me was still reeling from the confrontation.

Not because it hurt. No. It didn’t hurt anymore. It was because I’d waited six years for that moment, and when it came, it wasn’t even satisfying.

They were still the same.

The penthouse was quiet, except for the distant hum of city life filtering through the tall glass windows. Manhattan stretched out before me like a cold lover, distant, glittering, and never quite mine. I stood barefoot in the living room, dressed in one of Aiden’s favorite oversized sweaters, clutching a steaming cup of chamomile tea as I stared out across the skyline.

But I wasn’t seeing any of it.

My thoughts were still in that boardroom, locked in the unspoken tension that simmered between me and Julian Windsor. There was something about the way he looked at me, or maybe the way he couldn’t.

A flicker. A moment. His eyes had dropped to mine and then away again, like they’d seen too much and couldn’t handle more.

Did he stare at me inappropriately?

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