W hotelu słychać było odległe odgłosy obchodów 65. urodzin mojego ojca.
Siedziałam na składanym krześle, otoczona ustawionymi jeden na drugim krzesłami i dodatkowymi obrusami, podczas gdy starannie przygotowane przyjęcie mojej siostry Victorii trwało w wielkiej sali balowej.
„Zaraz podamy kolację, Emmo” – oznajmiła Victoria od progu, a jej suknia od Diora stanowiła jaskrawy kontrast z użytkowym wnętrzem. „Postaraj się nie hałasować. Ważni goście mogą cię usłyszeć”.
Wygładziłam moją prostą czarną sukienkę — jedyny w swoim rodzaju krój od projektanta, do którego nawet Victoria nie miała dostępu.
Oczywiście, Victorio. Nie chcielibyśmy przeszkadzać w Twojej idealnej imprezie.
„Pokoje dla służby ci pasują” – uśmiechnęła się z wyższością, rozglądając się po spiżarni – „choć chyba są lepsze niż zwykle. Jak je nazywasz? Twój gabinet?”
Mój telefon cicho zawibrował.
Wiadomość od Marcusa, mojego dyrektora operacyjnego.
Przejęcie Global Tech przez Sterling Industries sfinalizowane. Transakcja o wartości 8,2 miliarda dolarów sfinalizowana. Czekamy na Twój podpis na ostatecznych dokumentach.
Uśmiechnąłem się na myśl o biurze, które Victoria wyśmiała – całe najwyższe piętro Sterling Tower, z widokiem, który w porównaniu z nim przypominał tani motel.
Ale ja siedziałam tu, odgrywając rolę niedomagającej córki, podczas gdy moja siostra organizowała to, co uważała za wydarzenie towarzyskie sezonu.
„Victoria” – głos mojej matki dobiegł z korytarza. „Richardsonowie pytają o Emmę”.
„Powiedziałam im, że jest niedysponowana” – odpowiedziała Victoria. „Nie możemy pozwolić, żeby ludzie wiedzieli, że ona tu jest. To by zepsuło całą atmosferę”.
Aby stworzyć taką atmosferę, trzeba było wydać fortunę — kryształowe żyrandole, szampana najwyższej jakości i tyle kwiatów, że można by nimi zapełnić ogród botaniczny.
Nie wiedzieli, że hotel jest moją własnością za pośrednictwem jednej ze spółek zależnych Sterling Industries. Każdy grosz, który wydali na tę ekstrawagancką wystawę, ostatecznie trafił na konta mojej firmy.
Głos mojego ojca rozbrzmiał z sali balowej.
„Moja córka Victoria przyniosła dumę marce Morgan. Ona rozumie prawdziwy biznes, prawdziwy sukces”.
Prawdziwy sukces.
Sprawdziłem najnowsze informacje o moim majątku netto. Dziś rano wynosił on 12,4 miliarda dolarów.
Całoroczna pensja Victorii jako wiceprezesa banku nie pokryłaby moich dziennych zysków z inwestycji.
„Wciąż bawię się swoim małym technologicznym start-upem”.
Mąż Victorii, Brad, pojawił się z szampanem w dłoni. „Wiesz, mój bank zawsze szuka osób na stanowiskach dla początkujących – czegoś bardziej stabilnego”.
Przypomniało mi się spotkanie, które odbyłem w zeszłym tygodniu z dyrektorem generalnym banku, w którym pracował Brad. Błagali go o możliwość zajmowania się kontami Sterling Industries.
„Dzięki, Brad. Zapamiętam to.”
“Emma.” My mother reappeared. “Please try to stay quiet. Victoria has the governor sitting near this wall and we can’t have any disturbances.”
The governor who’d called me three times this week about state technology contracts.
If they only knew that their embarrassing daughter was the mysterious CEO their social circle desperately tried to meet.
My phone buzzed again.
Marcus: Legal team standing by. Global Tech board ready for final signatures. Also, your father’s company just tried to bid on the Richardson contract.
The Richardson contract—a $500 million technology infrastructure project that my father’s company thought they had locked down.
They didn’t know that Sterling Industries had already won it… or that their failing daughter would be announcing it next week.
“Look at her,” I heard Victoria tell our mother outside. “Sitting in storage while we celebrate. Maybe this will finally make her understand that tech dreams don’t equal real success.”
Real success like the artificial intelligence platform Sterling had developed, or the quantum computing patents that had revolutionized the industry.
But here I sat, surrounded by spare chairs, playing the role they’d assigned me.
“Emma,” my father’s voice carried through the wall. “If you’re going to hide back there, at least make yourself useful. The hotel needs more champagne brought up.”
Victoria stuck her head in again. “You heard Daddy. At least you can manage carrying boxes, right?”
I stood up, checking my watch—a subtle Patek Philippe that cost more than Victoria’s car.
“Of course, sister dear. Anything to help your perfect party.”
As I moved toward the service elevator, my phone lit up with another message. This one made me pause.
Urgent. Global Tech merger requires CEO signature immediately. Legal team en route to your location.
I smiled, thinking about the chaos that was about to unfold.
Sometimes the best revenge isn’t just success. It’s success they never saw coming.
The service elevator hummed as I made my way back up with cases of champagne that I technically owned. Through my earpiece, Marcus was updating me on the Global Tech situation.
“Legal team is five minutes out, Miss Sterling. The merger documents require immediate attention. The Asian markets open in three hours.”
Victoria was waiting when the elevator doors opened, her perfect features arranged in a practiced look of disdain.
“Finally. The governor was asking where his champagne was—though I suppose this is the kind of work you’re used to.”
If she only knew that I declined a dinner invitation from the governor last week because I was too busy acquiring Global Tech.
Her precious banking connections would seem rather insignificant compared to my reality.
“Miss Sterling,” Marcus’s voice came through again. “Your father’s company just lost the Richardson bid. They’re… they’re not taking it well.”
Through the storage room door, I could hear my father’s booming voice.
“What do you mean we lost the contract? To whom?”
“Sterling Industries.”
“Who the hell runs that company anyway?”
The irony was delicious.
Four years. My father had tried to meet Sterling Industries’ mysterious CEO—never knowing she was the daughter he’d banished to storage rooms and service elevators.
“Emma,” my mother hissed, appearing suddenly. “Stop fooling with that phone. Victoria needs those bottles distributed properly. This isn’t one of your little tech meetings.”
My little tech meetings had revolutionized three industries this year alone.
Sterling Industries’ market cap had just hit $50 billion, while my father’s company was struggling to maintain its modest position.
Brad said, “Your startup is looking for investors.”
Victoria smirked, adjusting her diamond necklace—a pale imitation of the collection sitting in my private vault. “Maybe if you’re nice, he’ll throw some spare change your way.”
My phone buzzed.
A message from our PR team: Global Tech merger news ready to break. Your identity as Sterling Industries CEO will be revealed simultaneously. All major networks standing by.
“Miss Sterling,” Marcus interrupted. “Legal team has arrived at the hotel. They’re heading to the service entrance as instructed.”
I checked my watch again.
Perfect timing.
Through the ballroom doors, I could see my father holding court—probably bragging about Victoria’s latest achievements while dismissing my existence.
“The servants’ quarters suit you,” Victoria repeated, watching me arrange champagne bottles. “Though I suppose someone has to do the real work while the successful people celebrate.”
Successful people.
I thought about the meeting I’d had yesterday with world leaders about Sterling’s new clean energy technology. About the contracts worth billions that bore my signature. About the empire I’d built while they thought I was “finding myself.”
“Emma,” my father’s voice boomed. “Where’s that champagne? The governor is waiting.”
“Coming, Father,” I called back—but before I could move, the storage room door burst open.
Thomas Wright, our chief legal counsel, rushed in, followed by a team of lawyers and executives.
“Miss Sterling—thank God we found you. The Global Tech merger—we need your signature immediately.”
The silence that followed was absolute.
Victoria’s champagne glass slipped from her perfectly manicured fingers, shattering against the floor.
“Sterling,” she whispered.
Thomas continued, oblivious to the family drama unfolding. “The Asian markets open soon, and the $8.2 billion merger needs to be finalized. As CEO of Sterling Industries, your signature is required immediately.”
“Eight billion,” my mother choked out.
I stood up slowly, smoothing down my designer dress.
“Of course, Thomas. The merger documents.”
The legal team spread the papers across a folding table right next to the spare tablecloths and chair covers.
Through the open door, I could see my father frozen mid-conversation, his face draining of color as he processed what he was hearing.
“You’re… you’re the CEO of Sterling Industries?” Victoria’s voice had risen several octaves. “The Sterling Industries that just won the Richardson contract?”
I picked up the Mont Blanc pen Thomas offered—a gift from the Japanese prime minister after our last technology partnership.
“The very same. Though I suppose this storage room isn’t really the proper place for an $8.2 billion merger signing.” I looked up. “Shall we move this to my hotel’s presidential suite?”
“Your hotel?” my mother stammered.
“Oh.” I tilted my head. “Didn’t Victoria tell you? I own the Four Seasons—along with most of the properties in this city. Including, I believe, the building where your bank is headquartered, Brad.”
The sound of running feet announced my father’s arrival. He stood in the doorway, face ashen, as I signed the final document that would make Sterling Industries the largest technology company in the world.
“There,” I said, signing the final page with a flourish. “Thomas, please ensure these reach Hong Kong before the markets open—and have PR ready for the global announcement.”
The legal team hurried out, leaving me alone with my shell-shocked family in the storage room that had suddenly become the most interesting place in the hotel.
Through the open door, I could see curious party guests gathering, drawn by the commotion.
“All this time…” my father’s voice cracked. “While we thought you were struggling with some small startup…”
“I built an empire,” I finished for him. “Sterling Industries. Twelve subsidiaries. Operations in 43 countries. Current market capitalization…” I checked my phone. “Just hit $52 billion after the Global Tech merger.”
Victoria had collapsed into a folding chair, her perfect composure shattered.
“But… but you take the bus to work. You live in that tiny apartment.”
“The bus company?” I smiled. “I own it. Testing our new autonomous transportation systems. And that ‘tiny apartment’ is the entire top floor of Sterling Tower—the building your bank tried to lease space in last month.”
My mother stepped forward, switching to her social damage-control voice.
“Darling, why didn’t you tell us? We’re family. We could have—”
“Could have what?” I cut in softly. “Supported me? Like when you banned me from family dinners because my failure might embarrass Victoria? Or when you made me use service entrances at family events?”
“Miss Sterling,” Marcus’s voice came through my earpiece. “Global Tech announcement is live. All major networks are breaking the story. Also, your father’s company stock just dropped 30% on news of the lost contracts.”
The ballroom screens flickered to life, displaying breaking news headlines:
Sterling Industries acquires Global Tech in $8.2 billion deal. Mysterious CEO revealed. Emma Sterling emerges as tech’s most powerful leader. Sterling Industries net worth soars to $15.4 billion.
“My God,” Brad whispered frantically, checking his phone. “The Sterling account… my bank has been trying to get that for years.”
“Yes, about that.” I turned to him. “Your pitch last month? Rejected. Though I particularly enjoyed your comment about my little tech hobby during the presentation.”
Victoria found her voice, though it trembled. “The Richardson contract—Daddy’s company lost it to Sterling Industries.”
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