The boardroom battles had ended, but the real challenge was just beginning—what comes after the fight?
Nancy walked through the new wing of the Blackwood Foundation, where interns bustled and young minds thrived. It wasn't about high heels and diamond rings anymore—it was about purpose. And it showed in her every move.
She adjusted her blazer and stopped to speak to a young woman nervously organizing flyers.
"You did this layout?" Nancy asked.
The girl nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
Nancy smiled warmly. "Drop the ma'am. I was running print copies at your age. You've got talent."
The girl's eyes widened. "Thank you, Mrs. Blackwood."
That name still felt foreign—but powerful.
---
At Blackwood Enterprises – Adrian's Office
Adrian sat back as the new interim board chair—approved unanimously after Harold's official resignation—gave him a report.
"All liabilities have been shifted. The firm's stable. But Camille's statements in her deposition suggest she's negotiating a reduced sentence in exchange for exposing Harold's full network."
Adrian sighed. "Let her talk. Let them all talk. We've got the truth."
He opened his phone, scrolling past headlines: BLACKWOOD HEIR AND WIFE TURN COMPANY AROUND. FROM CONTRACT TO COMMAND: NANCY'S RISE TO POWER.
He smiled. Not at the words, but at the woman behind them.
---
Meanwhile – In a Café Downtown
Camille sat with oversized sunglasses and a hood. The world had stopped looking at her with admiration. Now, they looked through her.
She stirred her coffee, silently calculating.
A man slid into the booth across from her.
"You still want to play?" he asked.
Her lips curled. "I don't lose twice."
The man passed a thumb drive. "Then maybe it's time for a new strategy."
---
That Night – Adrian and Nancy's Home
Nancy curled up in Adrian's hoodie, fresh from a hot shower, flipping through an old notebook. Inside were scraps of ideas from her college days—projects, business plans, dreams she once tucked away.
"You planning to overthrow another empire?" Adrian asked from the doorway, shirt half-buttoned.
Nancy smirked. "No. Just thinking. I used to want to open a resource center for girls. Somewhere real. Somewhere safe."
He sat beside her. "Then we'll build it."
She looked at him sideways. "We?"
He nudged her. "Don't act surprised. We're good at empire building. Why stop now?"
She laughed. "You're dangerously supportive."
"I know. It's disgusting."
She leaned on his shoulder. "Don't ever stop."
"Never planned to."