Chapter 5
A New Path Unfolds
Elena sat at the corner table of the upscale cafe, her fingers
wrapped around a warm cup of coffee. The aroma of freshly
brewed espresso filled the air, blending with the soft hum of
conversation around her. Three months had passed since she
had left Ryan and his suffocating world behind. Three
months since she had taken the biggest risk of her life.
She glanced down at her phone, reading the email again.
“Congratulations, Ms. Carter-Stone. We are pleased to
inform you that your proposal for Stone Enterprises has been
approved.”
Her heart pounded. It was real. She had done it.
A confident smile spread across her lips. She was no longer
the woman who had been told she was nothing without
Ryan. Now, she was a businesswoman, a leader, someone
who had built something of her own. The satisfaction that
swelled in her chest was unlike anything she had ever felt.
Just as she was about to take another sip, a familiar voice
interrupted her thoughts.
“Elena?”
She looked up to see Nathan Sterling, an old college friend
and one of the few people who had believed in her potential
long before she had believed in herself. He was dressed in a
tailored navy suit, his presence commanding as always.
“Nathan!” She stood, embracing him lightly. “What are you
doing here?”
“I was just about to ask you the same thing. Last I heard, you
were playing the role of Mrs. Lancaster.” His voice held no
judgment, just curiosity.
Elena laughed, shaking her head. “Not anymore. I walked
away, and honestly? Best decision of my life.”
Nathan’s smile widened. “Now that is the Elena I remember.
Tell me everything.”
And so she did. She told him about the struggles, the doubts,
and finally, the moment she took control. Nathan listened
intently, nodding at the right moments. When she finished,
he leaned back, studying her.
“You know, I might have something that could take Stone
Enterprises to the next level,” he said. “Let’s talk business.”
Elena grinned. This was exactly where she was meant to be.
