The mirror in the master bedroom was framed in gold leaf, an antique David had insisted on buying to match the \u201cprestige\u201d of his position as Vice President of Sales. In its reflection, I adjusted the strap of my white silk dress.It was simple. Minimalist. But the silk was heavy, Italian, and cost more than David\u2019s first car. I\u2019d bought it with the dividend check from my private investment portfolio\u2014a portfolio David knew nothing about.\u201cAre you wearing that?\u201dDavid emerged from the walk-in closet, struggling with his cufflinks. He looked at me with a familiar mix of boredom and irritation.\u201cIt\u2019s elegant, David,\u201d I said, smoothing the fabric over my hips.\u201cIt\u2019s plain,\u201d he corrected, turning back to admire his own tuxedo. \u201cTonight is the Apex Innovations Annual Gala, Maya. It\u2019s not a church picnic. There will be investors there. The Board of Directors. People who matter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He emphasized \u201cmatter\u201d as if to clarify I didn\u2019t fall into that category.\u201cI\u2019ll stay in the background,\u201d I promised, picking up my clutch. \u201cI\u2019m just here to support you.\u201d\u201cGood,\u201d David grunted. \u201cBecause rumor has it the new owner\u2014the \u2018Ghost Chairman\u2019 who bought the company out of bankruptcy six months ago\u2014might actually show up tonight. I need to make a good impression. If I play my cards right, Henderson might tap me for the Senior VP role.\u201dI hid a smile behind my hand. \u201cI hope you impress them, honey.\u201dDavid didn\u2019t see the irony. He didn\u2019t know that the \u201cGhost Chairman\u201d who had saved his company, who had authorized his bonus last month, and who held the power to fire him with a single signature, was standing right in front of him.He thought I was just Maya. The quiet girl he married out of college. The \u201chousewife\u201d who managed the budget while he managed the world. He had no idea that while he was playing office politics, I\u2019d been building an empire in the shadows, using my grandmother\u2019s inheritance to acquire distressed tech companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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