Chapter 9 - The New Regime
Within six months, the transformation of Steves Technologies was nothing short of miraculous.
The toxic, cutthroat culture cultivated by Larkin and Vance was systematically dismantled. We turned the company toward ethical AI development, open-source data security, and transparent corporate governance. The federal investigation concluded with guilty pleas across the board, sending Larkin to a federal penitentiary upstate where designer suits and tailored silk were replaced by standard orange jumpsuits.
I didn't need a disguise anymore.
The ash-brown wig was tossed into the dumpster months ago, replaced by my natural, rich dark hair cut into that sharp, unapologetic bob. My wardrobe no longer consisted of oversized cardigans and gray slacks; it was built on tailored designer blazers, silk blouses, and—yes—those exact same steel-tipped stilettos that had clicked across the marble floor of the Continental Hotel.
One afternoon, I stood behind the floor-to-ceiling glass wall of the corner office, looking out over the breathtaking Manhattan skyline as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of gold and violet.
My assistant—a brilliant young finance graduate named Maya—knocked softly on the door before stepping inside with a fresh cup of Nespresso.
"Ms. Woods," Maya said, handing me the tablet. "The quarterly audit reports from the European division just came in. Everything balances down to the last cent."
"Thank you, Maya," I smiled, taking the tablet. "And make sure the junior analysts receive their bonuses this week. Good work deserves to be recognized, not exploited."
"Will do, boss," Maya grinned, turning to leave.
May you like
As the door clicked shut, I walked over to the executive desk—the very same desk where Larkin had once dumped physical folders to intimidate me. I opened the top drawer, pulling out a small, framed photograph I had kept hidden away: a picture of myself standing outside the boutique on Fifth Avenue the night my life changed forever.
I wasn't invisible anymore. I never would be again.
