“You are the strongest woman I have ever known,” he whispered.

“And on Monday morning, when you walk into that boardroom as chief executive officer, everyone in this city is going to know it too.”

Chapter 19 — Chloe Vance-Mercer, CEO

One year later, the spring sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the executive suite on the top floor of the newly rebranded tower.

On the massive desk sat a polished brass nameplate: Chloe Vance-Mercer, Chief Executive Officer. Beside it stood a silver-framed photograph from a beach in Saint-Tropez: Julian and I, laughing, as a chubby, dark-haired one-year-old Noah tried with tremendous determination to eat a fistful of sand.

A soft chime sounded on my intercom, my chief of staff’s voice coming through clearly.