Of the people who joined the company the same time I did, some jumped ship, others switched industries entirely.
I was the only one still there beside Drew.
Once, the endless late nights finally caught up with me and I ended up in the hospital.
My parents were frantic, begging me every day to find a different job.
And that was exactly when Drew confessed.
He reached for my hand at the hospital bedside—no preamble, no buildup. His eyes were steady, already looking past me toward something only he could see.
"Delilah, stay by my side."
"I want you with me when we take Stellaris Group to the top."
Years of wanting him in silence, and it all came down to that one moment.
I couldn't have said no to him if I'd tried. Not with him looking at me like that.
All I could do was try harder.
Construction runs on dinners and drinks. I learned to walk in heels. Learned to hold court at tables full of executives twice my age. Learned how to plant my feet in a business that chews people up and spits them out.
Building a future alongside Drew was punishing.
I gave everything I had, and it was never enough to satisfy him.
He always said I hadn't done enough, hadn't given enough.