Revenge
At thirty, Nicole was a well-known figure in the business world, dealing with entrepreneurs, attending meetings, and playing the game with ruthless efficiency. She believed all was fair in business, even using her charm to get ahead. Some partnerships blurred professional lines, but she charged forward without hesitation.
As she once told her friend:
“I didn’t sleep with just anyone. Only those I actually liked. Not exactly professional, but it’s a man’s world out there. Women have to carve their own space, even if they’re finally making their mark.”
“I don’t know, Nicole. I couldn’t do it. I’m happy in my office job, letting the bosses make the decisions. Business seems exhausting. You’ve got that unshakable backbone—I don’t,” Emily said, always supportive.
“When I first started, no one trusted me just because I was a woman,” Nicole admitted. “One old acquaintance outright said, ‘A woman can succeed in business if she finds the right approach.’ That’s how Albert became my first… special partner.”
Emily gasped. “How did you even—? I could never cross that line.”
“Oh, Em, with him, I learned to separate real feelings from strategic ones. Business comes first, and the satisfaction comes later—when the numbers prove you right.”
Nicole’s company grew, but she needed a skilled IT specialist—someone she couldn’t afford at first. Then, a young man named Ryan walked in, fresh-faced at twenty-five. During the interview, though, his ideas were razor-sharp. Polite, composed, and promising, despite his inexperience.
“Good afternoon,” Ryan said with a warm smile as he entered her office.
“Ryan, have a seat,” Nicole replied, sizing him up. “Two weeks’ probation. If you don’t mess up, the job’s yours. But there’s a condition.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Which is?”
“Don’t expect a big salary yet.”
“Deal,” he agreed without hesitation.
Ryan proved capable, though his youth made him hesitant to assert himself. When the office emptied at day’s end, Nicole often hosted “unconventional” meetings—convenient for wrapping up deals with certain partners.
Then, disaster struck. One evening, Ryan walked in unannounced, clutching paperwork. Nicole was fastening her blouse; her partner sipped wine leisurely.
“Sorry! I didn’t—” Ryan stammered before bolting out.
Nicole soothed her partner’s irritation, assuring him Ryan wouldn’t talk. The next day, she called him in.
“What you saw stays between us.”
She considered a raise—but then a riskier idea took hold. Surprisingly, Ryan caught on instantly. His enthusiasm needed tempering.
“Keep this quiet, Ryan. No special treatment, no gossip. Understood?”
“Of course. Boss and subordinate—got it.”
Their affair lasted three years. He learned from her; she grew restless. Ryan, aware of her other “business partners,” grew jealous.
“Nicole, we should go public. Get married,” he insisted.
She sighed. “I don’t love you. Whatever spark there was, it’s gone.”
The next morning, his resignation letter sat on her desk.
A year and a half later, trouble hit. Key partners defected, citing better offers.
“Just business,” one shrugged.
Then another left. And another. Profits plummeted.
One former ally finally confessed: “Your competitor has all the right contacts, prices, supply chains—like they’ve been in the game for decades. Turns out, it’s Ryan. Your Ryan.”
Nicole reeled.
“He stole my data—played the long game.”
She confronted him in his sleek new office.
“Revenge, Ryan? Really?”
He smirked. “Merge with me. Run my office as my deputy—and resume our arrangement. I love you.” His tone was chillingly casual.
Stunned, she asked for time.
A week later, she returned, resolute.
“I’m selling my company. No merger. No us. I want a real partner—someone who builds, not schemes. And I’ve already found him.” She turned on her heel and left Ryan speechless.
Nicole rebuilt with her husband George’s support. A son, a fresh start—no more mistakes. This time, she had the strength she’d always wanted beside her.
