Chapter 9 - REBUILDING
Six months passed. The winter melted away, bringing a bright, vibrant spring to the city.
My divorce from Brandon was finalized swiftly, uncontested since he was currently sitting in a state penitentiary.
I used a portion of the $200,000 to launch Ascend Consulting, a boutique marketing agency focused on helping women-owned small businesses build their brands. Jessica quit her corporate job to become my lead graphic designer.
The trauma of that single day of marriage had left a scar, but it wasn't an ugly one. It was a reminder of my own strength. I had discovered that my boundaries were made of steel, and that the love of my family and friends was an unbreakable fortress.
One afternoon, I was sitting in my new, sunlit office, reviewing a contract for our newest client, when a knock sounded at the glass door.
I looked up to see a tall, handsome man with kind eyes holding a cardboard tray of coffees. It was Julian, the architect who designed the layout for our new office space. Over the past three months, our professional relationship had slowly blossomed into long lunches and late-night phone calls.
“I come bearing caffeine and good news,” Julian smiled, stepping into the office.
“I accept both,” I laughed, taking a cup from him. “What’s the news?”
“The city just approved the permits for the expansion of your parents' garden,” he said, sitting in the chair across from my desk. “And... I managed to score reservations at that Italian place you mentioned you loved for Friday night. If you’re free?”
I looked at him. Julian was nothing like Brandon. He didn't demand things. He asked. He didn't view women as property; he viewed me as a partner, a brilliant mind, and an equal.
“I’m free,” I said softly, feeling a genuine flutter in my chest.
May you like
Julian beamed, the kind of smile that reached all the way to his eyes. “Perfect. I’ll pick you up at seven.”
As he left the office, I leaned back in my chair, looking out the large window at the bustling city below. I took a deep breath, the air tasting sweet and entirely my own.
