Five years later, in the middle of summer.
Across the ocean, the Nasdaq MarketSite was brightly lit.
Sterling Department Store officially went public. The stock ticker flashed across the massive electronic screens as the company's shares continued climbing.
I stood beneath the spotlight in a perfectly tailored red couture gown.
Applause thundered around me. Camera flashes exploded from every direction.
Facing countless reporters, I calmly accepted the microphone.
"Miss Hall, as the youngest female CEO in the department store industry, what is your next move?" The reporter's voice echoed through the venue.
I smiled and looked around at the crowd. "The company will establish a special foundation. It will provide funding and support for women trapped by difficult family situations or t
