The evening of the investor dinner was a whirlwind of strategic conversations, forced smiles, and glasses of wine that I barely had time to sip. Damon, as usual, dominated the room with his composed, intimidating presence, making even the most stubborn investors listen to him with rapt attention. I played my role perfectly—charming, insightful, and, when necessary, subtly reinforcing Damon’s points.
By the time we left the venue and headed for the car, exhaustion clung to my body like a second skin. Damon was slightly ahead of me, his phone pressed to his ear as he wrapped up a call with one of the firm’s executives. The parking lot was covered in a thin layer of ice, and I was careful with my steps, but Damon strode forward as if the elements were beneath his notice.
“We need to be at t
