Chapter 10 - Flying High
The glass doors of the Vanguard European Headquarters opened to a room filled with international business leaders, journalists, and investors. Applause broke out as I stepped up to the podium, the bright flash of cameras illuminating the room.
I looked out at the crowd of people who respected my mind, my leadership, and my vision.
"Good morning, everyone," I spoke into the microphone, my voice confident, powerful, and ringing with absolute clarity. "Welcome to a new beginning."
After the speeches were finished and the champagne toasts were concluded, I walked out onto the private terrace overlooking the heart of Paris.
The afternoon sun beamed down, warm and golden against my face. I raised my hand gently to my left cheek. The bruise had long since faded, leaving behind smooth, unblemished skin. But the memory of that day remained—not as a scar of trauma, but as a medal of honor.
I had survived the fire. I had broken the cycle. And for the first time in thirty-two years, I was flying on my own terms.
My phone chimed in my pocket—a notification from my calendar.
Reminder: Annual Vacation Booking.
I opened my phone, tapped onto my Delta app, and clicked on the search bar. I typed in my destination: Tokyo, Japan.
I selected the flight, tapped on the seat map, and selected Seat 1A — First Class Suite.
I tapped 'Confirm and Pay' using my own card, registered under my own name, built on my own success.
May you like
As the digital boarding pass popped up on my screen, a small smile played on my lips.
I slipped the phone back into my pocket, took a deep breath of the clear Parisian air, and stepped forward into the endless sky of my future.
