Chapter 37 - The Companion
From my vantage point at the podium, I easily spotted Liam standing quietly near the back of the crowded atrium, leaning casually against a marble pillar. He was clapping warmly, a soft, immensely proud smile playing on his lips. True to his character, he had actively refused a seat on the stage, fundamentally unwilling to steal even a fraction of the spotlight on a day that belonged entirely to me and the survivors. He was the unshakable bedrock beneath my feet, a safe harbor when I was exhausted, but he never once attempted to dictate the direction of my sails.
When the prolonged ceremony finally concluded and the dense crowds began to disperse toward the catered reception, he slowly made his way over to me. He handed me a chilled crystal flute of vintage champagne. "Congratulations on a magnificent triumph, Madam CEO," he teased gently, his eyes sparkling with affectionate pride. "I always knew you possessed the strength to build this."
I reached out, gently clinking my glass against his. "It wasn't just me," I corrected him softly, my voice thick with genuine emotion. "We did this. Together."
