Chapter 6 - The Clean Horizon
Six months later. October 2026.
The grand opening reception of the Reyes Tower was held on the penthouse floor of the completed skyscraper.
The three-story glass atrium was bathed in golden evening light as two hundred of the most influential business leaders, government officials, and international investors across Southeast Asia gathered to celebrate the tower's completion.
I stood near the floor-to-ceiling windows, wearing a stunning midnight-blue silk gown that flowed around my ankles like dark water. My dark hair was styled in soft, elegant waves around my shoulders. In my right hand, I held a glass of vintage champagne.
Beside me stood Sarah Lin and my father, both laughing as a photographer from the Asian Business Review captured our photo against the backdrop of the illuminated city skyline.
"Miss Reyes!" a young female journalist called out, stepping forward with a microphone and a recording device. "The Review is naming you one of the Top Ten Female Business Leaders under thirty-five in Asia this month. What advice would you give to young women entering the corporate world today?"
I set my champagne glass on a passing waiter’s silver tray, smoothed down the front of my gown, and looked directly into the camera lens.
"Never measure your worth by the seat someone else offers you at their table," I said, my voice clear, steady, and rich with unshakeable power. "And never let anyone convince you that staying in a broken house is better than walking out into the sun with your own foundation."
The journalist smiled broadly, writing down every word.
I turned back toward the wide glass window, looking out over the glittering lights of Manila stretching toward the ocean.
There were no dirty dishes waiting for me.
There were no greasy rags.
May you like
There were no arrogant men shouting from kitchen doorways.
There was only the high, clear air of the tower I had built with my own name, my own strength, and my own hands—a horizon that was wide, beautiful, and completely, perfectly mine.
