**Revenge**
At thirty, Nina was a name many businessmen knew. She negotiated deals, led meetings, and believed all methods were fair in business—even using her charm to get her way. Some partnerships went beyond professional, blurring lines she didn’t mind crossing.
She once confessed to her friend, Emily:
*“I didn’t sleep with just anyone. Only the ones I liked. Was it unprofessional? Maybe. But a woman in this world has to fight twice as hard. Men still dominate, even if women are carving their own spaces now.”*
Emily fidgeted, uneasy. *“I couldn’t do it. I prefer my quiet office job—no scheming, no games. You’ve got a spine of steel, Nina. I don’t know how you handle it.”*
Nina smirked. *“When I started, no one took me seriously. One man told me outright—women only succeed if they ‘find the right approach.’ So I did. Albert became my first… special partner.”*
Emily gasped. *“How could you cross that line?”*
*“Em, with him, I learned to separate business from pleasure. Some men give temporary satisfaction—others? The real reward comes later, when your company thrives.”*
And thrive it did—until she needed a skilled IT specialist, someone she couldn’t afford at first. Then Daniel arrived, young but sharp. Twenty-five, with bright ideas flashing behind his eyes. His resume lacked experience, but his mind promised potential.
*”Good afternoon,”* he said, polite, smiling as he stepped into her office.
*”Daniel, take a seat,”* Nina replied, businesslike. *”Two-week trial. If you don’t mess up, you’re in. But there’s a condition.”*
His eyebrows lifted. *”And that is?”*
*”No grand salary—yet. Agree, and the job’s yours.”*
*”Deal,”* he said.
Daniel proved capable—too soft, though. He hesitated to push back, to command respect. Meanwhile, Nina hosted *special* meetings in her office after hours. Convenient. Efficient.
Until one evening, Daniel walked in unannounced, files in hand—unaware she wasn’t alone.
*”Sorry! I didn’t—”* He fled, face burning.
Her partner scowled. *”Now your whole office knows.”*
She smoothed it over. Daniel would stay quiet.
The next day, she summoned him.
*”What you saw stays between us.”*
A risky thought flickered. She didn’t have to persuade him—he understood her gaze instantly. To her surprise, his youth hid experience. Their nights became a secret, his enthusiasm requiring restraint.
*”Don’t get ahead of yourself, Daniel. This stays hidden. No favoritism. Understood?”*
*”Crystal. Boss and employee—got it.”*
For three years, they learned from each other—until Nina grew weary.
Daniel guessed her other arrangements. They fought. He demanded commitment.
*”We should go public. Get married.”*
She recoiled. *”I don’t love you, Daniel. Whatever we had burned out.”*
The next morning, his resignation sat on her desk.
A year and a half later, her empire cracked. Partners defected.
*”Nothing personal,”* one said. *”Better offers elsewhere.”*
Suspicions gnawed at her. Then an old contact, Victor, revealed the truth.
*”Your rival knew every client, every deal. How? Then I discovered—it’s Daniel. Your ex-employee.”*
Nina’s blood ran cold.
*”He stole my data. Built his company on my contacts. And now he’s luring them away—revenge.”*
She confronted him in his sleek new office.
*”Did you really sink this low?”*
Daniel’s smile chilled her. *”Merge with me. Run my office—under me. And we’ll pick up where we left off. On my terms.”*
His casual tone enraged her. This wasn’t love—it was a power play.
She stormed out, demanding time.
A week later, she returned, resolute.
*”I’m selling my company. No merger. No *us*. I want a real man—one who builds from nothing, not a thief clinging to revenge. And I’ve already found him.”*
She turned, slamming the door behind her.
Daniel sat stunned.
With her husband George’s support, Nina rebuilt. She bore a son, stood firm beside a man who matched her strength. No more mistakes. No more regrets.
Revenge had failed. She thrived anyway.
