Chapter 9 - The Empire After EvanOne year later, Whitmore Freight was stronger than ever.
I became chairwoman.
We expanded into three new markets.
The company created a compliance division specifically designed to prevent the kind of fraud Evan had committed.
And I established an employee protection fund.
No executive could ever again use company resources to control or intimidate an employee's family.
One afternoon, Naomi entered my office.
“The board approved the foundation.”
I smiled.
“Good.”
“What do you want to call it?”
I looked at the city outside.
“The Bennett Foundation.”
Naomi laughed.
“You finally put your own name on something.”
I smiled.
“I spent too many years hiding behind someone else's.”
Then my phone rang.
It was my attorney.
“Evan's parole request was denied.”
I nodded.
“How did he react?”
“Not well.”
I wasn't surprised.
He had spent his entire life believing consequences were for other people.
Now he was learning otherwise.
That evening, I attended a charity dinner.
The room was filled with people who once knew me as Evan's quiet wife.
Now they stood when I entered.
They applauded.
I looked around.
For the first time, I wasn't standing in someone else's shadow.
May you like
I was exactly where I belonged.
At the center of my own life.
