The Securities Regulatory Board ultimately decided to accept that the stock market analysis app Selene submitted was indeed her own work. After investigating the origins of her investment funds, they confirmed the money she put into the market came from her divorce settlement. As a result, the board transferred her previously frozen assets directly back into her account.
Seeing her balance shoot back into the millions, Selene couldn’t help but let a smile tug at the corners of her lips.
Just then, a call came in from Manager Holt at Quantum Horizon Capital.
Selene’s brows knit together for a moment, but she answered anyway.
As soon as she picked up, his voice filled her ear. “Miss Thompson, I heard your funds have been released. Congratulations! I wanted to ask if you’d consider having me as your investment advisor again. I can offer you the lowest commission in the business!”
She cut straight to the point. “Mr. Holt, haven’t you already been fired from Quantum Horizon Capital?”
There was a brief, awkward silence before his forced chuckle came through the line. “Miss Thompson, you’re always so well–informed.”
It was true–Manager Holt’s dismissal was directly tied to Selene’s frozen eight million. Once word got out, major clients lost faith in Quantum Horizon Capital. During the time her assets were frozen, the firm bled clients, and Holt was scapegoated and let go.
He tried again, putting on a salesman’s charm. “I’m at Yorkfield Securities now, Miss Thompson. You can trust me-”
Selene cut him off. “I think you still haven’t figured out why you were fired. As a manager, you should never betray your clients.”
With that, she hung up.
Luke Holloway, who had overheard her end of the conversation, glanced back in surprise. The way things were going, Holt was about to be blacklisted by the entire securities industry.
Selene’s voice drifted to him from behind. “With this money in my account, I could pay ten years‘ rent up front and still have plenty left over. As for the surplus, I’ll draft a proposal to focus on investing in some of your new tech ventures.”
09:07
Luke responded with a quiet, “Alright.”
He owed his first big break to Selene’s initial investment. Now, in most of Luke’s companies, Selene held a controlling 51% stake.
Daph was currently attending the city’s most exclusive private preschool, but in six months, she’d be starting elementary school.
Selene had no intention of letting Daph automatically move up to Charteris Academy’s primary school. Where Daph would go next was something they’d decide together.
For now, Selene rented a place near Charteris Academy to make pick–ups and drop–offs easier. The apartment came with a private concierge, a five–star restaurant right in the complex, and every amenity she could want. The property manager had even told Selene they could provide one–on–one after–school care and tutoring for Daph.
A home like this would sell for upwards of thirty million dollars, but the monthly rent was only five thousand–a no–brainer for Selene.
Once Daph started elementary school, Selene planned to find a place even closer, so her daughter could get more rest.
Luke’s car pulled up to the main entrance of Sky Pastures Ranch, where teachers and staff were already waiting to welcome them.
Selene took Daph’s hand and checked in with one of the teachers.
After confirming Luke’s relationship to Daph, the teacher jotted both Selene’s and Luke Holloway’s names next to Daph’s on the roster.
Then the homeroom teacher handed Selene a task card. “Now that the Thompson family has arrived at Sky Pastures Ranch, the family games can begin! Here’s your task card.”
Selene crouched down, ready to go over it with Daph, but before she could, Luke lifted Daph up and swung her onto his arm.
Perched on Luke’s arm, Daph leaned close, and the three of them bent th… heads together, almost touching–ready to take on whatever came next as a team.
