CUTTING THE CORD: my ex-husband regret

low was barely audible from up here, the noise of the city muted by the thick glass. I stood by the window, the light of the morning sun casting a warm glow over my desk, wher

e one last night. But I can't stop thinking about it. What does he want, Sam? Why can't he just move on?" Sam's expression hardened, her playful demeanor fading. "Because he's a control freak who can't stand the idea of you being happy without him. He'll try to mess with your head, make you doubt yourself. But don't let him, Em. You've come too far to let him drag you back down." I nodded, knowing she was right, but the doubt lingered. I had rebuilt my life, my company was on the rise, but Daniel had a way of getting under my skin, of making me question everything. "Thanks, Sam," I said, forcing a smile. "I needed to hear that." She smiled back, but I could see the concern in her eyes. "Anytime. And speaking of the company, I've got some interesting news." She leaned forward, her voice dropping slightly, the way it always did when she was about to reveal something big. "We've caught the attention of some pretty serious investors." I raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite myself. "Serious how?" "Serious as in deep pockets and big names. There's one in particular who's been asking a lot of questions about us. They're interested in a partnership, but they've been pretty cagey about who they are." My heart skipped a beat, a mixture of excitement and wariness. This was what we'd been working toward-a partnership with a major investor could take our company to the next level. But the secrecy made me uneasy. "Have they given us any details at all?" I asked, trying to keep my voice neutral. "Not much. Just that they're based in Europe and have a history of backing tech companies that go on to do big things. But they want to meet with you before they make any decisions." A ripple of unease passed through me, mingling with the excitement. I couldn't help but wonder if this was somehow connected to Daniel, if he was trying to worm his way back into my life through business, the one area where he knew I was vulnerable. "When's the meeting?" I asked, my mind already racing with possibilities. "Tomorrow morning, here in the office. They're flying in tonight." I nodded, my mind made up. This could be the opportunity we'd been waiting for, the chance to take our company global. But I couldn't sh