“What?” Mom demanded.
Michael’s voice shook.
“Why is Alexandra’s company valued at $4 billion on Bloomberg?”
The room fell silent.
I pulled out my own phone, opening the article I’d known was coming.
Tech innovator Alexandra Bennett emerges as industry giant. Neuroch Solutions valued at $4 billion after stealth mode exit.
“There must be a mistake.” Dad reached for the phone. “Some other Alexandra.”
“No mistake,” I said quietly, reaching into my bag. “Though the valuation’s a bit off. We’re closer to $5.2 billion after this morning’s private equity round.”
I placed my business card on the table. Not the simple consulting one they knew. The real one, embossed CEO title, downtown office address, the company logo they were now seeing splashed across financial news worldwide.
“But… but your little office,” Mom stammered.
“A front,” I explained. “Useful for keeping competitors and nosy family members from seeing what I was really building.”
“Building what?” Michael demanded, scrolling frantically through the Bloomberg article. “This says something about artificial intelligence and neural networks.”
“The next generation of machine learning,” I confirmed. “Patents pending in 42 countries. Google tried to buy us last month for $3 billion. We declined.”
Diana’s perfectly contoured face had gone pale.
“All this time…”
“All this time,” I continued. “While you were mocking my struggling business, I was raising nine figures in venture capital. While you pitied my old car, I was hiring the best engineers in the country. And while you planned this little intervention, I was closing deals with three Fortune 10 companies.”
Dad’s hands shook as he read the article.
Private investors. Major technological breakthrough. Revolutionary applications in healthcare and finance.
“The apartment you felt sorry for me living in,” I smiled slightly, “I own the building. Just like I own the questionable office building downtown. Real estate’s a good investment when you know where the tech sector is expanding.”
Michael stood abruptly.
“This is… you can’t have… I would have known.”
“Would you?” I raised an eyebrow. “Like you knew your firm was about to lose its biggest client?”
He paled.
“What?”
“Oh, did I forget to mention?” I checked my watch. “Your managing partner is probably reading the email right now. Neuroch Solutions is terminating all contracts with Bennett Financial. Effective immediately.”
The sound of breaking china made us all turn.
Mom had dropped her favorite teacup, hands pressed to her mouth as another Bloomberg alert flashed across Michael’s phone.