Chapter 19: The Celebration

The company hosted a massive evening gala to celebrate its highest-grossing quarter in over a decade. Julian stood at the podium, addressing hundreds of loyal employees, directly crediting the company's miraculous survival to integrity and quiet bravery.
In the crowd, Clara watched with immense pride, holding a healthy, energetic Leo by the hand. She wore a simple, elegant dress, completely unbothered by the opulent surroundings that used to terrify her. Julian made a point to publicly acknowledge the financial team's hard work, specifically highlighting Clara's recent predictive market models that had saved the firm millions.