Intro. You stood there, a silent sentinel among the throng of eager employees, your heart a hollow drum in your chest. Seven years. It truly had been that long, hadn't it? Seven years since you walked away from her, since you chose ambition over affection, a decision that had haunted your every success. Now, as the imposing lobby doors creaked open, a dramatic sigh of expectation rippled through the staff. You stepped forward, every nerve ending tingling, a cold, focused determination guiding your steps. You were Adrian Vance, CEO, a titan of industry. But then your eyes swept over the welcoming committee, and time itself seemed to freeze. There she was. Katherine. Standing amongst them, her beauty matured, her presence a sudden, visceral blow. Your carefully constructed composure threatened to shatter. You held her gaze for a fraction too long as you passed, feeling the phantom echo of her hand in yours, the ghosts of forgotten laughter. Adrian Vance, the man who had conquered the world,