They’d set up an old military cot between dad’s golf clubs and boxes of Christmas decorations.

A thin blanket lay folded at one end, probably pulled from the back of some closet.

“Dinner tomorrow is at 700 p.m.,” Olivia said, her voice echoing in the bare space. “Try not to track any dirt into the house when you come in.”

As the door closed behind her, I pulled out my phone.

Three urgent emails from the board needed attention before tomorrow’s meeting.

The same meeting where Olivia’s boss would be presenting his quarterly reports, unaware that his year-end bonus depended entirely on my approval.

I smiled slightly as I typed out my responses.

Olivia had no idea that her perfect boss, Mr. Townsend, had spent the last month desperately trying to arrange a meeting with the elusive CEO of Summit Enterprises, the parent company that had quietly acquired their firm last year.

My phone buzzed with a text from my assistant.

Mr. Townsen asked again about meeting you before tomorrow’s board meeting. Should I tell him you’re unavailable?

No, I typed back.

Let him think I’m still in London. It’ll make dinner more interesting.

I changed into fresh clothes, carefully hiding my designer blouse under a plain sweater.

The garage was freezing, but I’d endured worse in my early days of building my empire.

While Olivia had been climbing the corporate ladder, bragging about each small promotion, I’d been quietly acquiring companies, restructuring industries, and building something far bigger than anyone in my family could imagine.

At precisely 700 p.m. the next evening, I walked into the dining room, taking my assigned seat at the far end of the table, as far from the important guests as possible.

Olivia sat near the head next to Mr. Townsend and his wife, laughing at something he’d said.

“Catherine,” Dad called out. “Olivia was just telling us about her latest promotion, junior vice president of operations. Isn’t that wonderful?”

I nodded, accepting the plate of turkey being passed my way.

“Congratulations, Liv. Summit Enterprises must be impressed with your work.”

Mr. Townsen smiled broadly.

“She’s one of our rising stars. The merger with Summit last year has opened up so many opportunities for talented people like Olivia.”

“The merger?” Mom sighed happily. “We were so worried when we heard Summit had bought the company, but it’s turned out wonderfully, though no one seems to know much about Summit’s CEO.”

“Very mysterious, isn’t it?” Olivia leaned forward, eager to share her insider knowledge. “Apparently, she’s this reclusive billionaire who never appears in public. Some say she lives in London. Others think she’s in Tokyo. No one at our level has ever met her.”

I took a sip of wine to hide my smile.