I knew.

Just like I knew her firm was currently in negotiations to lease office space in one of my buildings.

The lease they desperately needed and couldn’t quite afford.

My real estate division had sent me the reports just yesterday.

“Vanessa’s doing so well,” Mom continued, warming to her favorite topic. “New house in the suburbs, luxury car, wonderful fiance with such good prospects.”

She paused, giving me a critical onceover.

“And you? Well, at least you’re trying, I suppose.”

I thought about my penthouse overlooking Central Park, my collection of rare sports cars, the private jet I’d flown in on this morning.

“Yes, Mom. At least I’m trying.”

“Speaking of trying,” Vanessa smirked. “That dress, couldn’t you have made an effort? This is the Grand Azure, not some diner.”

I ran my hand over the sophisticated black silk, customade by one of Paris’s most exclusive designers, the same designer who had refused to make anything for Vanessa last month.

A detail I’d learned when my stylist mentioned the incident during my last fitting.

“It’s what I could manage,” I said mildly.

“Well, you can’t come in,” Vanessa declared. “We reserve the entire VIP floor. It’s for family and distinguished guests only.”

The VIP floor.

My VIP floor.

The one I’d personally redesigned last year, down to selecting every piece of artwork and crystal chandelier.

“The distinguished guests being?” I asked, genuinely curious about who they’d invited.

“Oh, you wouldn’t know them.” My mother waved her hand dismissively. “The Andersons. They own that successful law firm. The Blackwoods. Old money, you know. And Mr. Harrison from the bank. All very important people.”

I suppressed a smile.

Thomas Anderson leased three of my properties. The Blackwoods had recently begged for a membership at my most exclusive resort. And Mr. Harrison, his bank was currently seeking a major loan from my investment group.

“Right,” I said. “Very important people.”

“Exactly,” Vanessa said, clearly pleased I understood my place. “So you see why you can’t be here. What would people think if they knew Dad’s failure of a daughter was serving their drinks?”

“Vanessa,” our mother chided softly, though her eyes showed approval. “Be nice. Ellaner made her choices. If she’d stayed with the family firm like you did, things would be different.”

The family firm that now occupied a modest office in one of my buildings, always barely making rent.

My property manager sent me monthly reports on all tenants, including my family’s struggling business.

Just then, my brother-in-law Gavin appeared, straightening his tie.

“What’s taking so long? Everyone’s waiting for—”

He spotted me and his face dropped.

“Ellaner, didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Clearly not,” I replied.

“Gavin just made vice president at his bank,” my mother announced proudly.

“Junior vice president,” I corrected automatically, knowing his exact position because his bank handled some of my smaller accounts.

My financial team provided me detailed reports on all our banking partners.