Serafine left the company shortly afterward.
Her relationship with Julian had become a source of reputational and governance concerns.
The board reviewed her role and the relevant employment arrangements.
She eventually resigned.
I didn’t celebrate.
I didn’t send her messages.
I didn’t try to humiliate her publicly.
She had participated in a painful betrayal.
But I no longer wanted to spend my life thinking about her.
I had more important things to do.
Six months after the divorce was finalized, Julian asked to meet me.
We arranged a conversation in a neutral setting.
He looked different.
Tired.
Older.
Less confident.
He sat across from me.
For a long moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he said:
“I never thought you’d do this.”
I looked at him.
“Do what?”
He swallowed.
“Fight me.”
I stared at him.
“Julian, I wasn’t fighting you.”
He laughed bitterly.
“Could’ve fooled me.”
I took a breath.
