The city skyline stretched out before Lani as she stood in the corner office of Lelani Tech Corp, the company she had built from nothing.
Her company.
Seven years ago, she had walked away from her father's empire, from his control and expectations. Now, she was the CEO of one of the fastest-growing tech firms in the industry.
But success didn't mean peace.
Behind her, Olivia sighed, dropping into one of the office chairs. "I swear, if I have to explain to these investors one more time that we are not selling, I might throw my laptop out the window."
Lani smirked, sipping her coffee. "Now that I'd pay to see."
Olivia rolled her eyes. "Motherhood has changed me. My patience is gone."
Lani chuckled. "How's Leo?"
A shadow crossed Olivia's face. "He's fine. But Damian and I… it's complicated."
Lani knew better than to pry, but she could hear the exhaustion in Olivia's voice.
Instead, she reached over and squeezed her best friend's hand. "You'll figure it out. You always do."
Olivia smiled weakly. "Yeah, well, I'm not the only one barely holding it together."
Lani sighed, rubbing her temples. "The twins didn't sleep again last night. I swear, they have a personal mission to ruin me."
Olivia laughed. "They're five, Lani. It's their job to drain the life out of you."
Lani leaned back in her chair, groaning. "I love them, but I have no idea how I'm supposed to run a company and be a good mother at the same time."
"You are a good mother," Olivia said firmly. "You're just human."
Lani scoffed. "Tell that to the emails piling up in my inbox."
She had fought for this life. Fought for her independence, for her son and daughter, for everything she had built.
But sometimes, success felt just as exhausting as failure.
Her phone vibrated on the desk.
Nanny Mia: Luca and Lily won't stop fighting over the tablet. Should I take it away?
Lani exhaled, pinching the bridge of her nose.
Lani: Yes, take it away. Tell them Mommy said they have to play outside for a while.
Mia sent back a thumbs-up emoji, and Lani leaned back in her chair. She had back-to-back meetings all afternoon, but her mind was already at home, worrying about her children.
"Thinking about the twins again?" Olivia asked, not even looking up from her laptop.
Lani smirked. "When am I not?"
"Maybe you should leave early today," Olivia suggested. "You've been running on fumes all week."
Lani shook her head. "I can't. We have the investor meeting in an hour, and I need to prep for the software launch next month."
Olivia sighed. "Lani, I get it. You built this company from nothing, but you also have two five-year-olds waiting for you at home. You need balance."
Lani knew Olivia was right, but how?
She wasn't just a CEO. She was a single mother. And some days, it felt like she was being pulled in a million directions at once.
Still, she checked her schedule, debating whether she could shift things around.
"I'll try to wrap up early," she finally said. "But no promises."
Olivia rolled her eyes. "I'll take it."
Lani smiled, but deep down, she knew the struggle wasn't going away anytime soon.
She had built an empire.
Now, she had to find a way to keep it—and her family—together.
Lani barely made it through the investor meeting before her head started pounding. The boardroom was filled with executives throwing around numbers, projections, and market expansions, but her mind was elsewhere—on her twins, on her exhaustion, on how she was supposed to keep all the pieces of her life together.
By the time the meeting ended, Olivia caught up to her in the hallway. "You looked like you were about to pass out in there."
"I'm fine," Lani muttered, rubbing her temples.
Olivia gave her a pointed look. "No, you're not. You haven't slept, your kids are running you ragged, and I don't think you've had a real break in months."
Lani sighed. "I don't have time for a break, Olivia. The company—"
"Will still be here if you take one damn day off." Olivia crossed her arms. "Look, I know you. You won't slow down unless someone forces you to. So, I'm forcing you. Tomorrow, take the day off. Spend time with Luca and Lily."
Lani opened her mouth to argue, but Olivia held up a hand. "No excuses. If I see you in this office tomorrow, I'll personally lock you out."
A small smile tugged at Lani's lips. "You wouldn't."
Olivia grinned. "Try me."
---
That night, Lani arrived home later than she wanted to, stepping into the warm, familiar chaos of her house. The second she walked in, she heard tiny feet running toward her.
"Mommy!"
Luca and Lily barreled into her legs, their little arms wrapping around her tightly.
"Hey, my loves," she said, bending down to hug them. "Did you behave for Mia today?"
Luca grinned mischievously. "I didn't!"
Lily huffed. "He stole my cookie."
Lani raised an eyebrow at her son. "Luca, what did we talk about?"
He pouted. "Sharing is caring."
Lani sighed and kissed his forehead. "That's right. And next time, let your sister have her cookie, okay?"
He nodded, but Lani had a feeling he'd still try again tomorrow.
"Mommy, will you read us a bedtime story?" Lily asked, her big brown eyes hopeful.
Lani hesitated. There were still emails to answer, things to prepare for tomorrow.
But then she looked at their little faces, so full of love and innocence, and she realized nothing else mattered as much as this moment.
"Of course," she said, scooping them up into her arms. "Go pick a book."
---
Later that night, after the twins had fallen asleep, Lani sat in her bedroom, staring at her reflection in the vanity mirror.
She barely recognized herself.
She was successful. Independent. A mother.
But there were nights—like this one—where she wondered if she was doing enough.
If she was enough.
The past still haunted her sometimes. The judgment from her father. The way she had walked away from everything she once knew. The loneliness that crept in when the house was quiet.
She shook her head, pushing those thoughts away. She didn't have time to dwell on the past. She had two beautiful children who needed her, a company she had built from the ground up, and a best friend who had her back.
She was doing just fine.
At least, that's what she told herself.