But regressing seemed like nothing compared to what Angelica was dealing with. I would big-girl-panty my way through it and count my blessings. Bethany was a top-notch assistant, and between us, we’d figure out how to conquer the upcoming challenges.

Questions zipped through my mind so fast I couldn’t decide what to ask first. Before I could say another word, she continued.

“The more you can sit in on this week, the better. I’d like a smooth transition. With three months till opening, we don’t have time for delays or bumps. We can’t push back any of the future projects.”

At the word future, Angelica’s brow furrowed slightly, which was saying something, because I was ninety-eight percent sure she Botoxed regularly.

“You’ll be back in time for the Hallstatt project,” I said supportively.

At Marks, we generally had one project in construction stages at a time. Hallstatt, Switzerland, was directly after Dragonfly Lake, and we were scheduled to break ground in July.

She laughed hollowly, then sobered up in an instant. “I don’t think so.” She pressed her lips together. “If the doctors can be believed—and I’m seeing some of the most reputable in the country—I’ll be lucky to be alive in a year.”

“You’re a fighter, Angelica—”

“Oh, I’m going to fight. But I’m also a realist.” She swallowed and blinked, and once again, she looked… human. Vulnerable. Scared.

I’d never in my life seen Angelica Marks look scared. Not for a single second.

I wanted to contradict what she said, throw out some positive something, but I knew that wouldn’t help.

“I never thought I’d have to consider what to do with my life’s endeavor at age forty-eight,” Angelica continued. “I’ve always planned to work until I’m eighty.”

I nodded. I’d heard her say she had no intention of ever retiring. She thrived on her work, lived for it. Put everything she had into it. She was an inspiration to me, regardless of her less-than-warm personality.

“I spent the weekend thinking.” She let out another humorless laugh. “So much damn thinking, and none of it happy thoughts. Let me tell you, Chloe, it sucks to look at your own life from a new perspective and realize how much you’ve screwed up.”

“I don’t think you’ve screw—”

“I’ve lived my life all wrong,” she insisted in that tone that brooked no arguments.

I bit down on anything I was going to say and sat back to listen. Because clearly she was going somewhere with this or needed to get something off her chest, and that was the one thing I could offer her.

“I’ve put every last drop of my focus into this company. I’ve loved it more than any man in my life, nurtured it the way most women nurture a child, put all my hopes and dreams into it.”