Chapter 4 : Allies and Adversaries

Cherry woke up the next morning with a sense of urgency. This was her second day in the past, and already, she had laid the groundwork for her future empire. But she knew that success wasn't built alone.

She needed allies.

And she knew exactly where to start.

---

Cherry hurried to The Blue Bean Café, a small but cozy coffee shop near the university. The moment she stepped in, a wave of nostalgia hit her. She used to come here all the time with Lana Evans, her best friend from college—before life had pushed them apart.

Back then, Lana had been her closest confidante, her biggest cheerleader. But as Cherry got more entangled with Alexander and his ambitions, their friendship had slowly faded but Cherry knew not to let that happen again this time.

Cherry scanned the café until she spotted a familiar figure at a corner table, hunched over a laptop, furiously typing.

Lana.

She looked exactly as Cherry remembered—sharp, stylish, and exuding an effortless brilliance. With caramel-toned skin, short curls, and an oversized blazer that screamed "CEO-in-the-making," Lana was one of the smartest people Cherry had ever known yet, she had never fully realized her potential and she knew why.

Lana had always been the one with the big ideas but lacked the financial resources to make them happen. She came from a struggling middle-class family—her single mother worked two jobs, and her younger brother had medical expenses that drained most of their savings. Despite her brilliance, Lana had to work twice as hard for every opportunity.

And Cherry had let her fight those battles alone.

But now? Now, she had the power to change that.

"Busy saving the world already?" Cherry teased as she slid into the seat across from Lana.

Lana looked up, eyes widening in surprise. "Cherry? You're up early."

Cherry smirked. "Trying something new."

Lana leaned back, crossing her arms. "Interesting. Usually, you're still tangled up in Alexander's plans by now."

Cherry's stomach twisted. That had been true before. Lana had always seen what Cherry refused to acknowledge—how much she had let Alexander's ambitions overshadow her own.

But now?

"Things are different, Lana," Cherry said, meeting her gaze. "I'm different."

Lana studied her for a moment before grinning. "Alright, now you have my attention. Spill."

Cherry took a deep breath. "You always wanted to build your own business. To create something groundbreaking. What if we did it together?"

Lana raised an eyebrow. "Go on."

Cherry leaned in, lowering her voice. "AI-powered financial modeling. We get ahead of the curve before the industry even realizes it's the future."

Lana blinked. Then, slowly, a smile crept onto her lips. As she continued listening to Cherry's idea and getting very interested with their discussion. Together they decided on how to get started , writing down a few points.

---

That afternoon, Cherry returned home. The house felt different—not because it had changed, but because she had.

Her parents were still alive, still in their modest home, still believing in the old-fashioned way of working hard without taking risks.

Her mother, Margaret Golden, was a gentle yet firm woman who had always prioritized security over ambition. Her father, Samuel Golden, was a hardworking man who had owned a small logistics business—one that, Cherry knew, would struggle in the coming years if nothing changed.

She found them in the kitchen, her mother chopping vegetables while her father skimmed through a newspaper.

"Cherry, you're home early," Margaret said, surprised. "Is everything alright?"

Cherry smiled. "More than alright, Mom."

Her father looked up. "You look like you have something on your mind."

Cherry hesitated. In her past life, she had never asked them for help. She had been too afraid of their skepticism, of their insistence on stability.

But she had to try.

"Dad, I want to start a business," she said carefully. "I have an idea that could be huge, but I need an initial investment."

Silence.

Her mother put down the knife. "Business? Cherry, you're still in school. You should be focusing on your studies."

"I am," Cherry insisted. "But I know where the market is going. I can do this."

Her father sighed. "Sweetheart, I admire your passion, but business is risky. You know how hard I've worked to keep our company running."

"I know," Cherry said gently. "That's why I want to do things differently. With technology. With strategy."

Her mother frowned. "How much do you need?"

Cherry swallowed. " Ten thousand dollars."

Margaret gasped. "Cherry, that's—"

"I know it's a lot," Cherry said quickly. "But it's an investment. And if I succeed, I'll be able to take care of this family in ways we never imagined."

Her father looked torn. She could see the battle in his eyes—his desire to support her versus his fear of risk.

Finally, he sighed. "Let me think about it."

It wasn't a no.

And that was more than she had ever gotten before.

----

That evening, Cherry met Alexander for dinner. She had expected this conversation to be difficult, but she was ready.

She found him at their usual restaurant, looking smug and confident as always.

"There's my girl," he said, pulling her into a hug.

She sat across from him, watching as he went on about his plans.

"I spoke with a few investors today," he said. "I think I'm really onto something. And with you by my side, supporting me, I know I can make it happen."

Cherry's stomach clenched.

She had heard these words before.

"I'm happy for you, Alex," she said carefully. " And I have some big plans too."

Alexander barely reacted. "That's great, babe. But you know I need you at my side. I can't do this without you."

Cherry frowned. "I don't want to just support you, Alex. I want to build something of my own."

He chuckled, as if she had just said something cute. "Cherry, you're amazing, but business is brutal. You're better off helping me. I'll take care of us, I promise."

Her fingers tightened around her fork.

This was exactly what she had ignored the first time. The way he dismissed her dreams. The way he saw her only as a supporting role in his story.

Not this time.

She forced a smile. "I appreciate that, Alex."

He relaxed, thinking she had given in.

Cherry watched Alexander carefully as he continued talking about his plans. It was exhausting how effortlessly he expected her to follow his lead, never once asking about what she wanted.

She had idolized him in the past, let herself believe that his dreams were hers too. But now, with the weight of ten years of heartbreak pressing against her memories, she saw everything clearly.

And she wasn't going to waste another moment waiting for him to see her as an equal.

She took a slow sip of her drink, keeping her expression calm. "So, tell me, Alex. What exactly do you see me doing in your grand plan?"

Alexander looked up from his plate, clearly unprepared for the question. He blinked, then smiled. "Cherry, you know how important you are to me. I need someone I trust, someone who can help with the organization side of things. You've always been great at keeping me grounded."

Cherry felt a bitter laugh bubble up in her throat. Keeping him grounded? That was all he saw her as? His personal cheerleader?

"And what about my goals?" she pressed, tilting her head. "What if I want to build something for myself?"

Alexander's expression shifted, the confidence in his eyes dimming just slightly. "Cherry, you don't have to worry about all that stress. Once I make it big, you'll have everything you need. I'll take care of us."

Us.

Cherry had once thought that meant something. Now she saw it for what it really was—a promise that only benefited him.

She smiled, but this time, it wasn't out of admiration. It was strategy.

"I appreciate that, Alex," she said softly, leaning forward. "And you know what? I'll always support you."

His posture relaxed, the tension in his shoulders easing. He had no idea that Cherry wasn't surrendering—she was just playing the game differently now.

---

Later that night, Cherry sat on her bed, her old childhood room feeling suffocatingly small.

She picked up her phone and dialed Lana.

"Thought you'd be busy playing the perfect girlfriend tonight," Lana teased as she answered.

Cherry chuckled. "Not anymore. I'm done being his sidekick."

Lana's amusement faded. "You're serious?"

"Completely," Cherry confirmed. "I'm done putting his dreams before mine. But I need your help."

There was a pause. Then, Lana sighed dramatically. "Well, finally. I've been waiting for this moment for years."

Cherry laughed, warmth filling her chest. She had missed this—the easy friendship, the way Lana always knew the truth before Cherry was ready to admit it.

"You're really in, then?" Cherry asked.

"Girl, I was in the moment you said AI-powered finance. Do you even realize how big that market is going to be?"

Cherry grinned. "Exactly. And I want us to get there first."

Lana hummed in thought. "Alright, first thing we need is a prototype. Something that proves we can do this. Investors won't just hand us money because we have a good idea."

"I've been thinking about that too," Cherry said. "We start small. A financial tracking system that predicts spending habits and suggests investments. We get students and young professionals to test it out, and once we refine it, we scale up."

Lana let out a low whistle. "Damn, girl. Where has this version of you been hiding?"

Cherry exhaled, her mind buzzing with excitement. "Buried under ten years of regret. But not anymore."

Lana was quiet for a moment. Then she said, "You know I'll back you up, but… you're still with Alexander. Are you sure he won't get in the way?"

Cherry's smile sharpened.

"He won't even see it coming."

---

Over the next week, Cherry played the role of Alexander's perfect, supportive girlfriend—but this time, with her eyes wide open.

She let him ramble about his business ideas, let him believe she was hanging on to his every word. But in reality?

She was studying him.

Cherry watched how he networked, which investors he pursued, what strategies he used.

He had connections, but he was impulsive. He focused too much on immediate gains and never looked at long-term scalability.

He was ambitious, but he wasn't visionary.

And Cherry realized something important.

Alexander was never going to be the one to build an empire. He was going to be the man who destroyed one.

She wouldn't let that happen to her.

So, while he went to meetings, she and Lana worked in secret.

They spent nights brainstorming, researching algorithms, sketching out their financial model. Cherry cashed in her scholarship fund—instead of spending it on luxury items like she had done in her past life, she put every cent into their business idea.

And she pushed her father to reconsider investing in her.

At first, Samuel Golden had been hesitant.

But then, Cherry showed him the numbers. She explained, in perfect detail, how technology was going to change finance. She laid out the market potential, the risk analysis, the future of wealth-building in a digital age.

By the time she was done, her father sat back, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"You really believe in this," he murmured.

Cherry nodded. "I do. And I want you to be a part of it."

After a long pause, he exhaled.

"Alright, Cherry. I'll give you the money."

Victory.

---

Cherry kept up the charade with Alexander a little longer, letting him believe that she was still devoted only to his success.

But slowly, subtly, she began pulling away.

She skipped a few of his meetings, claiming she had other commitments. She stopped blindly agreeing with his ideas. And, most importantly?

She started making her own moves.

One evening, as they sat at dinner, Alexander noticed the change.

"You've been distracted lately," he said, narrowing his eyes. "Something going on?"

Cherry took a sip of her wine and smiled.

"Just focusing on my own future, Alex. Isn't that what you always wanted? For me to be happy?"

He frowned, as if the thought unsettled him.

Because for the first time, Cherry wasn't just following his lead.