Day Thirty-Four - My Home, My Marriage, My Business

We were finally settled in Bedford Hills, but it was so different from the Bronx. At night, it was dark and quiet—and I was scared! I joked that I needed a dog and a gun.

He would drive up to help with things around the house. Sometimes he stayed over because the drive back was long.

He had a little one-bedroom apartment in the Bronx with his dog, Paige. She was such a sweet dog, and I felt terrible about her being alone when he came up. Even though I was allergic, I arranged a doghouse so he could bring her and she would have someone looking after her.

As we grew closer, I made something clear: I didn’t want another man living with me in front of my children without being married.

He said, “Let’s get married.”

Thank God for my nephew. He insisted I get a prenup. I felt so uncomfortable asking him to sign it, but my nephew wanted me to protect everything I had worked for.

Looking back, I’m grateful he stood his ground. That protection would mean more than I understood then.

We married, and there were many good years. But there were painful times, too. When he strayed again, I threw him out. Then came the promises, and two weeks later, he was back.

Sometimes I ask myself why I kept accepting those promises.

I don’t think I was afraid of being alone. I think I was afraid of running the business alone.

We had worked so well together in the beginning. But his arrogance and the way he spoke to employees started wearing down my company. He talked down to the guys, and people left. Good workers wouldn’t stay.

The business I had worked so hard to build was changing into something I barely recognized.

I had protected my home on paper. Now I needed to look honestly at what was happening inside my marriage—and inside my company.

#FromPanicToPower #Day34 #MyStory #ProtectWhatYouBuilt #KnowingYourWorth