Tonight, Cinderella’s clock was winding down. Love stories are like great fairy tales; pain and suffering must be felt before a princess is rescued by her true prince.

Occasionally, someone must die.

“Finally,” he said aloud with a heavy sigh. One last event. The MPowerU Gala. All the waiting, all the blood spilled in the name of love and honor, would at last come full circle.

“Almost, my sweet rose.” His hand grazed one of the 24 white O’Hara roses, a gift for his beloved at the end of her night. A scent as original as she was filled the air. Turning away from the desk, he looked around him. Smiling, pleased with himself. No one would ever suspect that a humble cabbie turned executive driver could have created a high-tech masterpiece. All for her.

From the moment he saved her from the mugger, he had foreseen the need — his first genius realization. She was born to be famous, and as a star, needed expert security. Unlike other cabbies, he had used the sit and wait to his advantage. While other drivers would play on their phones, texting random women, he had sacrificed for her.

In the last eight years, he had dedicated every day off to online classes. Devoting his time, he pursued degrees in IT and cybersecurity. In secret for her. All for her.

Her goal was to be seen by the world; his goal, to be seen only by her.

He stood in the center of the room, legs spread apart, arms dancing in the air as if conducting an invisible orchestra. The combination of a haunting cello melody with the low whir of computers filled the stagnant room with an electronic symphony.

Almost a decade, he spent grooming her for himself. Teaching her to trust only him. Her trust so full now, she had given him unlimited access to all the plans for her towers. Publicly making him an envoy delegated with updating her on build details. Without realizing it, she gave him the power to watch her every move.