On My 18th Birthday, My Parents Gave Me an Ultimatum That Changed My Life Forever

“Majoring in business?”

“Real estate management, specifically.”

He smiled. “Good choice.”

Building an Empire

When I was twenty-three, Mr. Harrison called me into his office—a cramped room above a dry cleaner that smelled perpetually like chemicals and pressed shirts.

“I’m getting old, Maya. My kids have no interest in the business. They’re lawyers and continue reading …