In tandem with the inflation of my ego, my skill in the art of deception burgeoned, especially in the eyes of Sarah. I couldn't bear the thought of her witnessing the metamorphosis within me—the burgeoning arrogance, the swelling self-absorption threatening to overshadow my very essence.

Sarah (expressing concern): "Alex, decisions are being made without consulting the team. This isn't the Alex I know."

Alex (defensive): "I discern what's optimal for the business, Sarah. I can't afford to tarry for others to catch up."

In verity, I had succumbed to the delusion that I alone propelled our success. The conviction of the superiority of my ideas and the infallibility of my decisions held me in thrall.

One day, Sarah confronted me, her words laden with apprehension.

Sarah (directly): "Alex, you've undergone a transformation. This isn't the person I once knew. Arrogance and dismissal have replaced humility."

Alex (feigning innocence): "To guide the business, assertiveness is imperative, Sarah. The world is unforgiving."

Yet, the words rang hollow—a deceptive veil concealing the ego's grip on me. The humble and resolute individual who embarked on this odyssey was now a mere specter. In his stead stood a narcissist, blinded by the reflection of his own success.