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Mara's fists tightened, and she took a deep breath. Working with Ryder would be like dancing with a wolf, but if it meant saving Yang Studio, maybe she could survive it.
Silence hung in the room as Mara stood there, facing a choice that felt like a cliff's edge. Ryder didn't rush her, didn't push. He just watched her with that unbreakable calm, as if he already knew what her decision would be.
The judge cleared his throat, breaking the tension. "Miss Yang, do you accept Mr. Hale's proposal?"
Mara's heart pounded. Every part of her screamed to walk away, to save herself the humiliation of depending on someone like Ryder Hale. But then her father's face flashed in her mind, the pride he'd held for Yang Studio and the joy he found in building it. She took a shaky breath, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I accept," she said. She forced herself to meet Ryder's gaze. "But I'll run the studio my way."
A small, knowing smile crossed Ryder's face, and something sharp flickered in his eyes. "Of course," he replied smoothly. "With my support, you'll have everything you need to succeed." There was something dark in his tone that made Mara feel like she'd agreed to more than she understood. "But remember, Miss Yang, success often requires compromise."
The words lingered in the air, and Mara felt a shiver she couldn't shake. She had made her choice, but the weight of it settled heavily on her shoulders.
After the judge's gavel fell, signaling the end of the hearing, Mara hurried out of the courtroom, needing a moment to breathe. The hallway was cold and quiet, her footsteps echoing off the marble. She paused, leaning against the wall, as her mind raced with everything that had just happened.
"Mara." Ryder's voice was behind her, smooth and steady. She turned, steeling herself, unwilling to let him see any sign of fear.
He stopped just a few steps away, studying her with a quiet intensity that made her pulse quicken. "It's not too late to change your mind," he said, his voice almost taunting. "If you're afraid, I wouldn't blame you."
Her jaw clenched as her eyes met his. "I'm not afraid," she replied, her voice sharp. "I know what I'm doing. I don't need you to question my choices."
A faint smirk appeared on Ryder's face. "Good," he said, his tone cool and unhurried. "Because this isn't going to be easy. You'll be working with people who only understand numbers, not dreams. You're going to have to fight harder than you ever have to keep Yang Studio the way you want it."
Mara's frustration boiled over. She stepped closer, her eyes flashing with defiance. "You don't know anything about me," she shot back. "I've been fighting my whole life to keep this studio alive. I don't need you to tell me how to do it."
They were close now, too close, the tension between them thick and sharp. His gaze held hers, intense and unyielding, and Mara could feel her pulse quicken despite herself. She hated that he could get under her skin like this, hated that her heartbeat seemed to quicken whenever he was near.
Ryder leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping. "Then prove me wrong."
Mara's breath caught, but she refused to look away. "I will," she said, her voice steady, even if her pulse wasn't.
Ryder's eyes lingered on her, and for a brief moment, there was something in his gaze she couldn't quite place something almost like respect. Then, as quickly as it appeared, it was gone.
"This partnership," he said, his tone returning to its usual businesslike smoothness, "will be interesting."
Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing alone in the empty hallway. Mara clenched her fists, steadying her breath as her anger simmered, mingling with something else she didn't want to name. Ryder Hale might have helped her today, but she refused to let him think he'd saved her.
As she stood in that cold hallway, Mara felt the weight of what lay ahead settle over her. She had made her choice, and now there was no turning back. Ryder Hale had entered her world, and nothing would ever be the same.