Mara had hoped, even briefly, that after the showcase, she could finally breathe. But it seemed that her relief was fleeting. The following morning, as she sipped coffee in her office, the weight of the situation settled on her once again. The success of the event hadn't removed the obstacles if anything, it had highlighted them more sharply.
The studio was hers now, but the reality of running it was far more complicated than she'd imagined. There was the pressure of maintaining the momentum, dealing with the logistics of day-to-day operations, the looming uncertainty of financial stability, and, worst of all, the suffocating presence of Ryder's expectations.
She'd managed to hold her ground in front of him last night, but now, alone in her office, doubt crept in. Was she doing enough? Was it even possible to prove herself without his shadow hanging over her? Every decision she made, no matter how small, felt like a test, and Ryder's voice the memory of his calm but cutting remarks echoed in her mind.
There was a soft knock at the door, snapping her from her thoughts.
"Come in," Mara called, trying to push the uncertainty aside.
The door opened, and Evan stepped inside, looking more relaxed than usual. He smiled at her as he entered, holding a file in his hands.
"Morning, Mara," he greeted, casually setting the file on her desk. "I hope you're not too swamped. I just wanted to go over a few things about the upcoming partnerships we've discussed."
Mara raised an eyebrow, taking a quick sip of her coffee. "You're still on top of things after last night? I figured you'd be recovering from the chaos."
Evan chuckled, the easy-going nature that seemed to follow him everywhere evident in his relaxed posture. "You'd be surprised. I thrive in the chaos. I mean, I have to keep up with Ryder, don't I?"
Mara stiffened at the mention of Ryder's name, but she quickly masked it with a smile. "What's in the file?"
Evan set the file down, pushing it toward her. "I've been looking over some potential partnerships for the gallery. There are a few companies that could help boost your presence and bring in a larger crowd. We can't just rely on the same base every time. We need fresh eyes on the studio, Mara."
Mara nodded, her gaze flicking over the pages. The names of various potential partners and their proposals were all promising, but there was one name that caught her eye immediately. It was a media company—an ambitious, powerful firm with ties to Ryder's network. She'd heard of them, of course. Their reputation for dominating the digital space was unparalleled.
"I see you've got a partnership lined up with Hale Media," she said, her tone guarded. "I guess Ryder's already taken care of that?"
Evan hesitated, his eyes briefly flicking to hers. "Not exactly. I mean, he's aware of it, but this one's on me. I think it's a good fit for where you're trying to take the studio."
Her chest tightened. She couldn't ignore the fact that the proposal seemed to align perfectly with Ryder's influence. Of course, Evan had chosen to reach out to a company with connections to Ryder. He'd been the one to broker this deal, after all. It felt… calculated.
"I see," Mara said slowly, setting the file aside. She needed to think this through. She couldn't allow herself to be swept into whatever Ryder's world wanted to dictate. She needed to stand firm on her own, to carve out her space without being drawn into the influence of his empire.
"So, what's the next step?" she asked, changing the subject, trying to push the lingering doubts out of her mind.
"Well," Evan said, clearly sensing the shift in her mood, "there's a meeting next week to finalize things. I've already spoken to the rep from Hale Media, and they're interested in coming on board for the showcase later this month. But it'll require you to meet with their team and discuss the details."
Mara glanced at the calendar on her desk. The meeting was quickly approaching, and she didn't feel prepared. But what choice did she have? She couldn't let the opportunity slip away, even if it was entangled in Ryder's world.
"Fine," she said after a moment, nodding resolutely. "Set it up. I'll handle it."
Evan's smile widened, but there was a hint of concern in his gaze. "You're sure about this?"
"I don't have a choice," she replied. "If I want this gallery to succeed, I'll have to make some tough decisions. Including dealing with people I'd rather not."
Evan raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. "Alright. I'll make sure everything's set. You just let me know if you need backup."
Mara gave him a small smile. "Thanks, Evan. I'll be fine."
As Evan left her office, Mara sat back in her chair, her thoughts turning over the meeting with Hale Media. The partnership was a golden opportunity, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being pulled deeper into Ryder's world than she'd intended. He was everywhere his influence, his name, his company.
But she couldn't afford to back down now. She had a vision for this studio, for her father's legacy. She wasn't going to let anyone take that from her, not even Ryder.
And yet, as the days passed, it became harder and harder to ignore the tug of attraction she still felt toward him. She hated how easily he got under her skin. Hated how his presence made her feel both alive and uncertain. There was no denying that he was a force, both in business and in her life.
But no matter how much he seemed to dominate her thoughts, Mara wasn't about to let him control her actions. Not again.
With a deep breath, she stood up from her desk, the resolve in her heart hardening. The stakes were high, and this time, she would play her own game.