Leila woke to the soft hum of her phone buzzing on the nightstand. The sky outside was still dark, the first light of dawn just beginning to stretch across the skyline. She groggily reached for the phone, rubbing her eyes as she saw the message on the screen.
It was from her friend, Jen, who worked at a small gallery downtown.
"You've been selected to showcase some of your work in the upcoming exhibit. The curator is really excited about your pieces!"
Leila's heart stopped. She blinked, rereading the message twice to make sure it wasn't a dream. It had been a long shot, really—she hadn't expected much from the gallery, even after she submitted her work. And yet... there it was. Her artwork was going to be showcased.
She couldn't believe it. But there was a lingering feeling—a quiet voice in the back of her mind—telling her that there was something more at play here. She'd only shown the gallery a few of her sketches, and yet they had selected several pieces. The timing felt too perfect, too coincidental.
When she arrived at the gallery a few days later, Jen greeted her with a big smile, though there was an odd glint in her eyes. As they walked through the exhibit space, Leila couldn't help but notice the array of high-end art pieces lining the walls—some of them from established artists.
And then, she saw it. A piece of hers. Not just one—three pieces of her work displayed on the most prominent wall of the gallery. The bold lines, the vivid colors, and the raw emotion in the strokes—there was no denying it was her.
"What is this?" Leila asked, her voice thick with disbelief.
Jen smiled. "It's incredible, isn't it? The gallery received some unexpected funding for this exhibit. A private investor—someone really passionate about emerging artists. I think they saw something in your work, Leila. They want to see you succeed."
Leila's stomach twisted. She couldn't shake the feeling that she knew who was behind this. The investment, the timing—it all pointed to one person.
She left the gallery that night with a mixture of excitement and unease. Alex had been true to his word. He had seen her, believed in her. But how much had he truly done for her without her knowledge?
A part of her wanted to confront him, to thank him. But another part of her couldn't help but wonder if there were strings attached—if his kindness came with hidden expectations.
Leila couldn't deny that this moment, this opportunity, meant everything to her. But it also brought her closer to a realization: she might be falling for the very man who was making all of this happen. And that, she feared, could complicate everything.
But as the exhibit opened and her work was displayed to the world, she realized that she had more at stake than just her dreams. Now, the question was: Could she afford to let Alex into her life, knowing the risks?