The next morning, Maya arrived at a small café near Central Park, the meeting spot Amanda had suggested. The location was neutral, quiet, with soft jazz music playing in the background, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee hanging in the air. Maya's nerves fluttered in her stomach as she walked in, scanning the room for Amanda.
She found her easily—a tall woman with sharp features, dressed impeccably in a crisp white blouse and black blazer, sitting at a corner table. Her posture was confident, her eyes cool and calculating as she looked up at Maya's approach.
"Ms. O'Connor," Amanda greeted her with a smooth smile. "I'm glad you could make it."
Maya forced a smile, though inside, she was anything but calm. She sat down across from Amanda, clutching her coffee cup like a lifeline.
"What is this about, Amanda? Why did you want to meet?"
Amanda's gaze flickered to the side, her fingers tracing the rim of her own cup before looking back at Maya. "I'm sure you've been doing some research on me—on Sterling & Crown."
Maya nodded cautiously. "I've seen the connections. But I'm still not clear on what they mean. Why are you involved in all this?"
Amanda sighed, her eyes softening for a brief moment before her usual coolness returned. "I'm not just a random name in all of this, Maya. There's history between our families—between yours and mine. Your father was a partner of my father's in the early days of Sterling & Crown. There were… disagreements that led to a falling out. But we've kept tabs on you."
Maya felt a jolt of shock hit her chest. "What? My father was involved with your family?"
Amanda nodded, her eyes narrowing. "I don't think your father ever told you the full story. There's a lot he's kept from you. A lot I believe you should know."
Maya's pulse quickened. This was more than just a business deal gone wrong. Her father, the man she had always thought was an honest businessman, had ties to Sterling & Crown—ties that had somehow remained hidden from her. But why?
She opened her mouth to speak, but Amanda continued, her voice low but firm.
"Your father wasn't just a partner—he was also involved in some… less than legal activities. But he kept you out of it, made sure you didn't get involved." Amanda leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I think you know this already, don't you?"
Maya's mind spun, trying to piece everything together. She had always suspected her father wasn't as pristine as he appeared, but this… this was a revelation she hadn't been prepared for. She stared at Amanda, her thoughts racing.
Before she could respond, Amanda stood, smoothing her blazer. "The truth isn't always black and white, Maya. But it's time for you to learn the whole story—before it's too late."
Maya's breath hitched as Amanda turned to leave. But just before she walked away, she added, "I'll be in touch."
As Amanda left, Maya remained frozen at the table, her coffee now cold and untouched. What did Amanda mean by all of that? What did she know about her father that Maya didn't?
Later that afternoon, Maya arrived back at the office, still reeling from her meeting with Amanda. The unanswered questions weighed heavily on her mind. She walked into the conference room, where Ryan was already waiting, looking over the latest marketing projections for one of their clients.
"Maya," Ryan greeted her, his tone neutral, but Maya could sense the underlying tension. He always knew when something was off.
She hesitated for a moment before speaking, her voice quieter than usual. "I met Amanda Sterling today."
Ryan's expression immediately hardened. "What did she want?"
Maya sat down, her hands folded in front of her, as she recounted the conversation. She could feel Ryan's eyes on her the entire time, his gaze unwavering.
When she finished, Ryan sat back, his jaw tightening. "I should've known there was more to this. We've been dancing around the truth for weeks, but now it's clear."
Maya's head was spinning, but she forced herself to focus. "She said there's something about my father… some kind of secret history between our families. I don't know what to believe anymore, Ryan. I don't even know who to trust."
Ryan stood, pacing the room as he processed the information. His mind was running a mile a minute—Amanda's words, her cryptic warnings, and Maya's father's possible involvement in something shady.
Finally, Ryan turned to her. "Maya, whatever this is, whatever the truth is… you're not in this alone. We'll figure it out. I'm not going anywhere."
Maya looked up at him, her eyes filled with gratitude—and something more, something deeper that she couldn't ignore. In that moment, the walls she had carefully built around herself began to crack.
Just then, there was a knock at the door. Ryan's assistant, Claire, entered with a folder in hand. She looked between them, sensing the shift in the air. "Sorry to interrupt, but there's something you both need to see."
She handed Ryan the folder, which he opened to reveal a stack of papers. His eyes scanned the first page quickly, his face hardening as he read.
"Maya," Ryan said, his voice sharp. "We need to talk. This just got a whole lot more complicated."