At Blackwood Enterprises, Claire felt like time crawled. Each minute dragged on, and she couldn't shake thoughts of her chat with Ethan Blackwood. He hinted at a way to turn her life around. But could she trust him? Ethan was known for his tough business moves.
Her desk was cluttered with work—client requests, reports, and notes from meetings. Yet, her mind wandered. "I have a solution," he had said. What could that even mean?
Her gaze fell on a small pile of papers. These were ideas for her event planning business. It was just some rough sketches and plans for what she dreamed of. Once, this dream inspired her. Now, it felt like a far-off dream that seemed too tough to chase. The pressure from her family's money troubles hung over her. Bills piled up, creditors called, stress built up—how could she think of starting a business with all of that?
Still, that small dream was there, pushing her on. Claire had always wanted to build something of her own. She loved organizing events and bringing joy to people. But now, with no savings or clients, it seemed impossible. She had been the rock for her family after her father's business fell apart. Putting her dreams aside felt like the only choice she had.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed. It was a message from her mom.
"Hey sweetie, just checking in. How's everything? Hope you're taking care of yourself."
Her heart warmed. Her mom was her biggest cheerleader through the tough times. Still, Claire felt a wave of guilt. No matter how hard she tried, life seemed to keep getting harder.
"I'm fine, Mom. Just busy at work. Love you," she quickly typed back.
She stared at her phone, wishing she could share her feelings. How could she explain her lost dreams that now felt out of reach?
As time crept on, thoughts of her event-planning business filled her mind once more. She imagined clients, venues, designs, and the team she hoped to build. She could almost hear the laughter and glasses clinking at a well-planned event. But then reality crashed in. There was no money, no time, and nobody to help. And what if it all went wrong?
She shook her head, trying to push the worries away. She had dreamed this dream before, but it always slipped through her fingers. Something always pulled her back into the daily grind.
Then Ethan walked into her office. Claire stood up, her heart thumping. She had expected him, but he always made her uneasy.
"Claire," Ethan said, nodding. "Are you ready?"
Ready? Claire blinked. Ready for what?
"For our meeting, of course. Let's talk about that opportunity," he said with a confident smile that made her uneasy.
"Ready for what, exactly?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Ethan led her down the hall to his fancy office, a place that always felt too cold for her. It was sleek and modern, showing off his wealth. She felt small as she entered.
"Have a seat," he motioned. His glass of water sat untouched. "I've been watching your work. Your passion for event planning is clear. But I see you're having a tough time. Your family's financial issues are weighing on you."
How did he know so much? Claire's heart raced.
"I—I'm not sure what you mean," she stammered.
His voice softened. "I'm here to help, Claire. I want to give you a chance to start your business. But I need someone like you who can manage it."
She felt a swirl of hope and disbelief. Could it be this simple? Was Ethan serious about helping her?
"I have the resources," he continued. "I need someone with your vision to make it a success. I think that someone is you."
Claire sat in shock. Was he serious? Would he help her or was there a catch?
"You want me to leave Blackwood Enterprises?" she finally asked, her voice shaky.
"No, not at all. I want you to keep your job here but build your company on the side," he explained. "I'll help with costs, marketing, and clients. You can start without the money stress."
It felt like too much to believe.
"And what's the catch?" she asked, keeping her tone steady.
Ethan's smile was slight but clear. "We'll talk details later. Just know this could change everything. But it won't be easy."
Claire's mind swirled. Could this be the chance she had always wanted? Or would it end up being just another empty promise?
She studied Ethan's face. He looked confident, a man who usually got what he wanted. She had to decide: would she take the risk or stay where she was, stuck in her current life?
For the first time in ages, Claire felt a spark of hope. But was it enough to push her into action?