oe

n, a place where my talent could thrive without the baggage of my personal life. Now, it felt exposed and vulnerable. I stared

you in person. Garrison Cooper himself will be there. This is a

elp you pick out an outfit? Run through your talking points? I can

think I need to handle this myself. Alone." I needed to mentally prepare for the

of confident nonchalance. I chose a tailored blazer and simple trousers, aiming

. My boss and I were ushered into a large conference room. Garrison Cooper was already there, se

main investor in Odyssey," he whispered. "H

Chloe, your proposal for Odyssey was exceptional. The style, the visio

throat. This was it. Th

e even. "Aura is a prominent digital

e's notoriously hard to contact. Such a shame." She sighed, a hint of genuine disappointment in he

mitted, a partial truth. It was a calculated risk, ackn

ly, my mind actively working to maintain my composure. Throughout, Garrison Cooper remained silent, observing. He occasionally

leave, Garrison Cooper's voice

said, "a moment

xcusing himself. I turned back to Garr

ut with an underlying edge of precision. "Your previous w

answer succinct. "I've been drawing

use of negative space, the specific color gradients in your

ork; he was dissecting it. My carefully constructed calm threatene

ged, the word feeli

nother moment, then waved a dismissive hand

r Garrison Cooper online. His profile was extensive: a brilliant mind, a shrewd investor, a man who built empires. He was also k

uzzed. It

ig meeting with Mr. Moneybags? Did he ch

t was fine. All business.

looking at you during the walk-through. H

alent," I replied, trying to rationalize

back with a rolling eyes emoji.

dy for anything beyond work. But Kaitlyn's words lingered. Was he

boosting the company's reputation. My role within the agency shifted. I w

fternoon. "People are starting to whisper a

. "I just got lucky

you to Project Lead for Odyssey," she revealed, her

ed. "Project

delivered everything and more. You

ng further into the light, increasing the risk of Aura's identity being discovered. I had worked so hard to keep my two

ore, reaching for a carton of oat milk, when I saw her. Kiana Roth. Danial's wife. She looked thinner, h

prise, then a saccharine sweetness. "Oh my

, Kiana." I picked up

ng new? Danial always said you were struggling to find your footing." Her tone was subtl

's lovely for you," I said, my voice flat. "But your marital stat

ght. Well, I was just curio

y. "And I have nothing to tell you." I p

a little higher now, a touch of desperation

, I glanced back. She was still standing by the dairy aisle, phone pressed to her ear, watching me through the window