clicked rhythmically on the sidewalk, matching the tempo of her thoughts. Landing the deal with Ryder

f too tightly to

ption-not when she had everything riding on this. She'd faced skepti

subway station, but it wasn't just the cold making her uneasy.

---

prises early, armed with notes, presentations

eeted her with a professional smile as she s

g windows framed Manhattan's skyline, but the minimalist décor offered no warmth-only sharp lines and cold precision.

y of The Great Gatsby perched on one of

mething

artled to find Liam st

itzgerald fan," she said

ut of his coat. "I admire ambiti

Not exactly the most

approached the desk. "Don't worry. I have no

r off guard, and she found her

ed, his tone shifting to busines

es as a leader in renewable energy. She highlighted market trends, proposed innovative campaigns, and

s storm-gray eyes cutting through her words as t

own agency?" he asked ab

caught off gua

isk of building something from scratch whe

. "Because I didn't want to play by someone else's r

chair, nodding slightl

out you? Ryder Enterprises has been in your family f

air in the room shifting. "

oice caught her off gua

nt, she thought he wouldn't answer.

brilliant, ambitious... and ruthless. When he died, the board handed me the keys, but

ned at the vulnerab

n... overwhelming

've spent my career proving I'm not my father. This project is more than

at it must've been like to live in the shadow of such a complicated

tanding abruptly and st

---

exi packed up to leave, Cl

ing Lexi a manila folder. "Mr.

ed. "What'

he project," Claire said, h

as Lexi slid the

---

pecting market reports and projections. Instead,

arles Ryder's Legacy:

rrounding Liam's father-bribery allegations, hostile takeovers, families le

d outstretched in a firm handshake. Beside him was

he background, nearly obscured by shadows, stood a face she

on blurred. The photograph wasn

I gotten m