Chapter 4 The invitation.

Maya's POV

The next few days passed and I started small.

Public events,Charity functions and Business summits.

The kind of places Ryan Hart appeared in headlines but never stayed long enough for question.

Ryan Hart was mostly seen with his secretary,Emma Lane.

I told myself that I was only observing,only watching from a distance.

Still,somehow, he was always easy to spot.

At the first event, I didn't get close.

At the second,I did.

I stood near two journalists whispering behind their phone.

"That's him", one of them muttered.

"Ryan Hart? Yeah. Cold guy"

"I heard he doesn't grant interviews."

"Not unless it benefits him."

I scribbled in my notebook, pretending not to listen.

Across the room, Ryan spoke briefly to an older man,nodded once, then walked away. No smile. No unnecessary words.

"He barely talks", I whispered to myself.

That night, I posted something on my anonymous account.

"Some men don't chase attention. They let attention chase them".

Days turned into weeks and I followed his schedule quietly. If he attended public forum, I was there.

If he showed up at a foundation launch, I stood somewhere near the back, watching how he interacted with people.

He never look flushed.

Never flustered.

Never careless.

And that bothered me more than if he had been messy.

One evening after another event, I met Nina outside the office elevator.

"Morning,Maya."

My shoulder stiffened a little. "Good morning."

She stood beside me as we waited for the next elevator, heels perfectly aligned, posture straight as always. Nina never looked rushed, even when she was.

"So," she said casually, eyes foward, "how's it going?"

I knew what she meant, but I still played dumb for half a second. "Work has been... normal."

She glanced at me then, one brow lifting. "You know I'm not talking about normal work."

I sighed quietly. "Ryan Hart?"

"Yes."

The elevator dinged. We stepped in, just the two of us. The door closed, trapping the silence between us.

"It's been clean," I said honestly. "Too clean. Office, meetings, home. No strange visitors. No leak. No questionable relationship. If there's something out there, he's careful."

Nina folded her arms. "Careful men are usually hiding the best stories."

"Or they're just boring," I replied before I could stop myself.

She smiled faintly, not amused, not angry either.

"Boring men build empires like Hart Group."

The elevator moved slowly, each floor ticking by. My plans were starting to sweat.

"So nothing at all?" she pressed.

"Nothing solid," i said. "And I don't want to force a narrative where there isn't one."

She studied me for a moment. I couldn't read her face. With Nina, you never could.

Then she said, "Good."

I blinked. "Good?"

"Yes. It means you're not reckless." She paused.

"Which is why I'm trusting you with the next step."

My stomach tightened. "What step?"

The elevator slowed, then stopped between floors for a brief second.

"The Hart Group Annual Gala is coming up," Nina said. Big events, celebrities, investors, press and the Hart Family.

I swallowed. "Okay..."

"You'll attend," she continued. "As press."

I turned fully towards her. "Me?"

"Yes, you." she met my eyes. "It's controlled, public and full of masks. If Ryan Hart slips anywhere, it will be there."

The elevator started moving again.

"And if he doesn't?" I asked quietly.

Nina smiled, slow and sharp. "Then you'll see how far he goes to make sure no one looks too closely."

The doors opened on our floor.

"Get ready, it's this Friday." she said as she stepped out. "This is where watching turns into access."

I stayed inside for a second longer, my mind already racing.

The next day, I stared at my wardrobe,feeling more overwhelmed than I expected. The Hart Group Annual Gala wasn't my usual scene, and now I had to figure out what to wear. My fingers hovered over the hangers and I sighed.

"Ughh, I have nothing", I muttered, to myself.

My phone buzzed. It was Sophia.

"Hey, girl" I said when I answered. "I need your help. Big time".

"Of course! What's going on?" Her voice was bright and excited.

"I... I got invited to the Hart Group Annual Gala", I said lowering my voice.

"It's this huge private event. I don't even know why I was invited".

There was a pause. "Wait... the Hart Group? Like Ryan Hart?" she asked, sharp and impressed."I thought you were going to decline Nina's offer?"

"Yeah, i was going to do so but It's my job."I admitted, feeling my cheeks warm.

"And I have no idea what to wear or how to act, or..." I ran a hand through my hair. "Honestly, I just don't even know how I ended up on the guest list".

"Relax,girl! That's why I'm coming over. We'll sort you out".

Fifteen minutes later, Sophia arrived, all energy and mischief. She immediately started pulling dresses from my wardrobe.

"Oh no, no, no" I groaned. "Soph, it's just a gala.

I'm going there to take pictures, report and maybe do a short piece. Nothing fancy, okay?"

"Nothing fancy?" Sophia raised an eyebrow, holding up a sparkling navy dress.

"Maya, this is the Hart Gala. The CEO himself is going to be there.

Trust me,if you blend in, you're dead to fashion forever".

I laughed despite myself. "Okay okay. But I don't want to look like I'm trying too hard. Just...nice,professional,subtle. Not too much attention".

"Subtle is boring", Sophia said with a grin. "Here, three options. You decide which vibe you want on that day." She held up a sleek black dress, a deep emerald gown, and a silver, knee length dress with delicate sequins

I stared at them, unsure. "Soph, I don't know... maybe the black one? Simple is better for me. I don't want anyone to...". I hesitated.

"I mean, I'm not going there to meet anyone. Just do my job."

Soph shook her head, waving my protest away. "Maya, girl. You'll be noticed whether you like it or not. But that's not the point. Pick a dress that makes you confident. That's all that matters."

I chewed my lips. "Okay... you know what?"

Soph's eye sparkled with curiosity. "What? Do tell. Spill it girl. Don't leave me hanging."

"I... It's Ryan Hart," I whispered. I know it's strange, but I want to see him. Really see him. For my story. And... maybe for curiosity too."

Soph blinked, then laughed softly. "Maya, you're ridiculous! But fine, I get it. Let's make sure you look amazing that day."

I sighed and shook my head, smiling despite the nerves. "Thanks, Soph. I really needed this... and I guess, you too.

"Always", she said, tossing a hanger. "Now go on diva, I'll see you on Friday."

I stared on my phone,the screen lighting up with texts from Sophia.

It was Thursday, and the Gala was tomorrow, friday night.

My stomach twisted every time I thought about it.

"Your ready for tomorrow? Dress picked yet?" Sophia's message read.

I typed back quickly, "Yeah, black one. Simple. I don't want to overdo it."

A few seconds later, her reply came almost immediately. "Black is perfect. Classic and you'll look amazing without trying too hard. Don't worry, I'll come over early to help your prep. Hair, makeup and all that jazz."

I smiled, even though nerves were still crawling up my spine. I had no idea what to expect at the Gala.

Yes, it was an event for journalist sometimes, but it was also the Hart Family's annual showcase. People like Ryan Hart, His parent and other big names will be there.

And me, just a regular entertainment journalist trying not to stick out too much while keeping an eye on him.

I tossed my phone onto the bed and ran a hand through my hair. "Okay, Maya. You got this," I muttered to myself.

Friday came faster than I expected . Sophia arrived at my apartment early in the afternoon, armed with her bag full of hair tools, makeup and her usual endless energy.

"Ready for your debut?" She teased as soon as she walked in.

I groaned, sinking onto the edge of my bed. "As ready as I'll ever be. I'm still nervous."

"Nervous?" She raised an eyebrow. "You? Maya Reed?

Please. You'll be fine. Now let's get you looking like the star you're meant to be."

I let her fuss over me, careful with my words, reminding her, "Remeber, it's just an event to take photos and cover the story. Nothing more."

She rolled her eyes dramatically. "Maya, girl, Relax. You're going to be seen. That's it. You're not marrying anyone tonight, okay?"

I laughed softly, "Fine, fine. But let's keep it professional."

After she was done, Sophia stepped back and folded her arms, eyes dragging slowly over me like she was checking her work.

"Yeah," she said quietly. "If anything happens tonight, don't say you didn't walk into it yourself."