Chapter 3 Chapitre 3

Lara arrived in New York one morning, the sky gray, like a perfect backdrop for this new chapter of her life. The noise of the city, incessant and vibrant, immediately enveloped her, everything was different here: the yellow taxis that darted between the buildings, the people who walked in a hurry, the neon signs that flashed everywhere, like an invitation to action, to energy. And yet, inside, she felt as lost as she had been in that empty apartment. But she had no choice, she had to move forward, to face it, to straighten up.

New York offered a promise, a chance to start over, to erase the traces of the past and to reinvent herself.

She settled into a small apartment on the Lower East Side, small enough to be practical, but big enough not to feel stifled. She had taken a room with a window that looked out onto a busy street, with a partial view of a park where children ran around on the weekends. It wasn't much, but for her, it was enough. She had left her old life behind, now she had to rebuild this new existence. She had to reinvent herself, and New York seemed like the perfect place to do it. It was a new beginning. The whole world was at her feet, and it was up to her to decide how to conquer it.

A few days after her arrival, Lara accepted a job at a marketing firm. It wasn't a daydream, but it would suffice. The idea of going back to work allowed her to focus on something else, to stop being overwhelmed by pain and memories. The first few weeks were a whirlwind: learning faces, names, expectations, codes. Everything was new, everything had to be tamed. But Lara hung on. It was a challenge, and she liked challenges. The work was demanding, the hours were long, but she was ready. She threw herself headlong into projects, meetings, reports to write, calls to make. The days flew by at breakneck speed, as if the city was dragging her into its frenetic pace, and little by little, she began to forget. She forgot the lonely nights, the regrets, the lost loves. She gave herself entirely to her work, a way of anchoring herself in a reality where one could not afford to let oneself go.

Then one day, in a meeting, something happened. One more comment, one more look, and suddenly, she was noticed. Daniel Blake. He was one of the most influential directors in the company, a respected man known for his keen insight into the market. He wasn't one to hand out compliments lightly, but that day, he had looked up at her and said, calmly, almost as if it were obvious: "You have potential, Lara. I've watched you. You can go further than you think."

Lara looked down, embarrassed by the attention, but a shiver of excitement ran down her spine. Daniel Blake, that name echoed through the hallways like a promise. He was the one everyone respected, the one who had made the company what it was. If anyone could help her climb the ladder, it was him. But the idea of being in the spotlight terrified her. She wasn't used to being observed, scrutinized. She had always been the one who acted in the shadows, the one who did the work without demanding recognition. But that look, that calm and confident voice, made her feel... seen. This wasn't just a job anymore. This was bigger than that. There was a challenge, a call to something she hadn't yet explored within herself.

In the days that followed, she found herself searching for answers. Why that look? Why her, of all people? Every encounter with Daniel became a moment of anticipation. He wasn't gentle, he wasn't easy to please, but every interaction with him pushed her to surpass her limits. She was no longer the lost young woman who had left her husband and her home, she was becoming a professional, a budding businesswoman. The meetings she had initially dreaded took a different turn. She no longer feared being put to the test. She had surprised herself by proposing ideas, by speaking up without trembling. She had talents she had never suspected, fresh ideas, an analytical mind that was recognized by her colleagues, but especially by Daniel. She was beginning to understand the power dynamics in the company, how everyone knew how to play their role to reach higher, further. She was no longer there to survive the routine, she was there to succeed.

One evening, after an important presentation, Daniel pulled her aside into his office. The look he gave her was more serious than ever.

- Lara, you did a great job today. Very good job. But I want more from you. I've watched you these past few months, and I know you have the potential to reach heights you can't even imagine. I want you to come with me on the next major project. It's going to be a challenge, but it's an opportunity you can't afford to pass up.

Lara froze. He was talking to her like a colleague. No, like an equal. She felt like she was someone else, someone she barely recognized anymore. It was so different from the woman she had been in New York a few months ago. So different from the one who spent her days trying to blend in, not attract too much attention. Today, Daniel Blake was calling her to more. He believed in her, and somewhere, he believed she could succeed where so many others failed. This was an opportunity. A chance she had no right to let slip away.

She swallowed, uncertain, but determined not to let fear control her. She nodded.

- I am ready. I accept.

He smiled slightly, a smile that seemed both approving and a little defiant.

- Very well. It won't be easy. You're going to have to fight for every step forward. But I'm convinced you have what it takes. It's just a matter of will.

She stood up then, a little stronger, a little more confident. She was ready. For the first time in months, she felt in control. This wasn't just a company she worked for. This was her playground, and she was going to play it for real.

The following days, Lara devoted herself entirely to her new project. She no longer counted the hours, she lost herself in each task, each detail, as if everything else no longer mattered. She was on a path that was beyond her, a path that she could no longer leave. The first victories, small but significant, accumulated. She gradually gained the trust of her colleagues, of her superiors. But above all, she gained her own. Daniel was not there to adulate her, he was not there to flatter her. He was there to push her to go further, to search within herself for what she did not yet see. And, little by little, Lara realized that Daniel was right. She was capable of much more than she had believed. She was no longer a shadow. She had become a force, and New York was now her playground.