Chapter 2 Beneath The Surface

Ryder's eyes never left Kaia's face as he asked, "What inspired this piece?" His voice was low and husky, sending a shiver down Kaia's spine. Kaia's gaze drifted back to her artwork, her mind racing with the memories she'd poured into it. "I...I was going through a tough time," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "I lost someone close to me, and it felt like my world was crumbling." Ryder's expression softened, his eyes filled with a deep understanding. "I'm so sorry, Kaia.

Losing someone is never easy." Kaia's eyes locked onto Ryder's, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. Kaia felt like Ryder could see right through her, to the pain and vulnerability she kept hidden beneath the surface. Suddenly, Ryder's phone buzzed, breaking the spell. He glanced at the screen, his expression turning cold. "Excuse me, Kaia. I need to take this." As Ryder stepped away to answer his phone, Kaia couldn't help but wonder what had caused the sudden change in his demeanor. Who was on the other end of that call, and what did they want

Ryder's phone call was with his business partner, Marcus Thompson. Marcus was a ruthless and cunning businessman who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. "Ryder, we have a problem," Marcus said, his voice firm and commanding. "The Smith account is threatening to pull out unless we meet their demands." Ryder's grip on his phone tightened as he listened to Marcus. He knew that losing the Smith account would be a significant blow to their business. "What are their demands?" Ryder asked, trying to keep his cool. "They want us to compromise on the creative direction of the campaign," Marcus replied. "If we don't agree, they'll take their business elsewhere." Ryder's mind was racing as he thought about the implications. He knew that giving in to the Smith's demands would be a mistake, but he also knew that losing the account would be disastrous. "I'll take care of it," Ryder said finally, trying to sound confident. As he ended the call, Ryder couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. Marcus had been acting strange lately, and Ryder couldn't help but wonder if there was more to the story. Meanwhile, Kaia was watching Ryder from across the room, wondering what was going on. She had seen the change in his demeanor when he answered the phone, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of curiosity. As Ryder returned to her side, Kaia asked, "Is everything okay?" Ryder forced a smile, trying to reassure her. "Yes, everything's fine. Just a business call." Kaia's eyes narrowed slightly, sensing that there was more to the story. But she didn't push the issue, instead asking, "So, what do you think of the exhibition?" Ryder's expression softened as he turned to her. "I think it's amazing. The artwork is incredible, and the atmosphere is electric." Kaia smiled, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment. "I'm glad you like it." As they continued to talk, Kaia couldn't help but feel drawn to Ryder. There was something about him that seemed to understand her, to see beneath the surface. But as the night wore on, Kaia began to realize that Ryder was hiding something. She didn't know what it was, but she was determined to find out.