Leading Us

11. Turning Point

Chapter Eleven: The Turning Point

Maya spent the next several days in a haze of indecision, her thoughts consumed by Adrian, Victor, and the life she had carefully constructed. Every waking moment was a battle between her desire for Adrian and the fear of losing everything she had worked so hard to achieve. She immersed herself in her work, hoping to find clarity, but the more she painted, the more the confusion grew.

Finally, unable to ignore the mounting pressure any longer, Maya decided to confront the two men who had come to dominate her thoughts. She needed answers, not just from them, but from herself. She needed to understand what she truly wanted before she could move forward.

The first step was talking to Victor.

She texted him, asking if they could meet at his office. His response was swift, and though he agreed, she could sense a shift in his tone—he knew something was off. Maya tried to steady her nerves as she made her way to his office later that afternoon, rehearsing what she would say. But when she arrived and saw Victor’s familiar, composed face, her resolve began to crumble.

“Maya,” Victor greeted her warmly, though there was an edge to his voice. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you. Things have been… different lately.”

Maya nodded, taking a seat across from him. “I know. That’s why I’m here.”

Victor leaned back in his chair, studying her intently. “You’ve always been an open book with me. But lately, you’ve been distant, distracted. I can’t help but wonder if there’s something you’re not telling me.”

Maya swallowed hard, knowing she couldn’t dance around the truth any longer. “There is,” she admitted, her voice shaky. “I’ve met someone. Someone who’s made me question… everything.”

Victor’s expression remained unreadable, though his eyes darkened slightly. “And who is this someone?”

“His name is Adrian,” Maya said, forcing herself to maintain eye contact. “He’s not in the art world. He’s… different. And I didn’t expect it to happen, but it has. And now I’m trying to figure out what it means.”

Victor was silent for a long moment, his gaze piercing as he processed her words. When he finally spoke, his voice was calm, but there was an underlying tension that Maya couldn’t ignore. “Maya, you know how much I care about you—about your career. You’re on the cusp of something great, and I don’t want to see you throw it away for… a distraction.”

“It’s not just a distraction,” Maya insisted, though her voice wavered. “This is real, Victor. And I need to figure out how to balance it with everything else.”

Victor leaned forward, his expression softening slightly. “I’m not saying you can’t have a personal life, Maya. But you need to be careful. You’ve worked too hard to let emotions cloud your judgment. I’ve seen too many talented artists lose their way because they let someone else take priority.”

Maya felt a pang of guilt, knowing he had a point. But at the same time, she couldn’t ignore the pull she felt toward Adrian—the connection that seemed to defy logic. “I know you’re right,” she said softly. “But I also know that I can’t ignore how I feel. I just need to find a way to make it all work.”

Victor sighed, his gaze softening further. “I want what’s best for you, Maya. And if this man is truly important to you, then I’ll support you. But promise me you won’t lose sight of what you’ve built, of what you’re capable of achieving.”

Maya nodded, feeling a mix of relief and sadness. She appreciated Victor’s support, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something fundamental between them had shifted. “I won’t lose sight of it,” she promised, though she wasn’t entirely sure how she would keep that promise.