Journey of the heart(3)

Chapter 41: New HorizonsMya's POV

Mya stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the collar of her blouse and checking her reflection one last time. It was a big day—one that she had been working toward for months. Today, she and Melody were presenting their final concept for the new café to a group of investors. If all went well, it would mean securing the funding they needed to bring their vision to life. Mya's heart raced with a mixture of excitement and nerves. She had put so much of herself into this project, and now it was finally time to see if it would pay off.

As she finished getting ready, she heard Zaria babbling from her room, her sweet voice filling the apartment with a warmth that always made Mya smile. She glanced at the clock—there was still time to spend a few moments with her daughter before she had to leave. Mya walked down the hall, pushing open the door to Zaria's room to find her standing in her crib, bouncing on her little legs.

"Good morning, sunshine," Mya said softly, lifting Zaria into her arms and kissing her cheek.

Zaria giggled, her tiny hands grabbing at Mya's necklace, her wide eyes full of curiosity. Mya smiled, holding her close and savoring the moment. These quiet mornings with Zaria were becoming more precious as her business took off and her schedule became more demanding. She had promised herself that no matter how busy things got, she would always make time for Zaria. Work was important, but nothing was more important than being present for her daughter.

As Mya walked into the living room, she saw Jaylen standing in the kitchen, making coffee. He glanced up when he saw them, a grin spreading across his face.

"There's my two favorite girls," Jaylen said, walking over to kiss Mya on the cheek and ruffle Zaria's hair. "Big day today, huh?"

Mya nodded, feeling a rush of adrenaline as she thought about the meeting. "Yeah, it is. Melody and I are ready, though. I think this is going to be a turning point for us."

Jaylen smiled, his eyes filled with pride. "You've been killing it, Mya. They're going to love what you and Melody have done. Just go in there and show them why you're the best at what you do."

Mya leaned into him, feeling grateful for his constant support. "Thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you, Jay."

Jaylen kissed her forehead, holding Zaria with one arm. "You'd still be amazing. But I'm happy to be here cheering you on."

They shared a quiet moment together, and Mya felt a sense of calm wash over her. No matter how stressful her work could get, knowing that Jaylen and Zaria were there—her home, her anchor—made everything feel manageable.

A few hours later, Mya found herself sitting in a sleek conference room, her laptop open in front of her as she waited for the investors to arrive. Melody sat beside her, flipping through the final presentation slides and going over her notes one last time. The air in the room was charged with anticipation, but Mya felt a deep sense of confidence. She was ready for this.

"You good?" Melody asked, glancing over at Mya with a raised eyebrow.

Mya smiled, nodding. "Yeah. Let's do this."

As the investors filed into the room, Mya's heart skipped a beat. She recognized a few of them—well-known names in the New York business scene, people who had the power to turn dreams into reality. But instead of feeling intimidated, Mya reminded herself that she belonged here. She had worked hard to get to this point, and she wasn't about to let fear hold her back.

The presentation went smoothly—better than Mya could have hoped for. Melody started with an overview of their vision for the café, explaining how it would stand out in a competitive market. Then Mya took over, walking the investors through the branding, the marketing strategy, and the plans for expansion. She felt herself come alive as she spoke, her passion for the project clear in every word. By the time they finished, Mya could see the investors nodding, exchanging glances that told her they were impressed.

After a brief Q&A session, the investors thanked them for the presentation and promised to follow up soon. As they left the room, Melody turned to Mya, her eyes wide with excitement.

"They loved it," Melody whispered, her voice bubbling with excitement. "I could tell. They're going to fund us, Mya. I can feel it."

Mya grinned, her adrenaline still pumping. "I hope so. This could be huge."

They packed up their things and left the conference room, riding the elevator down to the lobby together. As they stepped out onto the busy street, the cool autumn air hit Mya's face, and she took a deep breath, feeling lighter than she had in days.

"I'm going to grab a celebratory coffee," Melody said with a wink. "Want to join me?"

Mya shook her head, still smiling. "I'd love to, but I promised Jaylen I'd head home early today. Let's celebrate next week?"

Melody nodded. "Deal. I'll text you when I hear from the investors. But trust me, this is happening."

As Melody walked away, Mya stood on the sidewalk for a moment, letting the reality of the day sink in. It felt like everything was falling into place—her career, her family, her life in New York. She was building something she could be proud of, something that made all the hard work and sacrifice worth it.

That evening, after Zaria was asleep, Mya sat on the couch with Jaylen, their hands intertwined as they talked about their day. Mya recounted the presentation, sharing every detail with him as he listened intently.

"I knew you'd crush it," Jaylen said, squeezing her hand. "I'm so proud of you, Mya. You're making things happen."

Mya smiled, resting her head on his shoulder. "Thanks, Jay. It feels like things are really coming together, you know? Like we're finally settling into this life."

Jaylen nodded, his voice soft. "Yeah, I feel that too. We've worked hard to get here, and I think we're in a good place now."

Mya closed her eyes for a moment, letting the comfort of his words wash over her. She knew they still had challenges ahead—balancing work and family, navigating the demands of life in a big city—but she also knew that they would face those challenges together.

As the night grew quieter, Jaylen shifted, pulling her closer. "You ever think about what's next?"

Mya lifted her head, looking up at him. "What do you mean?"

Jaylen shrugged, his eyes thoughtful. "I mean, we've built something great here in New York. But do you ever think about what the next step is? For us, for Zaria?"

Mya considered his question, letting the idea settle in her mind. "I do. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to take things even further—to expand my business, maybe even open my own firm one day. And for us... I think about what kind of life we want for Zaria. What kind of future we want to build for her."

Jaylen smiled, his gaze soft as he looked at her. "I like the sound of that. Whatever we decide, I know we'll figure it out."

Mya leaned in to kiss him, her heart full. "We always do."

As they sat together, the city lights twinkling outside the window, Mya felt a deep sense of peace. They had come so far—together—and they were just getting started. The future was wide open, full of possibilities, and with Jaylen by her side, Mya knew they could handle anything.

Because no matter where life took them, they would always have each other.

And that was the greatest success of all.