***The Confrontation***

Three days passed in a blur of paint and exhaustion.

Emma barely slept. Barely ate. Just worked. Canvas after canvas. Pouring everything into the art Arthur had commissioned. Fifty million dollars worth of truth. Of pain. Of beauty found in broken things.

Her new assistant, Maya, arrived each morning at six. Organized supplies. Answered emails. Handled the business side while Emma created. Young. Efficient. Grateful for the opportunity to work for ...