Ring! Ring!!
The alarm rang precisely at six in the morning.
Mara Reed opened her eyes.
For several moments, she simply stared at the ceiling of her apartment.
Quiet.
Still.
The familiar exhaustion that had become a constant companion lingered beneath her skin.
Eventually, she sat up.
Dark chestnut hair fell loosely around her shoulders as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
Unlike many of the employees working under Styles Industries, Mara had never needed to struggle financially.
She came from the Reed family.
One of the wealthiest and most influential families in the country.
Yet...
She had chosen to carve her own path.
Even if that path had led her into the very company that had eclipsed her family's legacy.
---
By seven-thirty, Mara had transformed entirely.
Her shoulder-length hair was neatly arranged.
A crisp business suit accentuated the professionalism she carried effortlessly.
The tired young woman from earlier had vanished.
