rames, the hanging systems, the display materials that made the gallery function had suddenly raised their prices by forty percent. They claimed it was due to increased costs and supply chain disr

o say that she was taking her collection to another gallery. A collector named David Morrison, who had been buying from the gallery for

oe, her best friend. Yet somehow, word had spread. Somehow, people knew that the gallery was struggling,

e had been apologetic but firm. She had heard rumors about the gallery's instability, she had sai

line of credit and would likely need to reduce it. The gallery's revenue had declined significantly over the past month, she exp

of the gallery. Each blow had come separately, but together they formed a pattern of deliberate destructio

atory eyes. He had said that everything was for sale at the right price

bedroom, a small kitchen that barely fit two people, a living room that doubled as her studio. The walls were covered with her artwork digital paintings, sketches, studies in color and form an

e should have been working on it, should have been pushing herself to meet the deadline and secure the payment. Instead, she found herse

, her best friend since childhood, the only person who

d about you. You've been quiet all

n the suit, about the supplier raising prices, about the customers disappearing, about the bank reducing her credit line. But she also did

llery is falling apart and

r. I'll make cof

tonight. She saved her work, shut down her computer, and grabbed her jacket. Chloe lived in a brownstone in Bro

t the tunnel walls, watching the darkness flash past, feeling as if she were descending into

sy bun, her face creased with concern. She pulled Elara into a tight h

a steaming mug of coffee and settling onto the c

estate to be exploited. She told her about the supplier raising prices, about the customers disappearing, about the bank reducing her credit line. She told

e that was trained to receive information without judgment. When Ela

gently. "You can't save the gal

said, her voice breaking. "He

r life, pursuing your dreams, building a career as an artist. Instead, you're sacrificing everything for a gallery th

just worked hard enough, if she just believed enough. But deep down, she knew that Chloe was