CHAPTER EIGHTY-ONE - PRESSURE MOUNTS

Mara leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples as she surveyed her new office. The sleek, modern space was a far cry from her old receptionist desk, but the view of downtown Manhattan through the floor-to-ceiling windows did little to calm her nerves. A soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. "Come in," she called out, straightening up. Nadia, her newly hired assistant, poked her head in. "Ms. Aniston? I've got those reports you asked for." Mara smiled, grateful for the distraction. "Thanks, Nadia. And please, call me Mara. We're all in this together, right?" Nadia stepped inside, a thick folder in her arms. "Right... Mara. It's just, well, this is all so new. I've never worked for a subsidiary before, let alone one run by someone so..." "Inexperienced?" Mara finished with a wry smile. Nadia's eyes widened. "Oh no, I didn't mean-" Mara waved her off. "It's okay. I know what people are saying. Heck, I've thought it myself more times than I can count. But we're here n