CHAPTER NINETY THREE - A CHOICE TO MAKE BETWEEN TWO

Through it all, Max remained a steadfast ally. He defended Ava publicly, working closely with her to address each new crisis as it arose. But Ava could see the toll it was taking on him, on the company, and on their relationship. One evening, after a particularly grueling day of damage control, Ava found herself alone in her office, staring out at the New York skyline. She felt overwhelmed, exhausted, and more than a little scared. Everything she'd worked so hard for seemed to be slipping through her fingers, and she didn't know how to stop it. A soft knock at her door pulled her from her thoughts. She turned to see Max standing there, concern etched on his face. "Ava," he said softly. "Are you okay?" She managed a weak smile. "I've been better. Max, I... I don't know what's happening. It's like everything I touch turns to disaster lately." Max crossed the room, coming to stand beside her at the window. "This isn't your fault, Ava. I know you, I trust you. We'll figure this out to