Chapter 44

It was just before the New Year when Elaria's gallery finally opened its doors. Spanning a whopping 800 square meters and decked out with 20 million dollars worth of renovations, every inch screamed luxury. From day one, it became the new hotspot for the city's elite to flaunt their status. Art collecting in "Axis Gallery" suddenly became the latest flex. Some up-and-coming artists saw their work's value skyrocket the moment it hung on Elaria's walls-thankfully, she'd already locked them into long-term contracts. She had a knack for picking talent, but if someone got too greedy, she wouldn't hesitate to cut ties. By noon, the gallery closed for a two-hour break. They'd just wrapped up inventory, and with 32 paintings sold-not even counting the pending deals-Elaria was actually pleasantly surprised. More than she'd hoped for. She popped a bottle of champagne and toasted with her 12-person team. No one was more thrilled than Annie. She'd left her previous job to follow Elaria, and it was