She was checking the room. Cataloguing who had shown up, what the setup looked like, whether the new label's first major event would be worth remembering or worth forgetting.
"Maya, darling."
Victoria arrived at the bar with a smile that showed all her teeth. She set her clutch down, ordered something complicated involving elderflower, then turned to face Maya fully.
"Everything looks wonderful," Victoria said. "Marcus really spared no expense."
"He wanted it done right."
"Of course." Victoria's gaze swept the room again, a slight, unreadable flicker in her eyes as she did. "Though I have to say, I'm surprised you're starting with such an ambitious showcase. Most new labels ease into things. But Marcus has always been bold."
Maya's smile didn't change. "We're confident in our artist."
