Chapter 0051
Chapter 0051
+25 BONUS
Agnes
I couldn’t shake the mix of emotions swirling inside me as walked through the gleaming corridors of Silvermoon, heading toward the design department. After everything that had happened with Elijah since I’d met him–the tension, misunderstandings, and heartache–I found myself tasked with reviving the department that had once been my mother’s pride.
Silvermoon’s fashion division had been a trendsetting beacon when she led it, but since her death, it had become a hollow shell of what it once was.
I wasn’t sure if Elijah’s decision to assign me this task was his way of extending an olive branch or another test. Did he really trust me with something this important, or was this just another responsibility to prove my worth?
I stood in front of the large, frosted glass doors of the Silvermoon design department, my heart pounding in my chest. I hadn’t expected to feel this nervous, not after everything I had already faced, but here I was–on the brink of taking over a department that had once been my mother’s pride and joy. Now, it was my responsibility to breathe life back into it, to restore it to the innovative powerhouse it had once been.
Elijah stood beside me, his usual calm, authoritative presence a steady force in contrast to my racing thoughts. He looked over at me, his eyes searching mine for any sign of hesitation.
“You ready?” he asked, his voice low.
I took a deep breath, giving him a nod, even though I wasn’t entirely sure I was. But this was happening, whether I was ready or not.
He pushed the doors open, and the sleek, modern space of the design studio came into view. It was a far cry from the vibrant, creative atmosphere I remembered from my childhood visits to my mother’s office. Instead of mannequins draped in half–finished designs, the room was filled with digital screens and sterile workstations.
The buzz of conversation and the tapping of fingers on keyboards filled the air, but there was a coldness here, a distance that felt wrong.
As we walked in, all eyes turned toward us. The hum of activity quieted, and a few curious glances were cast my way. But one pair of eyes, in particular, was locked on me with a cold, calculating stare.
Melinda Grayson, the current design director, stood near the back of the room. Tall, immaculately dressed, with a severe expression that made it clear she wasn’t thrilled about my presence. She had been Olivia’s staunchest supporter for years, and I knew without a doubt that she saw me as nothing more than an intruder.
Elijah strode confidently toward her, and I followed, feeling the weight of every gaze in the room.
“Melinda,” Elijah said, his voice steady but firm. “I’d like to formally introduce you to Agnes. She’ll be heading the design department from now on.”
The silence that followed his statement was palpable. Melinda’s eyes flicked to me, her lips pressed into a thin line. She didn’t try to hide her disdain.
“Elijah,” she began, her tone icy. “With all due respect, this department has been under my direction for years. I’ve built it into what it is today. I don’t see why there’s a need for-”
“It’s final,” Elijah Interrupted, his voice leaving no room for argument. “Agnes is the one who will take this department forward. You’ll still be involved, of course, but she’s in charge.”
Melinda’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment, I thought she might argue. But Elijah’s authority was absolute, and she knew it. Instead, she gave a curt nod, her gaze shifting back to me with barely concealed hostility.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0051
“Understood,” she said through gritted teeth. “Welcome, Agnes.”
I forced a smile, though my heart was racing. “Thank you, Melinda. I’m looking forward to working with you and the team.”
She didn’t respond, simply turned on her heel and walked away, leaving me standing there in the middle of the room, feeling a strange mix of triumph and anxiety.
Elijah’s hand touched my back briefly, a gesture of reassurance.
“You’ll be fine,” he murmured before stepping away. “I’ll leave you to it.”
As he walked out of the studio, I watched him go, a swirl of emotions churning inside me. He had made it clear that this was my responsibility now, and despite his support, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of it pressing down on me.
The room gradually returned to its usual buzz of activity, but I could feel the eyes on me—watching, judging. I knew I had a lot to prove, not just to Melinda and the rest of the team, but to myself as well.
I squared my shoulders and took a deep breath. I wasn’t here to make friends. I was here to fix things.
As I looked around, I noticed that Olivia’s influence creeped into every aspect of the Silvermoon designs, which made my stomach churn. This department, once alive with creativity, had become a playground for high–profile models like her and my stepsister, Ava. The department catered only to the elite, forgetting the everyday consumer -the heart of fashion.
And now I planned to make things right.
Designers moved around with their eyes glued to tablets, sketching dresses I couldn’t imagine anyone but a runway model wearing.
No one paid me any attention. It was like I was invisible, an outsider in what should have been familiar territory.
My heart ached at the memory of this place–where I had watched my mother drape fabric over mannequins, surrounded by the hum of sewing machines and the scent of fresh fabric. The creative energy that once flowed through these halls was gone, replaced with a cold professionalism that felt foreign to me.
Today’s Bonus Offer
