Chapter 0052
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I swallowed hard, trying to focus. I wasn’t here to dwell on the past. I was here to fix things.
As I moved deeper into the room, my eyes flicked over the designs pinned to the digital boards. Gowns with sharp silhouettes, intricate beadwork, and avant–garde cuts–beautiful, yes, but distant. These weren’t the kinds of clothes people wore in real life.
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These were dresses Olivia would flaunt at a gala, or Ava would wear for a high–fashion magazine shoot. But for everyday consumers? It was a world apart.
“Agnes.”
The voice was sharp, and I turned to see Melinda again. I studied her more now that my nerves had settled. Tall, polished, and with a sharp sense of style, she had been Olivia’s strongest ally for years.
From the look she gave me, it was clear she saw me as nothing but an intruder.
“Melinda,” I greeted, forcing a polite smile.
Her lips didn’t so much as twitch.
“I know why you’re here,” she said icily. “But don’t think for a second that you can just waltz in here and start making changes just because Elijah gave you the green light.”
My blood simmered, but I kept my voice calm.
“I’m not here to take over. I’m here to help. We both know this department has been struggling.”
“Struggling?” Melinda arched an eyebrow. “If by struggling, you mean setting trends that models and influencers covet worldwide, then yes, we are.”
I bit back a sigh. Melinda didn’t get it. Silvermoon’s fashion brand had shifted so far into catering to the elite that it had lost touch with the people who used to support it.
My mother’s vision had been different–fashion for everyone, not just for those walking red carpets.
I took a breath.
“I’m not talking about trends. I’m talking about connecting with people, Silvermoon didn’t lead the fashion world just because we were trendsetters. We led because we understood what people wanted–what they needed. We’ve lost that connection.”
Melinda’s gaze hardened, and I could see the resistance in her eyes.
“And you think you’re the one to restore it?”
Before I could respond, a softer voice cut through the tension.
“I think she’s right.”
I turned to see a young woman standing near one of the design stations, her wide brown eyes filled with nervous excitement. Katy, I remembered her name. She was an intern, new to the department, and the only person in the room who didn’t look at me like I didn’t belong.
“Katy,” Melinda snapped, her voice sharp enough to cut through glass. “Stay out of this.”
But Katy didn’t back down, though I could see the nerves in the way she wrung her hands.
“No, I won’t. Because I’m one of the people Agnes is talking about. I love fashion, but none of these designs feel
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Chapter 0052
like something I could wear. Or something my friends would wear.”
Her words struck a chord, and I smiled, grateful for the unexpected support.
“Exactly,” I said, meeting Melinda’s gaze. “We’ve been so focused on high fashion that we’ve alienated the everyday consumer. The people who used to believe in Silvermoon.”
Melinda let out a sharp laugh.
“The elite keep us in business. You think the average person is going to buy one of these gowns?”
“They won’t,” I agreed. “Not if we don’t design for them anymore. But they used to. My mother’s designs- Silvermoon’s designs–made everyone feel beautiful, whether they were at a gala or going to work. That’s what we’ve lost.”
The room fell into an uncomfortable silence. I could see the gears turning in Melinda’s mind, though she wasn’t ready to admit I had a point. Her eyes flicked to the digital boards showcasing the latest designs–gorgeous, yes, but inaccessible. Even she had to know it.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Melinda’s lips pressed into a thin line.
“We’ll see,” she said, her voice clipped. “But don’t expect any miracles, Agnes. Things don’t change overnight.” I nodded. “I don’t expect miracles. I just expect us to try.”
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving the rest of the room in a state of awkward silence. The designers who had been watching returned to their work, their faces neutral. I wasn’t on their side yet, but I wasn’t entirely alone either.
Katy stepped up beside me, her face glowing with excitement.
“That was amazing,” she whispered. “I’ve been thinking the same thing for months, but no one listens to me.”
I smiled, the warmth of her words easing some of the tension in my chest.
“Well, they’re going to listen now. We’ll make sure of it.”
Katy’s enthusiasm was contagious, and for the first time since I’d walked into the sterile design studio, I felt a spark of hope. It wasn’t going to be easy. Melinda was clearly set in her ways, and the other designers didn’t seem eager to embrace change.
But I had Katy on my side–and Elijah. And that was a start.
As I looked around the room, at the traces of what Silvermoon had once been, I felt the weight of my mother’s legacy settle over me like a cloak. This wasn’t just about revitalizing a department. This was about bringing back
the heart of Silvermoon.
And I wasn’t going to let anyone–Olivia, Melinda, or the pack’s past–stand in my way.
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Chapter 0053
Chapter 0053
