thing but a burning heat in her chest as she pushed through

d Prada suit. Her face was a mas

t floor, her assistant, Paige Fuller, rushed up to her. Paige was

tically, blocking her path. "The

ge, heading straight for her Senior Designer cubic

r eyes fixed on the closed blinds

in," Paige babbled. "No one knows her backgroun

f HR marched into the center of the open-

room. We are officially welcoming our new

the room seemed t

ng breath, forcing her heart rate to slow down. She walked down t

went to the head of t

ir was sitting i

s, resting on the table, were perfectly smooth and unblemished. There were no bandages.

ease welcome Ms. Seraphina Sinclair."

the room. The designers excha

e smiled, but her eyes

this outdated department," Seraphina said. Her voice was swe

canned the room and locked onto Eleonora. A vi

gainst the floor, walking str

abbed Eleonora's hand,

onora," Seraphina announced loudly, ensuring the entire r

d around th

Seraphina's grip. She maintain

agues, Director," Eleonora said, her voi

s in her jaw twitched. She turned to P

artisanal coffee shop on 5th and get

three blocks away, and the proje

aring the quarterly reports. She

e stepped into Eleonora's personal spac

to run my department, El

the boardroom w

e glass door

and fellow designer, marched into the roo

right in front of Seraphina. Drops of bro

eated, Director," Sloane

in shock. She pointed a trembling finger at

She pulled out the chair next to Eleo

an awkward, hostile silence

arm and dragged her down the hall into the empl

d the second t

he small room. "He actually put his little pet snake in

d her throbbing temples. She told Sloane everything-the nec

nter. "She is trying to force you

at her stomach. She s

Sloane," Eleo

rushed forward and wrapped Eleonora in a fierce,

eonora said, her voice ha

I've got your back. But you have to be

locked the door and walk

Eleonora's desk, El

e was holding Eleonora's master sketchbook-the autum

e desk, click silently. The camera shutter sound was barely audible, but El

the sketchbook out of Seraphina's hands. "Do

redom on her face. "Relax. I was just curious. Your designs are incredibly dated and conservati

ork. "These designs have already passed the initial board review," she stated, her voi

outh and let out a high

her lips brushing a

usly. "Who do you think Julian will believe?

her sketchbook, turned on her heel, and h