Chapter 120
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I walked into my room and kicked off my slippers, the plush carpet cool under my sore feet.
I bounced on my bed, and rolled over to take my phone. laptop sat on the desk,
“Right. The designs.” I murmured. Helen’s words “Welcome to leadership.” came back as soon as I saw the laptop. *Welcome to leadership.*
I opened it, the screen bright in the dim room. My inbox showed one new email, sent a few hours ago, from the design team lead. The subject line was simple: Concepts for Review.
I clicked it.
The message was brief, professional. Three core concepts with preliminary sketches and fabric swatch references. Please review at your convenience.
Attachments. Three PDFs, neatly labelled: “1Rebirth, 2. Shadowed Form, 3 Contrast play.”
I opened the first one.
Rebirth; The sketches are breathtaking. Soft, cascading layers of chiffon and silk georgette, dresses that seemed to drift around the body like mist. Delicate embroideries of emerging butterflies and unfurling ferns. A palette of dawn colors: seafoam, blush, pale gold. It was beautiful, ethereal, and marketable. I could see it on runways, in editorials.
I closed it and opened the Shadowed form file.
This was different. Sharper. Structured jackets with exaggerated shoulders arms, some decorated with chains, cinched waists over lean trousers. Rich, dark fabrics–midnight wool, black leather, deep burgundy velvet. The inspiration was clear: strength, a kind of dramatic, romantic armor. It flattered the body form, celebrated breadth and power. It was bold, but still within a recognizable lane of new high fashion.
My heart rate picked up. I clicked on another file.
The first image hit me in the gut. A jacket that looked like shattered porcelain, white fabric with deep, jagged black seams cutting across it. Trousers that were like fluid silk on one leg, rigid, geometrically–padded neoprene on the other. A dress with a deceptively soft, draped neckline that erupted into a high, structured collar of clear acrylic, laser–cut into patterns so sharp they looked lethal. The notes mentioned “inspired by armor and vulnerability,” “cosplay crossover appeal.”
It was complicated but also risky. It was utterly, breathtakingly cool too. It wasn’t just clothes; it was a statement. A challenge. I scrolled through, my fingers hovering over the trackpad. A harness made of woven elastic and polished steel rings. A cape that was half–featherlight tulle, half–heavy chainmail mesh.
This was the one Helen had called complicated. It played with contrast. Light fabrics that could cut. Soft edges on hard arts.
It was the only one that made me lean forward, my tiredness forgotten. The other two were things I liked“. This was something I *felt*. It was the visual equivalent of Elias’s training: a beautiful, dangerous dance between attack and defense.
19:17 Fri, Apr 10
Chapter 120
But was it right for my brand? Can it be commercial?
I minimized the PDFs, the screen went back to the inbox.
27
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I had to choose as the leader. I exhaled. My body ached from the physical confrontation of the day. My mind now buzzed with a different kind of conflict. I looked from my bruised forearm similar to the sleek lines of the ‘Contrast Play‘ sketch still lingering in the back of my mind.
My phone buzzed on the desk. A text from Nolan: how was your training?
I typed back, my eyes drifting to the laptop screen. “Very tiresome. My body feels so sore.
His reply was almost instant. “Use some pain reliever and have a good night.
I smiled faintly.
I opened the Contrast_Play file once more, scrolling slowly through each sketch, each fabric montage. I didn’t see just clothes. I saw a mood. A story. The same story that had me slipping punches in a sterile gym, the same story that had me dreading a glittering party.
I hit ‘Reply‘ on the design team’s email.
My fingers hovered over the keys. The right words, the leader’s words… What were they?
I started typing, slowly at first, then with more certainty.
“Thank you for this incredible work. The ‘Rebirth‘ and ‘Shadowed Form‘ concepts are strong, sophisticated, and clearly executed with great skill. However, my vision aligns most compellingly with the direction of ‘Contrast Play. This is the narrative I want us to explore for the next season. Let’s move forward with this as our first core concept. Please schedule a meeting to discuss how we develop this into a full collection. I’m particularly interested in how we balance the theatrical elements with wearability.“*
I read it over. It sounded firm. Decisive. Before I could second–guess, I hit ‘Send.’
I sat back, a strange feeling of terror and exhilaration flooding me. “What’s wrong with me?” I muttered.
I closed the laptop, the screen going dark. In the reflection, I saw my own tired face.
I turned off the light and fell into bed, the aches in my body a lullaby as I fell into a deep slumber quickly.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
