Chapter 127
127
~Elara’s POV
A week later p>
The office felt alive, buzzing with energy that I had not realized I’d been missing. The sunlight poured through the large windows, catching on sketches and fabrics that sprawled across every table and chair. Janae and the staff moved like a well-oiled machine, and even though the end of the fashion week prep was in sight, no one seemed tired enough to slow down.
I sat at the head of the table, reviewing the latest designs, flipping through sketches that were pinned to boards, some half-stitched outfits on mannequins standing around the room, some fabrics draped over chairs waiting for the final touches. The colors, the textures, the daring cuts, it all felt like our hearts and souls had been stitched into every seam. I could see the staff’s excitement reflected in every stroke of their brush, in every careful pin on the mannequins.
“Elara,” Janae said, coming up behind me with a roll of fabric tucked under her arm, “I finished adjusting the sleeve on that cobalt blue gown you liked. I think it will fit perfectly for the model you picked p>
I looked up, smiling at her. “Let me see,” I said, running my fingers over the soft material. “This is perfect. I think… I think we finally got it right. The fabric, the cut, it’s exactly what I imagined p>
Janae beamed. “I told you we could do it. You just needed to trust us p>
I leaned back in my chair and let a small laugh escape. “I did, eventually. I just… I just didn’t realize how much talent we had hiding right here p>
She laughed softly. “Well, now you do. And I promise, no more secrets. We’ll make this fashion week unforgettable p>
Darlon stood nearby, leaning against the doorway, watching quietly as we worked. He didn’t speak at first, just his presence grounding me, like he always did. Now and then, he would offer a suggestion, like, “Be careful with that fabric; it might stretch if you stitch it too tight,” or, “Let Janae handle the embroidery; it’s faster that way.” But mostly, he let us do our work, making sure I didn’t overextend myself. I could feel his eyes on me, not in a controlling way, but like a protective shield, keeping the chaos outside the room from touching me.
By late afternoon, we had finished almost all the designs. The models’ fittings had gone smoothly, the accessories were ready, and the outfits were lined up for the final show. It felt surreal. Months of stress, stress that had weighed on me like lead, were finally melting away, replaced by pride and excitement.
Janae walked up to me, holding a stack of folders. “Elara, before we finish for the day… there’s one thing we need to discuss,” she said softly, almost hesitantly.
I arched an eyebrow. “What is it p>
“It’s about Linda,” she said, her voice gentle but firm. “I think… I think it’s time we let her go p>
I felt my stomach tighten. Linda had been with the company for years, loyal in some ways, but disloyal in the ways that mattered. The leaks, the manipulations, the small betrayals, they had cost me time, resources, and even my peace of mind. I had tried to ignore it, to be professional, but the truth was obvious now.
“Yes,” I said after a pause, my voice steady. “I’ve been thinking the same thing. She… she’s not aligned with our vision anymore. It’s better to let her go before the fashion week starts. We cannot risk another disaster p>
Janae nodded, relieved. “I can handle it. I’ll speak with her personally. She’ll understand, eventually p>
“You do that,” I said, standing and stretching my arms over my head. “And while you’re at it… I want you to take over officially as head of design. You’ve proven yourself. I need someone I can trust completely, and that’s you p>
Janae’s eyes widened. “Me? Really p>
I smiled, taking a deep breath. “Yes. You’ve been the backbone of the team from day one. You deserve this. And… I think you’ll lead them better than I ever could p>
She looked at me, emotion flickering across her face. “Thank you… Elara. I won’t let you down p>
“You won’t,” I said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. “And Darlon will make sure I don’t stress myself too much, so you can actually lead without me hovering over everything p>
I looked across the room and caught Darlon’s eyes. He smirked faintly and gave me a nod. He understood. He always did.
“I’ll make sure she doesn’t break herself,” he said quietly, and I laughed softly.
“I trust you,” I added, and he simply squeezed my hand.
Later, when Linda had been formally terminated, professional, calm, and without drama, the room seemed lighter, freer. The tension that had hung over us for months lifted slightly. The staff looked at Janae with renewed respect, ready to follow her lead. I felt a strange weight lift off my shoulders. It was a mixture of relief and anticipation.
As we moved into the final stages of preparing for the show, Darlon stayed close. He made sure I ate well, reminded me to drink water, and gently insisted that I take short breaks whenever I started leaning too far into the work. I could feel the warmth of his concern, like a quiet, steady flame that chased away the edges of my worry.
During one of our breaks, he came up to me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders from behind, and rested his chin lightly on my shoulder. “You’ve done more than anyone could have asked,” he murmured.
I leaned back into him, letting a small sigh escape. “I couldn’t have done it without everyone here… and without you p>
He smiled, pressing a kiss to the side of my head. “Don’t forget it. But no more overworking yourself, Elara. You’re carrying our child now. The show is important, yes, but your health is more important p>
I laughed softly, shaking my head. “I’ll try… I promise p>
“Try?” he repeated, his voice teasing but serious. “No try. You just do it p>
I leaned back against him, feeling his warmth, feeling the reality of my life settle into me. The fashion week was coming. The designs were perfect. Janae was ready to lead. I was pregnant. And for the first time in months, I felt like the world wasn’t just chaos and danger, it was possibility.
As the evening light fell across the office, casting long shadows on our creations, I looked around at the people working, the fabrics gleaming in the sunlight, the sketches lined up in neat rows. Everything was almost ready.
I let myself smile.
“I think we actually did it,” I whispered, more to myself than anyone else.
Janae looked up from a stack of patterns. “We did, Elara. We really did. And you… You made it happen p>
Darlon kissed my temple lightly and whispered, “You deserve this, all of it p>
The fashion week was nearly here. Our designs, our work, and our dreams were finally coming to life. And I… I was ready to face it, fully, without fear.