Chapter 72
72
~Elara’s POV
If someone asked me what my life looked like these days, I think I would just laugh softly and say, “Work p>
Because honestly, that was it. Work in the morning. Work in the afternoon. Work in the evening. Then go home, stare at my ceiling for ten minutes, and fall asleep before my brain finishes forming a single thought.
My whole world had turned into fabric samples, design drafts, and the upcoming fashion gala that felt like it was approaching with a knife in its hand. One week. Just one week. I kept counting it like counting the days left of my own life.
Every morning, I arrived at the company before most people. The hallways were quiet, the floors shiny, and the air still smelled like cleaning spray. I loved those first minutes. It felt like the whole building belonged to me alone. No noise. No pressure yet. No eyes watching my every step.
Then, like clockwork, the moment the elevator reached the design floor… reality hit.
People rushing. Shoes clicking. Voices rising. Machines humming. Phones ringing. The whole place was waking up all at once. And that was where my day truly began.
“Good morning, Miss Elara p>
“Morning, ma’am p>
“Good morning, designer Elara p>
I nodded at everyone, sometimes forcing a smile, sometimes offering a real one. It depended on how much sleep I had the night before.
Most days, I barely dropped my bag before my tablet buzzed with messages from Darlon.
Darlon: Come to the studio when you’re ready. We need to go over the fabric changes.
Some mornings, he was already there before me, sitting on a high stool with his sleeves folded, studying sketches like someone studying a map before going into battle. Other mornings, he arrived exactly at the same time as me, like he had synchronized our schedules without asking. I missed my man so much, but we were both busy.
But we worked well together. Scarily well, actually. Like two people who didn’t need too many words to understand the vibe.
Today was one of those days where everything felt slightly heavier.
I walked into the studio carrying a stack of sample books, and Darlon was already waiting beside the main table, scrolling through my digital sketches.
“You changed the hemline?” he asked, spotting it before I even said hello.
“Morning to you, too,” I muttered, dropping the books on the table.
He finally looked up, a small smile tugging the corner of his mouth. “Morning p>
I tried not to smile back… and failed.
“Yes. I changed the hemline,” I said, opening one of the books. “The previous style wasn’t giving enough structure. It needed something sharper for the main walk p>
He slid closer, looking over my shoulder. “Sharper is good. Dramatic, but controlled p>
“Exactly p>
We fell into that familiar rhythm. Discuss. Test. Adjust. Reject. Approve. Sketch again. He paced sometimes, muttering ideas. I chewed my lip, erased lines, added new ones. The usual.
Then he said it again, like he had been chanting it every hour.
“One week, Elara. But I don’t want you overwork yourself, my love p>
“I know,” I groaned, rubbing my forehead. “Trust me, I know. I’m sure after the whole fashion gala, we will have enough time to ourselves p>
He chuckled. “I missed you so much p>
“I missed you more p>
But the stress wasn’t the only new thing happening at work.
No.
There was the… Ronan’s situation.
Honestly, I still didn’t know what game he was playing. Or why he was suddenly trying to be soft and harmless. But every day for the last two days, I found a cup of coffee sitting neatly on my desk before I even sat down.
Today’s cup had a sticky note.
From Ronan. Hope you slept well.
I blinked at it.
Janae walked in right on time, saw the note, and nearly choked on her water.
“Oh my goodness,” she whispered dramatically. “Is he trying to flirt his way back into his job? Because this is embarrassing behavior p>
“He’s trying to act gentle,” I said, lifting the cup without drinking it yet. “And it’s not working p>
“Maybe he thinks he looks cute p>
“He doesn’t p>
She dropped into the chair opposite mine. “And what did you tell him p>
“That giving me coffee won’t make him a permanent staff member p>
Janae slapped the table, laughing. “You said that? To his face p>
“Word for word p>
“Oh wow.” She leaned back. “I wish I was there p>
I shrugged, sipping the coffee finally. Not bad. But still not enough to change my mind.
He needed to actually change his behavior, not pretend for attention.
But the funny thing? Despite everything happening, Janae and I were… closer these days.
She visited my office more often. Sometimes for work. Sometimes for gossip. Sometimes, just to breathe in a place that wasn’t full of shouting staff.
Today, she came in with this look. The one people have when they’re trying not to grin too early.
I narrowed my eyes immediately. “What p>
“Nothing p>
“What p>
“Hmm… nothing p>
“Janae p>
She bit her lip, failing to hide the smile. “Okay, fine. I’ll tell you p>
I set my pen down. “Tell me now p>
She inhaled dramatically. “So… Beta David and I… are now official p>
I blinked.
Then blinked again.
Then my mouth fell open. “You’re serious p>
She nodded so quickly I thought her neck would snap. “Yes. Yes. I’m serious p>
I screamed. She screamed.
Our screams bounced off the office walls.
I grabbed her hands. “Since when p>
“The last vacation p>
“What p>
I leaned back, smiling so wide my cheeks hurt. “I knew it. I knew it! The way he looks at you sometimes? Like you’re the only one in the building p>
She covered her face with her hands, giggling. “Stop. I can’t breathe p>
“I will not stop,” I teased. “So what now? Did he sex you p>
A deep blush covered her face. “Maybe p>
“Maybe?” I cackled. “That means yes p>
“Okay, fine, yes. He did sex me p>
“Good. It’s about time p>
We laughed for so long that my stomach hurt.
Then she sighed, softer this time.
“I’m happy, Elara,” she said. “I didn’t expect it. But I’m happy p>
And hearing that made something warm settle in my chest. “You deserve it p>
She smiled gently. “So do you p>
I looked away, pretending to organize my pens. “Don’t start p>
Before I could respond, someone knocked on my door.
“Come in,” I called.
A staff member poked her head in. “Designer Elara? Alpha Darlon asked me to tell you he’s waiting in the main studio p>
I nodded. “Alright. I’ll be there in a minute p>
Janae stood, smoothing her shirt. “I should get back too p>
She walked toward the door but paused. “Elara p>
“Yes p>
“Stop overworking. You look like you’re about to fight a dragon p>
I laughed weakly. “Maybe I am p>
“Which one? Work or emotions p>
“I don’t know,” I muttered. “Probably both p>
When she left, the room felt oddly quiet.
I checked my tablet again.
Messages. Deadlines. Color variations.
Everything waiting.
I picked up my coffee again, stared at Ronan’s note, and shook my head.
“No amount of caffeine will fix your behavior,” I whispered under my breath.
Then I grabbed my tablet and walked back to the studio.