Chapter 88
Chapter 88:
“Of course,” Zaria replied, with a brief glance toward Dana’s office. “Just a heads-up—it looks like Ms. Harvey isn’t exactly warming up to you. You might want to be prepared for whatever comes next p>
Kailey generally didn’t dwell on things like this. As long as she focused on her work, she believed there would be no real reason for anyone to criticize her.
What she hadn’t anticipated was how quickly gossip could travel inside a company.
The old saying proved accurate: wherever there’s a group, gossip follows.
Within just two days, whispers about Kailey had already circulated through nearly every department.
“Did you hear? That new hire, Kailey Evans, only got in because of connections p>
“I figured as much. How else could someone barely twenty-one become an independent designer straight out of graduation p>
Q𝘶а𝘭i𝗍у 𝗍𝗿аnѕ𝗅𝗮𝗍𝗂𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝗈𝗇 ѕ.с𝘰𝘮
“What can you do? Apparently she has powerful backing. I heard Linda treated her with extraordinary courtesy and even opened the car door before the interview. Just how influential do you think she really is p>
“Keep your voice down. What if she hears you? Do you want to get fired p>
Standing around the corner, Kailey tightened her grip on the cup in her hand.
Zaria walked over, caught the tension in Kailey’s expression, and understood immediately. “I meant to warn you, but you’ve been working so hard these past few days that I thought it might not get to you.” She let out a quiet sigh. Very few people could stay unaffected by rumors like that.
She gave Kailey’s shoulder a gentle pat. “They’re just jealous. Don’t take it to heart p>
Kailey looked down at the cup and forced a small smile. “Thanks. I really am okay p>
What she couldn’t comprehend was how people who knew nothing of the truth could spread such detailed stories with such absolute certainty—as if those words alone were enough to erase everything she had worked for.
She drew a steady breath and smiled again. “Go get some water, Zaria. I’ll head back first p>
Arguing had never appealed to her. She trusted that her work would speak far more clearly than any explanation ever could.
The design department was in full swing, everyone racing to prepare pieces for the spring collection. Every designer’s work would be reviewed collectively, with final selections resting in the director’s hands. Stepping into the company at such a pivotal moment put Kailey under pressure—but it also gave her a rare chance to prove herself.
During her years in school, she had produced a large body of sketches. She gathered them now, sorted through them, and found that most needed only slight refinement. Flipping through the pages, Dana frowned faintly. “Did you design all of these yourself p>
“Yes,” Kailey answered. “Take a look and see if any of them are usable. If they are, I can revise them further p>
Reluctantly, Dana had to acknowledge that the designs were striking—far beyond what she would normally expect from a fresh graduate. She raised her eyes and studied Kailey for a brief moment before setting the sketches aside. “Leave these with me. Once the seasonal concept is finalized, we’ll discuss them p>