Chapter 359
Chapter 359:
Yelena sat quietly at her desk, reviewing the company’s past design portfolios. Her brow furrowed as she flipped through digital files and sketches, her sharp eye dissecting the department’s work.
The problem was glaringly obvious—the designs were safe, conventional, and utterly forgettable. There was no innovation, no spark of creativity that set them apart.
They catered to comfort and familiarity, which explained the stagnation in the department’s progress. Long-time clients stuck around purely out of loyalty to the Harris Group’s name, trusting its reputation for stability.
But reputation alone couldn’t sustain a brand forever. Without fresh, bold designs, the department risked becoming obsolete—a relic of uninspired mediocrity.
Yelena’s lips pressed into a thin line as she pieced it together. The team needed more than competent execution; they needed vision.
Bella, meanwhile, was unconcerned with designs or the department’s struggles. She floated from desk to desk, engaging in light conversation, her laugh soft but carefully timed to charm.
Networking was her focus, and she excelled at it. Relationships, not results, were what mattered most to Bella.
Bella spent the day strategically ingratiating herself with Lynn. Mid-afternoon, Bella approached Lynn’s desk, a steaming cup of coffee in hand.
“Miss Lancaster,” Bella called out with her most polished smile, “I heard you’re a fan of this coffee shop nearby, so I thought I’d bring you a cup p>
Lynn glanced up, her brows lifting in faint surprise before a small smile curved her lips. “Thank you, Bella. That’s very thoughtful of you p>
As she took a sip, Lynn’s opinion of Bella shifted slightly. “Sharp girl! And rumor has it this one is actually the CEO’s daughter p>
𝖁𝗂𝖾𝗐 𝖋𝗎𝗅𝗅 𝖈𝗈𝗇𝗍𝖾𝗇𝗍 at
“Perhaps she’s worth mentoring!” Lynn thought to herself.
While Yelena worked diligently, she didn’t make an effort to connect, which left her coming across as aloof. Bella, on the other hand, knew how to make herself seen and liked—a valuable skill in any workplace.
“Bella, since you’re just getting started, I won’t give you any major assignments yet. Take your time to settle in and familiarize yourself with the company’s previous designs. I’ll expect more from you later,” Lynn said after a moment.
“Of course, Miss Lancaster,” Bella replied, her tone obedient and enthusiastic.
As Lynn returned to her work, Bella’s gaze wandered across the office, landing on Yelena. She was hunched over a stack of documents, her brows knitted in concentration.
Bella’s smile faltered for a fraction of a second, her eyes narrowing with disdain.
“How diligent! What a show-off!” Bella thought.
Yelena’s history as a designer for Moda Style had always struck Bella as suspicious. Who knew if Yelena had actually designed anything at all? Maybe she was just a convenient figurehead, someone who happened to be in the right place at the right time. Despite knowing Yelena for so long, not once had Bella seen her sketch.
And if Yelena really had been a designer at Moda Style, why had she kept it quiet? Why wouldn’t she share such a prestigious role with the family? Whatever Yelena was hiding, it couldn’t be good!
Bella mulled over her observations as the day wore on. The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became that Yelena was putting on a facade. Perhaps she had someone pulling strings for her behind the scenes. From where Bella stood, there was nothing exceptional about Yelena.
She was quiet, reserved, and—most satisfying of all—out of sync with the rest of the team. Watching Yelena’s lack of social finesse gave Bella a small but delicious sense of triumph.
It wasn’t enough to have skills; knowing how to navigate the delicate politics of office life was equally important. Bella prided herself on mastering that balance. Yelena, by contrast, seemed oblivious.
With that attitude, it was only a matter of time before Yelena offended a coworker, got into a confrontation, and was forced to leave in humiliation.