Couture and Consequences

For the next few days, Alexander and I were in a cold war.

I left for work before he woke up and came home after he was asleep, cutting our lives into two separate worlds.

But Victoria just had to come looking for trouble.

She knocked on the door of my temporary office, that practiced, sincere-looking smile on her face.

"Evelyn, I know you have the wrong idea about me, but I really just want to learn."

I didn't look up from the design software on my computer.

"Learning doesn't mean stealing someone's workspace and their work."

She sat down across from me, her tone sickeningly familiar.

"Actually, I've always admired your designs. It's an honor to work with you."

"If you really admired me, you wouldn't have worn my designs and called them your own idea."

Victoria's face stiffened for a second before she put on a pitiful, wounded look.

"Evelyn, you've misunderstood."

"Alex said it was a team effort from the company. He just wanted me to go on stage to get some practice presenting in public. He said he wants me to be confident and poised, like I've rehearsed it a thousand times, for when I finally debut my own work."

I finally looked up, my gaze like a scalpel, dissecting her.

The girl was beautiful, no doubt. Blonde hair, blue eyes, skin as pale as cream.

The way her eyes moved when she talked could make any man want to protect her.

But underneath those seemingly innocent eyes, I saw shrewd calculation and a pride she couldn't hide.

"Victoria, how old are you?"

"Twenty-three."

"Then you should know what honesty is."

Her smile froze.

"I... I don't understand what you mean."

"I mean, that collection, from the first sketch to the last button, was made by me, and me alone."

"You knew that, but you still stood under the spotlight and soaked up all the praise that came with it. That's called being shameless."

Victoria's face flushed red, but she quickly composed herself.

"Evelyn, that's a very hurtful thing to say. I was just following Alex's instructions."

With that, she ran out of my office with tears in her eyes, like a frightened deer.

I knew this was just the start of her little show.

And sure enough, that afternoon, Alexander stormed in, radiating anger.

"Evelyn, what was that about? Why would you talk to Victoria like that?"

I put down my pencil and looked at him calmly.

"What did I say?"

"You called her shameless! You accused her of stealing your designs! She's just a girl, fresh out of college. How is she supposed to handle that kind of accusation?"

I couldn't help but laugh, but the sound was cold and sharp.

"She was hurt? What about me? Who cares about my feelings?"

He was speechless for a moment, caught off guard by my question.

"You're a grown woman. You've won so many awards, you should be more gracious. Besides, Victoria didn't mean any harm."

"No harm? Then why did she tell everyone on stage that it was her design concept?"

"She was just... nervous. She misspoke. It was a slip of the tongue!"

I was starting to realize that no matter what I said, he would always find the perfect excuse for Victoria.

This blind favoritism made me feel a chill I had never felt before.

"Alexander, are you in love with her?"

The words slipped out like a bullet, piercing both of us.

Alexander's face went dark with anger and shame.

"What are you talking about? She's just my assistant! What's wrong with a boss sticking up for his assistant?!"

"What kind of assistant needs you to defend her like this?"

"What kind of assistant gets to take over the lead designer's studio? What kind of assistant can steal her boss's wife's designs and show them off as her own?"

Alexander's jaw was tight, his lips a thin line.

Finally, he just spat out, "Evelyn, you're being irrational!"

Then he turned and left, as if he were escaping a judgment.