Serena’s POVStevie parks her car right across from De Luca Couture headquarters. The building stands out sharply from its neighbors, sleek and modern with walls of shining glass. The morning sun bounces off the surface, scattering light across the street. Over the revolving glass doors, the De Luca
Serena’s POV"Excellent! This is going to be a fantastic show, I can feel it," Marjorie exclaims as we hand her the signed contract.I respond with a smile, "We're just as excited, Marjorie. It's going to be incredible working together on this.""Are you two busy right after this? I'd love to show y
Serena’s POV"You think flattering me will get you off the hook?" I say though Calvin's words have left me a bit flustered. I folded my arms, a playful smirk tugging at my lips. "So, where have you been hiding? You've practically vanished."Calvin sighs a weary but warm smile spreading across his fa
Serena’s POVCalvin lifts the lid of the box. Inside, a small, elegant piece of jewelry. It’s shaped to fit perfectly around a shirt cuff, gleaming subtly under the light. Engraved on its smooth, polished surface are the initials "CJL."He looks both shocked and confused as he picks up the piece, tu
Serena’s POVStevie and I make our way to the dining room, spreading out the Chinese takeout on the table. As we unpack each container, the delicious aromas fill the air."So, what's really going on with you and Calvin?" she probes gently, her eyes scanning my face for clues.I take a deep breath, p
Serena’s POVWith just a week until the fashion show, things are getting really busy in my studio. I've been deep in my work, creating a variety of unique jewelry pieces designed to stand out on the runway. My workspace is covered with gemstones, wires, and tools, as I bring each design to life.Ste
Serena’s POVMax's expression tightens, clearly not happy with my sarcasm. He pauses for a moment, arms crossed, as he thinks about what to say next.After a moment, Max uncrosses his arms and says, "Let's see if your TikTok jewelry can actually handle the high fashion scene."Max is such a jerk to
Serena’s POVIt's the day of the fashion show, and I'm carefully inspecting the jewelry designed for Josephine's collection. As I examine each piece, I notice some slight discoloration that wasn't there when we set them up yesterday. Something isn’t right.Suddenly, Josephine approaches me, her expr
Calvin‘s POVThe buzz of my phone pulls me out of my focus, its vibration rattling against the glass surface of my desk. It’s another alert, no doubt tied to the leak at Etoile de Collin. The headlines have been relentless: “Scandal Rocks Global Launch,” “Is Etoile de Collin Losing Its Shine?”I don
Stevie‘s POVThe click of my camera is the only sound in my apartment. The blinds are half-drawn, letting in just enough light to paint soft streaks across the floor. I’ve spent the last hour taking photos of mundane things — a chipped coffee mug, the shadow of my old ficus, the crumpled blanket I t
Calvin’s POVThe call comes in just as I’m reviewing a financial report in my office. It’s Serena, and I can tell immediately from her clipped tone that something’s off.“Calvin, we have a situation,” she says, not bothering with pleasantries.I lean back in my chair, setting the report aside. “What
Serena’s POVI tap my pen against the edge of the conference table, staring at the open file in front of me. My head’s buzzing, not from caffeine—I haven’t had nearly enough of that today—but from the words staring back at me in black and white.“Are you sure about this?” I ask Grace, my PR director
Calvin’s POVI’ve been staring at her address on my phone for ten minutes, trying to work up the courage to get out of the car. It’s ridiculous. I’ve faced down corporate takeovers and boardroom ambushes without flinching, but this? This feels harder.Stevie’s apartment building looms in front of me
Bill’s POVThe sound of waves crashing against the shore is a far cry from the usual buzz of our daily lives. No conference calls, no meetings, no tantrums over spilled cereal. Just the ocean, the wind, and Collin’s laughter as he runs across the sand, a kite string gripped tightly in his little han
Calvin’s POVThe waiting room at Stevie’s doctor’s office isn’t anything like I expected. It’s bright and cheerful, with pastel walls and outdated parenting magazines scattered across the coffee tables. A little kid toddles past me, clutching a stuffed giraffe, while his mom trails behind him with a
Serena’s POVStevie’s apartment smells like fresh paint and coffee, an oddly comforting combination that suits her. The space is small, cluttered with photography equipment and stacks of unopened baby gear, but it feels like her. It’s messy and lived-in, nothing like Calvin’s sterile penthouse.I kn
Calvin’s POVThe penthouse feels bigger now, emptier. It’s strange how silence can take up so much space, filling every corner and amplifying the absence of things you didn’t realize you depended on.Stevie’s laughter used to echo in this place, sharp and unfiltered, bouncing off the marble floors l