ons. Ethan and I interacted daily, and each encounter left me exhilarated ye

design concepts in his office

Ethan said, barely masking his disdain as he t

I thought we agreed on a bold approach.

snapped, leaning back in his chair, arms crossed. "If you want to co

put a lot of work into these designs. Just because they

t about your feelings; it's about results. If you want this partners

tivate me?" I countered, my voice rising. "Maybe I should b

to take criticism, you need to toughen up. This is busine

. "But I refuse to be belittled. You may be the big shot her

a position to be defiant. If you want to make this work, y

cause if it is, I'm all in. I won't back down just because you want

t of a smirk creeping onto his lips. "B

You might think you're the best in the business, but I

miration. "That's the spirit I want to see. But

oice steady. "I just need a chance to show you that

h my heart racing. I wasn't backing down. I would pro

reath. The nerve of Ethan! I couldn't believe he thought he could tear me down like tha

king at the sketches scattered across my d

y creativity. The designs flowed from my pencil, each one bolder and more innovative than the last.

ad in. "Hey, Rachel, everything okay? You

istraction. "Ethan was infuriating.

lling her eyes. "But you're not goi

wrong," I said, my voice steely. "I h

ugh the sketches, my excitement building. "Wow, Rachel, t

ence. "If I want to stand up to him, I can't play

uraged. "But are you sure you want to g

nation flaring. "I just need to keep my focus.

ady racing toward home. I needed to see my children and

apartment, the famil

he raced over, followed closely by Damian, who was

ping up Dante and ruffling Damian's hair. "W

oth chimed, exchan

sing an eyebrow. "That

ig brown eyes wide with innocence. "We were makin

I asked, following them as t

a true masterpiece of chaos. "This is impressive!" I said, pretendin

y in here!" Dante suggested, hi

amian echoed, bou

mmaged through the kitchen, I couldn't help but feel a sense of peace. Their

as she entered, bringing with her a tray of fres

ed at Mia and leaned in closer. "You won't

ing shock as she poured herself a glass of m

e can just tear my work apart and that I'll crumble," I s

eyes. "He really needs to learn that

t I'm made of," I said, feeling my determination return

e while you're at it, you can remind him that he's

ger than her hand into her mouth. "But honestly, it's not just his attitude. It's how he t

er head. "But that's what makes this whol

onto my face as I watched my kids giggling in their fort. "I

t hit him," Mia said, raising her glass in a

aising their toy swords as if th

ore prepared than ever to face whatever Ethan thre