Chapter 2
•Helen's POV•
I woke up at five in the morning, and walked into the Crawford Fashion studio with a box before anyone else arrived.
I stood at my cutting table, staring at the empty space where my dreams used to live.
I was done being Philip's invisible ghost.
I just wanted to collect my private sketches and walk out forever.
As I taped the box shut, the front door opened.
Claudia walked in, strutting on high heels like she owned the building.
She was holding a cup of coffee in one hand and a custom white dress in the other.
It was a gown I had spent three weeks hand-embroidering for one of our biggest clients.
“Well,” Claudia sneered, setting her coffee on my table.
“Look who finally decided to show up. Did you cry yourself to sleep last night, Helen?”
I didn't answer. I kept packing my tools.
“Ignorning me won't change anything,” Claudia laughed.
“Philip gave me full control of the design team this morning. That means you report directly to me now.”
“I don't report to anyone here anymore,” I said flatly.
Claudia’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, really?”
She suddenly tossed the white gown to the floor right at my feet.
Then, with a nasty smirk, she started pouring her coffee onto the gown.
The white gown stained instantly, ruined beyond repair.
Before I could even process what she had just done, the studio door opened again.
Philip walked in, checking his phone.
Claudia immediately let out a loud, dramatic sob, throwing herself toward Philip.
“Philip, help me!” Claudia cried out, tears streaming down her face.
Philip caught her by the waist. “What happened? Claudia, what’s wrong?”
Claudia wept, pressing her face into his chest.
“I brought the custom gown in for inspection. Helen got so jealous about my award! She grabbed my arm, screamed at me, and poured her coffee all over the gown just to ruin my reputation!”
Philip looked down at the ruined white gown on the floor, then turned his gaze toward me.
“Is this true, Helen?” he roared, stepping over the mess toward me.
“No, Philip,” I said calmly, looking him dead in the eye. “Look at the security cameras. She threw it on the floor and poured it herself.”
“Shut up!” Philip screamed, slamming his hand down onto my table.
“Stop lying! Do you think I’m stupid? You’ve been bitter and resentful all week because Claudia got the recognition she deserves!”
Several staff members began peaking through the door of the hallway, whispering among themselves as Philip’s voice echoed across the floor.
“Look at this mess!” Philip yelled, pointing a shaking finger at my face.
“You are ungrateful, unprofessional, and just a bitter, talentless loser who can’t handle seeing another woman shine!”
I stood there motionless, feeling disgusted by the blind, foolish man standing before me.
“Philip, please don't be too hard on her,” Claudia whimpered from behind him.
Her eyes gleefully mocking me while her voice sounded sweet and helpless. “She’s just jealous. Maybe she just needs to fix it.”
“She will fix it,” Philip spat.
“Helen, you are staying locked in this workshop all night. You will remake that entire dress from scratch before eight o'clock tomorrow morning. Without pay.”
“And if I refuse?” I asked.
Philip leaned in close. “If you refuse, I will fire you on the spot, sue you for damages, and kick you out of my house with nothing. You won't have a penny to your name. Understand me?”
I looked into his eyes… the eyes of the man I had loved for three years, the man I had poured my entire life into… and saw nothing left worth saving.
“I understand,” I said, bowing my head.
“Good,” Philip sneered, adjusting his jacket. “Learn your place.”
He wrapped his arm around Claudia’s waist, whispering softly into her ear as he led her out of the room.
“Come on, babe. Let’s go have a long, celebratory lunch at that new place downtown.”
Claudia looked back over Philip’s shoulder, flashing me an evil grin before the door closed behind them.
I didn't waste a single second crying, my hands weren't shaking either.
I walked over to the workshop door, locked it and pulled the blinds down over the windows.
Reaching into my jeans pocket, I pulled out the business card Nathaniel Pierce had given me the night before.
I took out my phone, typed in the digits, and hit dial.
It rang once.
“Nathaniel Pierce,” a commanding voice answered on the second ring.
“It’s Helen,” I said. “Helen Clarke.”
There was a brief pause on the line.
“I was waiting for your call,” Nathaniel said softly. His voice instantly washed away the tension in my shoulders. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” I replied, my voice growing stronger. “I’m calling about your offer from last night. Was it real?”
Nathaniel let out a chuckle that sounded gentle. “I don't make fake offers, Helen.”
“I’ve been keeping an eye on your work for two years. I know what you’re capable of, even if the fool running Crawford Fashion is too blind to see it.”
I swallowed hard, holding the phone tighter against my ear. “What are your conditions?”
“No conditions,” Nathaniel answered firmly, his tone completely serious now.
“I’m drafting a top-tier contract for you right now under Pierce Global. You get your own private studio, complete creative freedom, total legal ownership of every single design you make, and a global marketing team at your back.”
My pulse quickened. “And Philip’s company?”
“Philip Crawford’s company exists only because your genius is holding it up,” Nathaniel stated coldly. “The moment you step into my office, his empire begins to fall. Name your terms, Helen.”
A victorious smile slowly spread across my face. “I accept. Where do we meet?”
“My car will be waiting behind your building at eight tonight. Let Philip think you are still working. By midnight, you’ll be signed to me.” Nathaniel instructed.
“I’ll be ready,” I replied.
I hung up the phone and dropped it into my pocket.
Philip thought he had trapped me in this room to suffer all night, unaware that I was about to use these hours to sign a deal with his worst enemy and burn his life to the ground.
This was going to be so fun!