The atmosphere at Nyx Collective had changed.
Everyone was on edge, running around like they had a thousand things to do.
It was all because of the new boss.
The word had spread like wildfire that he could pop by any minute for an inspection, and the last thing anyone wanted was to look unprepared.
Savannah had been hammering it into everyone’s heads—no mistakes.
The office had to be spotless. After the cleaning crew had done their rounds in the morning, we all had to go over everything again, checking every corner, hunting down every ant and its relative.
I walked into the office that morning and, instantly, the atmosphere felt off.
I meant, more off than usual.
Everyone was scrambling to tidy their desks, but the glances they shot my way were... weird.
I caught a few people looking at me, their faces tight, like they were about to say something but kept holding back.
I raised an eyebrow, confused, and made my way to my desk.
I looked over at Zara Khan, who’d always been my go-to for office gossip. ‘Is there something on my face?’
She gave a tiny shake of her head, the kind that meant she knew something but wasn’t ready to share it.
‘Then what the hell’s going on?’
Zara glanced around, leaned in closer. ‘Savannah gave the spot in the design competition to Violet Lin. People think it’s a bit unfair.’
I felt my jaw tighten. ‘She was supposed to let us compete internally. So why the hell is Violet getting it?’
Zara’s tone was sympathetic. She looked ready to cry on my behalf. ‘I don’t know. Violet walked out of Savannah’s office a little while ago, glowing. She just announced the spot was hers. Everyone’s still trying to figure out how it happened.’
I looked across the room at the empty desk that should’ve been Violet’s. ‘Where is she?’
‘Probably gloating to anyone else who hasn’t already heard it. I know she has a friend in the office one floor down.’ Zara sighed. ‘Look, Mira, don’t let it get to you. There’ll be other chances.’
I thanked her and returned to my thoughts.
Other than the non-zero probability that Savannah had completely lost it, I couldn’t think of a single reason why she’d do that.
Violet Lin had just barely dodged a bullet with that plagiarism scandal.
The fact that she even still had a job at Nyx was a miracle.
Giving her that spot in the competition didn’t make any sense, not unless Violet had single-handedly saved Savannah’s mother and dog from a burning house.
But there it was, happening right in front of me.
I made my way to Savannah’s office.
‘I gave the spot to Violet,’ she said bluntly.
‘I know. What I don’t know is why. She’s not even close to qualified. Even if I didn’t get it, someone else would, but it sure as hell wouldn’t be her.’
‘Will you sit down? You look like you’re ready to kick that chair halfway across the room. Or me.’ She poured coffee for me. ‘I’m trying to see if I can get another spot for you. Hold on, okay?’
I couldn’t help the way my eyebrows pinched together. ‘Is this some kind of joke?’
Savannah leaned back in her chair, giving me an unreadable look.
‘Are you still mad about the Instagram stuff?’ I said. ‘Holding a grudge because I refused to post for the company?’
‘No. Give me some credit here, Mira. I’m not that petty to sabotage you over something like that.’
‘Then what is it?’ I asked, getting more impatient by the second.
She paused, like she was weighing whether or not to tell me. Then she sighed. ‘You know about Eliza Black and the breach of contract, right?’
‘Well, Violet covered thirty million of that. And Nyx had to handle the other twenty,’ she continued, her tone shifting to something like grudging respect. ‘But that’s not the end of it. Violet’s put up another thirty million, twenty as a working capital loan to Nyx. Interest-free.’
She repeated the word as if she still couldn’t quite believe it herself. ‘Interest-free. And the remaining ten million is a gift to the company. With a single string attached.’
‘A spot in the competition,’ I said.
‘So she’s basically just buying her way in?’ My voice was incredulous. I stood up abruptly, my chair scraping against the floor. ‘She can’t just pay for it. And even if she does, she’s not going to get anywhere in the competition.’
Savannah spread out both hands. ‘I know Violet’s not exactly top-tier, but it’s thirty million! For that kind of money, I’d sell my firstborn.’
‘You don’t have a kid,’ I pointed out coldly. ‘You don’t even have a boyfriend.’
‘Don’t remind me of that.’ She winced. ‘But my point stands.’
‘So, you’re telling me money is more valuable than actual talent?’
‘Look, this is an international competition. Big names from all over the world will be there. Nyx is a small fish in a massive pond. I didn’t expect us to win, no matter who joins. I just wanted us to be a part of it, get the exposure. It could be Violet, it could be you, it could be Tasha the front desk girl.’
‘It may not mean anything to you, but it means a hell lot more to me.’
She raised her hands in mock surrender. ‘Mira, I know you’ve got the talent. You’ve probably got more than the rest of them combined, but you have to think about the company. And it’s not as if I’m saying you can’t join. You can, just not this year. I’ll make sure you get a spot next time, I promise.’
‘But—’ I started to argue, but she cut me off.
‘This is final,’ Savannah said, her tone hardening. ‘You’re upset, I get it. But you need to look at this from my side, too. I have to keep the company afloat. Prestige and recognition mean jack all if we can’t even pay the staff. You’re still our chief designer, Mira. And that’s not changing. But on this, I can’t help you.’
‘Fine,’ I said, nodding. ‘I get it.’ Follow current novels on novelꞁire.net
I left Savannah’s office, my mind made up.
The spot was Nyx’s to hand out, so there was no point continuing to argue.
But I wasn’t ready to give up just yet.
Who said I couldn’t participate as an independent?