"Tiiiiifffannnyyyyy!" my lead fashion designer and boss called my name in a sing-song fashion. That was the bad news call that she always does around the office, especially with my name. Hearing that devilish sound coming from her lips made me cringe every time. That and roll my eyes because I was over it.

"Gabby! What's going on now?" I asked in a light-hearted sound with an overly bright smile. Just to show how much I despise her.

She gave off this knowing frown as she stopped in her tracks and looked at me with those heated brown eyes. Gabby was literally the devil in a VSCO girl's body. She walked around as if she was my sister. Except she had longer dark brown hair, uneven bangs, and my sister was surprisingly more respectful.

Oh, and Gabby had the body type of your average Victoria Secret model. I just wondered why the hell she decided to go into fashion instead of modeling. She had the option to do so and stuck around just to torture me. Right?

Studying the outfit on the mannequin provided, Gabby shook her head in disgust and spat "I'm sorry, Tiffany. It's just not the right color and I'm sure Mr. Gardetelli wouldn't care for it himself. If I were you, I'd be looking for a different color. Really, a whole new design. It seems too...What's the word I'm looking for? Unoriginal."

As she turned off out into the lobby, my eyes rolled at her comments. The only reason why there was a problem was because she hates the color. How can I change the color if this Arturo's color?! He does almost everything in purple. Why do you think my sister loves his clothing?

I had this cute little mini cocktail dress with a ruffled bottom that flowed. A purple satin dress with a low v-neck that my sister would love to strut in at one of her husband's business celebrations. In my humble opinion, it was beautiful. Excuse me for thinking of my sister when making my creations.

Maybe that was the problem.

Well, this design wasn't enough for this egotistical monarch. Nothing of mine ever was enough for her. This is what I went to school for six years for? What a complete waste of Bryce's money.

Marching out of the office, I went searching for the one thing that would bring me some comfort. The one thing that could mend a broken spirit and put the fire back into my attitude:

Coffee. The cure-all.

I got to the coffee stand and began making my coffee. Two sugar packets and three spoons of creamer before pouring the dark liquid into my own coffee mug with my sweet nieces' faces on it.

Thoughts of my recent adventures with them brought a quick smile to my face. Over the years, they've made a once cold heart warmer. Some of the few people in my life that make me feel needed and wanted. I never thought that kids could make that kind of impact on me, especially since my hatred for kids was strong years ago.

"Someone's not happy today. Bad review on your new design?" a sing-song Patty came strutting my way and taking me out of my little bit of good mood left.

Rolling my eyes to the non-binary secret reporter, I watched as they sat their black cup onto the table and fixed the coffee. Now, where they got this green plaid pantsuit from is beyond me but it looked fabulous against their darkened skin.

"Don't do that to me, Pats. I'm already infuriated as it is. They really don't know who they're fucking with. I'm Tiffany fucking Barrett. Soon to be Pogue. I have a whole masters degree. I deserve more respect than this," my lips opened in anger as I shyly tucked my blonde hair behind my ear and watched everyone else pass us.

"That's the problem. They never will because they're trained to be that way, hun. They have to treat us that way. The people at the bottom stay at the bottom unless they have the guts to go for Gabby's head or any other lead designer's head. Even those designs that do get accepted barely do or just don't get credit for it. It's all about the lead designers."

They weren't wrong about some of that. These ass kissers treat us as if we were below them. Peasants. It was uncalled for and Gabby is the best at playing dictator around here. However...

"That's some bullshit, Pats," I finished the conversation as while finishing my coffee.

My eyes fell upon one newest lead designers as he strutted in his purple Prince getup. His tanned skin complemented it; however, his hair made the whole outfit look terrible. Had he known Prince, Prince knew no one could be him except him. A terrible wannabe Prince stand-in.

"Patty! My favorite colorful designer! Let me tell you something, boo. I love your style, but I'd like to make a few changes. Instead of purple and black, why not green and black? We'll use your design for the upcoming fashion show if you make the changes," Roni waved his hands around as he talked to Patty about their design.

Of course, Patty would say yes. If you were getting a chance to be part of a popular fashion show, wouldn't you agree to make changes to your design?

Well, you and I are very different if you answered yes to that. My designs can't be changed because it's mine. Why would I want to make changes to my design if Arturo couldn't see my actual creativity? If he ever saw my projects, I'd want him to like my own ideas.

Anyway, Patty was lucky. Roni put any and everything into any shows just so that way his name could get put out there. Gabby was the complete opposite, hence why no one knows anything about her. She's extremely picky. One time, she got written up for not choosing a design in time for the show.

Another thing that pushes me to the edge is when I never get to see Mr. Gardetelli. He comes to our branch about once a year. Somehow, Gabby's dirty work is always calling for me and I have to do it. Either that or I'm made to hide out somewhere.

I just want my hard work to be noticed and appreciated for once in my life. Not just by my sister and my friends, you know?

"Roni, I don't know if Patty's design will be accepted if you change it to green. The theme has always been purple," I spoke lightly as I tried to suppress my anger while tucking a stingy piece of hair behind my ear again.

Lifting a finger to me, he rolled his eyes at me as Patty widened theirs.

"If I'm not mistaken, I was talking to you, Patty. You might want to tell your future sperm dumpster to stay quiet or she'll never make it around here. We all know about that evening her and her...'partner' snuck into the building to 'do some work' in Gabby's office. She could get in trouble for that if she doesn't keep her shithole shut," Roni the rampant queef opened his lips before turning off to walk away.

My. Jaw. Dropped. How the hell did they know about that? God, is this some kind of revenge for my antics years ago? If so, let me know so I can at least see it coming.

And they said being nice would get you places.

As you can see, that's one thing he doesn't enjoy. Someone correcting him even though it's true. Somehow these pricks don't understand that purple is Arturo's color! Man, do I hate my job or what? Maybe it's just the office I work in.

"Tiff, boo. It's okay but you've got to learn to not speak unless spoken to, love. Cut the attitude. It'll get you nowhere. How 'bout we go for a nice mimosa tomorrow and talk about this little...uh...'adventure' you had in Gabby's office? I think that'll make you feel better. What do you say?" Patty spoke following me to my closet of an office.

"Thanks for trying to make me feel better but I just don't think it'll help. I'll need something stronger. At least let me think on it, okay?" I said sadly as they gave me a hug and walked back to their office.

Yes, their big and brand-new office which was upgraded due to the plethora of designs that were submitted and accepted into so many fashion shows. That or added to new collections.

Honestly, collections help designers stand out more than fashion shows because they bring in more money. How do you think places like Victoria Secret and Savage x Fenty get a ton of money? They have beautiful collections that are targeted towards the working-class world.

Bet they don't dismiss designs like these inconsiderate tyrants around here.

Walking into my pitiful office felt like being in an escape room. The walls closing in on me when entering every day and had to figure out where the key to get out was.

Though it was a good idea to leave, this was the only place that would hire me right after college. These companies expect experience before you start. However, how do they expect so much experience from someone who just graduated? Shouldn't the internships and classes count as experience?

Not to them. It's just not enough. It's never enough for big business.

My body just fell into my office chair, slouching in it and matching how my feelings. Hurt and tired.

This was a once-loved profession. I designed clothes since my diaper days. Never thought that this was what the fashion world would be like. Wait, that's a lie. It was predicted, however, the anticipation for a family-oriented kind of atmosphere in the fashion business never went away. This hierarchical business smacked me out of nowhere like Rena did when we lived together.

Speaking of which, I just so happened to eye a recent picture sitting on my desk. It was a Friday evening that Carmon planned out for Jess' birthday a while ago. Everyone's faces displayed everyone's personalities. Carmon's bottom-lip biting, Rena's awkward smile, Jess' eye-rolling, my duck face, and Jana's genuine smile coming from being in the midst of a bunch of ladies in lingerie.

Wait...lingerie? Yes, that's it! What if Mr. Gardetelli started a lingerie line? He hasn't done that yet and guess who'd buy the whole line if he did?

He could do a purple rose lingerie line. A body suit for all sizes. Laced, of course, with the rose pints and small silver diamonds sitting on the seams. Ohhh, Tiff! Your creative juices are flowing once again, thanks to your nasty sister!

As soon as the idea began sketching itself in my drawing pad, a knock came at my office door. Like that was the devil coming to stop me with my design idea. Just to see me fail again. Not this time, devil.

"Whoever it is, I'm busy! I'll be done in a minute!" my voice expanded while focusing on this design and thinking of how beautiful Rena would look in something like this.

Opening the door to my office, my lovely fiancée peeked in and spoke softly with "The last thing people around here should hear about is me being in the office with my fiancée again. How'd they find out about our little 'adventure' last time?"

I figured he got tired of me just being his girlfriend, so he asked me to be his wife. Who wouldn't say yes to a fine God-fearing musician like this one?

Smiling at the sound of his voice, the pen fell from my hand as he came to attack me with his long fingers. My fingers ran through his light brown shaggy hair while I kissed him on the top of his head.

The smell of Head and Shoulders made my senses tingle as he bent at my legs. His soft touch across my thighs brought out some dirty thoughts in my mind. Had he continued with his rough sensual nature; we would've reenacted that evening we snuck in here.

Lifting his head, those evergreen eyes displayed themselves before my lips softly touched his in a long kiss. With every kiss we give each other, our lips move in sync and an overwhelming feeling fills my insides. Our tongues played with each other and our desires for each other grew. He was one amazing kisser.

Pulling his lips away from mine, he looked away from while gripping onto the insides of my dress. Those pearly whites bit on his bottom lip while he took in deep breaths from his nostrils. "Yeah, we can't keep doing that. You know how nosey everyone is around here."

Damn, nosey paparazzi.

"Please tell me why you're here before things happen that aren't so godly," I asked while watching him stand to his feet. This fashion designer was wrapped in a new material called love with a hint of lust in it. What would you call that type of material?

Clearing his throat, he turned back to me and explained "Babe, you won't believe this. Our church band is going on a long tour across the states and a few different countries. We have about six months to make a decision if we're going on the road or not and it's going to be a long time."

My face fell from a smile to a frown. "How long, honey?"

"For about a year. But I can't go without you, babe. I couldn't do it if you weren't there with me. You make our music sound like a professional orchestra when you're there. What do you say?" he leaned over and studied the unsure look on my face.

What could I really say? It was all so sudden and I was absolutely shocked. There's so much to think about. If we went together, what would happen to my job? They would replace me in a heartbeat and that's wasting my hard work.

What if he could go by himself? God has his arms wrapped around the both of us and would definitely protect him on journey around the world, right? Then again, I couldn't be away from my key lime pie for a whole year.

Was this God's way of testing our faith or something?

Bryce looked at me as if he truly wanted to go but I just wasn't sure about this new adventure.

"Can you not go without me? I know you really want to go and don't want to ruin that for you by making you stay here. Leaving all my work behind would be like throwing my dream away and starting all over. I don't think I could do that, babe."

The words fell from my lips sadly while I turned back to my half-drawn design sitting on my desk. My head shook in shame but this dream of mine was not going to waste. No matter how much I hated the place my dream was starting.

Goosebumps appeared across my skin as a familiar touch fell upon it. Bryce's arms wrapped around me as he studied my unfinished project. "It's okay, babe. We have six months until we have to make a decision. For now, let's go to lunch. By the way, did you ever tell the wedding planner your ideas for the suits?"

Oh shit! He has to see my idea for the suits!

The desktop turned itself on without me even touching it, signaling that I had to show the perfect suits for my groom and his groomsmen. I signed in and opened up the website, pushing my project to the side for a minute. Luckily, those notes were still in my pad.

"Okay, I think I found the perfect suit for you and the guys for the wedding-"

"If it has no kind of yellow or gold color in it, I'm not wearing it," he declared as he kissed the side of my head and scanned over the page with his eyes.

He really thought that there wasn't going to be any yellow at the wedding? Bryce better hope and pray that the whole wedding isn't a yellow one.

"I know that, babe, but I think I can add some kind of gold accents to this and make it look-"

The chair spun around randomly to his polite smile as he spoke with "Babe, this is our wedding. Not your job. Give this to the wedding planner and let's go to lunch before it's over."

He studied my stressed expression and my eyes studied his relaxed one, helping me feel the same. It was like seeing the sun shining on a perfect summer day and made me smile.

Leaning in, I placed my lips onto his and we fell into a long passionate kiss. His hands fell on my thighs again just to move up my dress. There were other things on his mind besides lunch. I forgot I was about to marry an undercover freak.

"You know something? Maybe recreating that night isn't such a bad idea," he whispered against my jawline while placing soft kisses on it.

"There's people in here, Bryce. If this happens again...oh fuck," the swears came out of my mouth in a pant as the feeling of his fingers grazed my lubricated center.

My mind was filled with too much lust for me to even talk him out of the idea. Just a good few minutes of playing around with each other and then we're off to lunch. I promise...

Tomorrow.