Chapter 5

"No!" Skyler shouted when the new staff accidentally mixed the two dresses incorrectly. "This one goes with this and this with this." Putting the accessories in their proper places.

She started fixing the problem, which should not be her job. But she was the coordinator for the Anders Fashion House. She was in charge of their presentation for the Fashion Week, just a month away.

"Do you see this?" She demonstrated how she wanted things arranged. She was not a perfectionist, at least she did not use to be. But her boss was, so she had to be.

She could not mess it up because some incompetent newbie did not know what she was doing. But she could not be too hard on the new kid, too, since she had been once like her.

She knew it could not be easy for the newbie to be in this stressful and demanding position. She was bound to make mistakes no matter how hard she tried her best.

"Now, go and try not to fuck it up again. Please!" She always believed in second chances, even third and fourth. 

But after that, she doubted if there was hope for someone who could not get it right for the fifth time. She believed they were better off trying something else.

Then, she clapped her hands, calling everyone's attention and demanding they bring their A-game. She could not disappoint her boss since Mrs. Anders was the first person who believed in her talent. 

"Come on, guys. It is not the time to goof around." She loved everybody working with them, but work was work. She could not allow anyone to slacken off at a time like this.

Mrs. Lady Anne Anders hired her when no one else wanted to give her a chance. Her boss believed in her skills, allowing her to showcase her talent even if she lacked the credentials and experience.

Now, her boss had put her in charge of the entire project, believing in her capabilities. She knew she could not let her down.

"So, what do you think of this collection, Sky?" Sasha asked as he showed her the new collection he brought with him.

His assistant pushed two cloth racks, carrying the new clothing lines he designed that would go on their catalogs.

"Hmm!" She inspected each dress, checking the color combinations, quality of the textiles, and the accessories used to create the entire ensemble. 

Every piece must pass their high standards. Nothing could slip through the cracks. Even if Sasha was her friend, he still had to go through the process.

She met Sasha when she started working for the Anders Fashion House. Her friend was one of the freelance fashion designers their company used when they needed new, fresh, and innovative clothing designs.

"Well, I don't have all day, Sky!" Her friend complained as he kept staring at his watch, tapping his toes to show his growing impatience.

Like everything in their industry, everything moved in a whirlwind fashion. Everything had to happen in just a snap of a finger. Time was always of the essence.

Her friend was no different. His time was valuable since many sought his designs in the fashion world. Her boss tried to get him exclusively, but he refused to relinquish his freedom.

"Wait!" But in her eyes, everything had to be perfect. No imperfection could slip from her hawk eyes. "You will wait till I'm satisfied." She would not let Sasha bully her as he did with the others.

She would not give her friend an easy pass just because of their friendship. That was not how she worked. For her, everyone was equal. No exceptions.

"But as always, all your dresses are exceptional." She finally declared as she inspected the last piece, especially the one she had her eyes on.

She swore she would wear all the clothes that her friend created. They were just phenomenal. In her professional opinion, those clothes would sell like hotcakes when they hit the markets.

Yeah! She also had a lot to be thankful for her friend, Sasha. He had been gracious enough to put her under his wings, teaching her what he knew about the fashion industry. 

"Now that these dresses are out of the way. Let's get on with what is more important." Sasha clapped his hands, letting his assistant deal with the clothes.

"So, where did you two go last night?" Her friend mischievously asked once they were alone, looking at her suspiciously as if he could read her thoughts.

"Two? Last night? I don't know what you are talking about." She remembered leaving her friends alone. There was no way Sasha would know she was out with him.

"Stop with the act. I can see through your denial, my bestie." Sasha held her by the shoulders while he stared directly into her eyes as if he were digging up all her dirty little secrets.

"Besides, Judith said that you went home very, very, very ... late." He emphasized the last word as if that was the only evidence he needed to justify his accusation. 

"So, did you two...?" Again, with that look of nosiness and utter curiosity.

She knew he did not have anything. He was baiting her to spill the beans. He was only fishing for answers like he usually did.

"Fine! Noah invited me for a late snack." She thought there was no use denying it to her friend. He would keep pushing until he got what he wanted from her.

"Skyler! Is that some code for...?" She stopped her friend, knowing what she was about to imply.

"No, Sasha. It is just a sandwich and a glass of wine." She clarified before her friend got the wrong idea. "We just talk. Then, he drove me home."

"Damn! And here I am thinking..." He stopped. "Hmm-mmm... that you finally found the one," Sasha uttered dreamily, pulling one of the dresses on the nearby stand and hugging it tightly while making her wistful eyes.

"The one? I don't think so." But honestly, she had no idea what to think of him. "But he asked me out again. But I don't think I'm going."

She still had no clue about who he was except for what he told her last night. But her instincts told her. He would be something more than she bargained for.

"Are you crazy? Do you know who you are saying no to?"

Maybe she was.

"No! But he sounded like more trouble than I can handle."