Chapter 52
Renée fiddled with her manicured nails, her expression full of disdain. It seemed the group of brown–nosers was hyped up again.
“Seriously? All this for a stay–at–home mom who gave up her career for her family? Is that really worth celebrating?” Renee snidely remarked.
At that moment, Courtney walked in with Veronica and caught the end of her sentence.
Verona looked up at the speaker and realized it was that woman.
Courtney frowned slightly and asked, “Renee, do you have a problem with Veronica’s return?”
“A problem? No. But I do have a suggestion.” Renee stood up, meeting Veronica’s gaze directly. “A creative director? You’ve been out of the design industry for years. The industry’s trends are always changing.
“I’m only speaking out of concern for Novaro’s future. Do you have any work today that’s still worth showing? I mean something that still holds up, six years later.”
Veronica could detect the apparent hostility laced in her tone. Once, she had been a blazing star in the design industry—a creative genius in high demand. She thought that she’d spend her life pursuing the career she loved.
Then, she married Heath.
He dismissed her passion as a waste of time and told her that instead of sketching and drafting, she should focus on being his wife and looking after his parents.
After having kids, he insisted that she quit the studio entirely and focus on being a good
mother.
And she did. She poured all her attention into raising their children.
Courtney had always been understanding. She waited for Veronica and even fought for the latter to attend a major international design exchange.
When Veronica brought the good news home to Heath, she was met with his scorn. He couldn’t understand her career. In fact, he despised it.
That had been the source of their first fight. Their baby had cried the entire time.
Veronica ultimately gave in. She gave up the opportunity and resigned from Novaro.
That ache and numbing pain were still vividly fresh in her memory. However, none of that gave anyone the right to judge her.
Veronica smiled faintly and said, “Oh? The heart of design is expressing your own voice. Great work creates trends. You mentioned constant updates and iterations, but if the designer is
Chapter 52
truly exceptional, why shouldn’t each version be even better?
“Ms. Pascar, are you saying that because you’re unsure of your ability? Or are you just riding. on someone else’s work because you’re too weak to make it on your own?”
The room went so dead silent that one could hear a pin drop.
The rest of the staff looked positively thrilled.
Renee faltered for a second, then snapped back, Is design something you just talk about now? If you’re really that skilled, where is your work? haven’t seen your name on any recent trend lists. Novaro is a business, not a charity. So, if you’re here, speak with results, not rhetoric.”
“How convenient,” Courtney suddenly said, having just opened a new email. “A month ago, Smile’s three–piece spring and summer collection was officially selected by Heberly’s owner as the centerpiece of their next season.”
The room sucked in a collective breath.
Those three designs were part of the spiritual awakening concept drafts that Veronica had tossed to Courtney.
Courtney loved them so much that she included them in Heberly’s pitch submission.
Heberly was one of the most prestigious luxury fashion brands in the country. It was an old- money brand name under Fletcher Group and a company Novaro had been trying to partner with for years.
Veronica, the new director, was a creative force to be reckoned with.
Renee couldn’t sit still when she heard the news. She exclaimed, “That’s impossible!”
After all, she thought that Veronica was just a stay–at–home mother!
Heberly had been her dream brand to work with. She’d pursued it relentlessly for three years and never once made it to their core designer team. The few submissions she’d sent were rarely even picked up.
And now, the work of Veronica, who had just returned to the scene, was the centerpiece of the next launch?
Renee was in disbelief.
Veronica hadn’t expected Heberly to select her spur–of–the–moment sketches. She had created them back when she was still using “Smile” as her alias, when the company had just started working with the brand. She had sent over a few drafts at that time.
She figured that the boss of Heberly must have had a nostalgic streak. She thought that it was
a total fluke.
Veronica tilted her head and smiled, a glint of mischief in her eyes.
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She simply said, “Let the work speak for itself.”
