Divorce To Marry a CEO

Chapter 10: Sophia's New Beginnings

Sophia’s first day at Allure Fashion was a blend of excitement, anticipation, and a touch of anxiety. The building itself was a marvel, with towering glass walls and sleek minimalist interiors that screamed modernity and class. The atmosphere inside was charged with creativity, the hum of sewing machines, designers discussing fabric choices, and sketches pinned across every board. Sophia could feel the pulse of the fashion world in the air, and it ignited a fire in her. She was ready to prove herself.

As she entered the office, she was greeted by Carla, the head of the women’s ready-to-wear department. Carla, a sharp-eyed woman in her early forties, was known for her no-nonsense attitude and a relentless pursuit of perfection. She stood tall, her posture commanding respect, and with her black-framed glasses perched on the edge of her nose, she scrutinized everything that came her way. “Sophia, right?” she asked, her tone clipped but professional.

“Yes,” Sophia responded, trying to mask her nerves with a confident smile.

“Welcome to Allure Fashion. This isn’t a place for mediocrity, so be prepared to work hard. I’ll be watching your progress closely.”

Sophia nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. She could already tell that Carla wasn’t one to offer easy praise. But rather than intimidate her, it fueled her determination to prove she belonged here.

Sophia was introduced to her team: Emily, a cheerful designer with an infectious laugh who immediately warmed to Sophia, and Nina, a senior designer who barely made eye contact. Nina was tall, elegant, and carried herself with an air of superiority. Her designs were impeccable, and her reputation preceded her as one of the best in the department. But from the moment they met, it was clear that Nina had no intention of welcoming Sophia.

“Hi, I’m Sophia,” she said, extending a hand with a smile.

Nina glanced at her, the faintest of smirks curling at the edge of her lips before she responded coolly, “I know who you are. Good luck. You’ll need it.” She didn’t shake Sophia’s hand and instead turned back to her desk, dismissing her with an air of indifference.

Sophia stood frozen for a moment, her hand still outstretched, before slowly lowering it. Emily caught her eye and gave her a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry about her,” she whispered. “She’s like that with everyone new.”

Sophia forced a smile and shrugged it off. “I’m not here to make friends,” she thought. “I’m here to work.”

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The first few weeks were challenging but invigorating. Sophia threw herself into her work, staying late to perfect her sketches, absorbing every bit of feedback from Carla, and learning the ins and outs of the design process at Allure. The pace was relentless, but she loved it. Every fabric, every design felt like a new adventure. But it wasn’t long before the cracks in the office dynamic began to show.

It started subtly. Sophia would submit her designs to Carla for feedback, only to find that some of her sketches were missing crucial details, ones she was certain she’d included. She double-checked her files, wondering if she had made an error, but the mistakes seemed too consistent. It was when she discovered that a key piece of fabric she had selected for a project had mysteriously been swapped out for an inferior material that she began to suspect foul play.

One evening, as she was working late, she noticed Nina lingering by her desk. “Still here?” Nina asked, her tone dripping with false sympathy.

“Yeah,” Sophia replied, not looking up from her sketches. “Just trying to perfect these designs.”

Nina smirked. “Perfection’s hard to achieve. Especially in a place like this.” She walked away, but her words hung in the air like a dark cloud.

Sophia had a sinking feeling in her gut. She had heard about workplace sabotage, but she hadn’t expected it here, at a place like Allure Fashion. But the signs were becoming too obvious to ignore. Nina was behind it—switching fabrics, deleting files, and whispering subtle doubts into Carla’s ear.