In Love, Against All Odds

Arymeline 2

The next morning, I woke up with an unfamiliar feeling buzzing through me—excitement. Real, unfiltered, maybe-a-little-scary excitement. After months of feeling stuck, unsure of what was next, today was the day I officially started my new job at Arymeline.

This wasn't just any job. It was the job. The kind I'd been dreaming of since I first realized fashion wasn't just a hobby but a way of life. And now? Now, I was finally stepping into it.

By the time I dragged myself out of my room, Adri was already up, looking effortlessly chic as usual. Her hair was pulled back in a sleek ponytail, and she wore a structured yet laid-back outfit—blazer, wide-leg trousers, and a statement belt—that screamed, I belong here.

She barely glanced up as she handed me a cup of coffee. "Rise and shine, newbie," she teased, smirking.

I took the cup, inhaling the caffeine like it was liquid courage. "More like rise and panic," I muttered before letting out a small laugh. "But yeah, let's do this."

We grabbed our bags and headed out, walking through the bustling city streets. The energy was different today. Maybe it was the way the crisp morning air felt on my skin or the way the sunlight bounced off the buildings, but something in me shifted. I wasn't an outsider anymore. I was stepping into something bigger, something I had worked hard for.

And then, there it was—Arymeline.

The sleek glass building stood tall, almost intimidating, but there was a thrill in knowing that I belonged here now.

Adri shot me a reassuring smile as we walked through the grand entrance and made our way to the elevator. "You're gonna fit right in," she said. "Everyone's cool—competitive, but that's the game."

I nodded, rolling my shoulders back in an attempt to shake off the nerves. "I can handle that."

The elevator doors slid open, and as soon as we stepped onto the design floor, I was hit by the energy.

The place was alive—people sketching, draping fabrics, pinning mood boards, deep in discussions over swatches and silhouettes. The kind of creative chaos that I had dreamed of being part of.

Adri led me toward a group standing around a large communal table. "Alright, time for introductions," she said.

The first person to look up from his sketchbook was a tall guy with an almond skin tone and monolid eyes, his black hair slightly tousled. Handsome in a way that seemed unfair and the kind of smirk he gave that told me he was probably the office troublemaker.

"Hey, Adri," he greeted her with an easy grin before turning to me. "And you must be the new team member Adri wouldn't shut up about?"

I nodded. "Katherine Carter. Nice to meet you."

"Welcome to Arymeline," he said, shaking my hand. "Adriana talked about you all day yesterday, so you must be something special."

I felt my cheeks warm slightly. "Hopefully, I live up to the hype."

"You will," Adri said confidently.

Next, we met Natalie Fisher—one of my interviewers. She had dusky-toned skin, stunning curly black hair, and an energy that screamed CEO in the making.

"Natalie's one of the senior designers," Adri explained. "She's basically a genius when it comes to evening wear."

Natalie gave me a small smile and a nod. "Nice to meet you, Katherine. If you ever need anything, just ask."

"Thank you," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

Then came Flynn Lennon, who was in charge of the men's line. He had dark wavy hair with little curls, a laid-back vibe.

"So, how's the first day treating you?" he asked, leaning against his desk.

"A lot to take in," I admitted. "But in the best way."

"Yeah, everyone feels that way at first," he said. "Don't stress it. You'll settle in before you know it."

The morning flew by in a blur of introductions, briefings, and settling into my workspace. The more time I spent there, the more I felt like I belonged.

By lunchtime, I was finally starting to breathe again. Adri, Theo, Natalie, Flynn, and I gathered in the break room, and soon we were all laughing over fashion disasters and office gossip.

"So, Kat," Theo said, smirking as he took a bite of his sandwich. "Any fashion horror stories from your past gigs?"

I chuckled. "Not yet, but give me time. I'm sure I'll have one soon enough."

"Oh, you will," Adri teased. "Especially once Lydia gets involved."

I raised an eyebrow. "Lydia?"

"Let's just say," Natalie interjected, "she's...an acquired taste."

The cryptic response had me intrigued, but before I could ask more, lunch was over, and we were back to work.

The afternoon passed in a blur. I shadowed Adri during a design meeting, helped Theo with fabric selections, and absorbed everything like a sponge. I could feel my creativity coming back to life.

---

By the time we wrapped up for the day, I was exhausted but buzzing with adrenaline.

"So," Adri said, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "Wanna go out for dinner? First-day celebration?"

I grinned. "Hell yes."

She led me to a cozy little restaurant called Serendipity, tucked away on a quiet street. As soon as we stepped inside, I was hit with a wave of déjà vu.

Wait.

No way.

Behind the counter stood Jamie, an old school friend I hadn't seen in years.

"Jamie?" I blurted out.

She looked up, eyes widening. "KAT? No freaking way!"

The next few minutes were a blur of hugs and excited catching up. Turns out, Jamie owned the place now.

"What are the odds?" I laughed, shaking my head.

"Pretty wild," Jamie agreed, before turning to Adri. "And you—you lived with me for months, and you never mentioned Kat working with you?"

Adri smirked. "She joined recently."

We settled into a booth, reminiscing about school days. The nostalgia hit hard, and for the first time in a long while, I felt like I was exactly where I was meant to be.

Then, Jamie's expression shifted. "So...Kat, have you run into Lydia yet?"

Adri's jaw tightened slightly, her usual cool demeanor flickering.

"Not yet," I said cautiously. "But from the way you all talk about her, she sounds like a nightmare."

Jamie exchanged a look with Adri before sighing. "She's...complicated. Let's just say, you'll know her when you see her."

The cryptic warnings about Lydia lingered in my mind, but I pushed it aside for now.

---

After dinner, Adri and I took a slow walk back to the apartment, the city lights twinkling around us.

"So," she asked, nudging me. "Still nervous?"

I let out a breath, smiling. "Not anymore."

"Good," she said. "Because we're just getting started."

That night, as I collapsed onto the couch, exhaustion creeping in, I couldn't stop smiling.

I had made it through day one.

And somehow, I just knew—this was only the beginning.