Broken Reflections

Chapter 56

I park my car and get out, walking into the building and making my way towards the elevator. I get inside and press the button, tapping my foot impatiently.

Faster...
It finally stops and the door opens, I step out and walk towards my office, the moment I get inside I place my purse on my desk and sit on my chair, opening my computer and moving my fingers quickly on the keyboard.

It's October 12th, the launch date of the rival company Devin told me about. I want to see their new collection. So I go to their website and press on the option of the new collection, it's named "Blossom."

A page opens up and I freeze as I see the first design.
What?

I scroll down and see the second design and the third, my eyes widening as I keep scrolling.
There's no way....It can't be...

My mouth falls open as I try to make sense of what I'm seeing. How come that each one of their designs is the exact same as what I designed...
My designs....got stolen....
How...

I feel a lump in my chest as if there's something stuck there and it's getting harder and harder to breathe. I clutch my chest as I try to make sense of what the actual fuck is going on.

I need to tell him...
I stand up from my chair, still clutching my chest and taking a step towards the door. I stop as someone opens it and comes inside.

"Devin..." I say and the look on his face tells me that he knows. He knows our designs got stolen.

My lips starts to tremble as I try to understand what are we going to do now? There are less than three months left, what's going to happen now?

He walks closer to me and touches my shoulder. "Hey...hey..." He gently rubs my shoulder and it's comforting but I'm not listening to him.
My mind is filled with thoughts and fear, what are we going to do now...

"Devin.." I look up at him, my eyes starts to sting. "My designs.... They stole it...."

"I know... I know.." He looks at me with such soft eyes that any other time I would've melted down.

"What...what are we going to do now...?" I look at him trying to steady my breathing.

"Come here.." He gently pulls me with him, guiding me to the couch. I sit down and he sits down very close to me. "We're gonna figure it out, okay?" He rubs my back. "Don't worry.."

"Devin.. how?" I look at him with fear in my eyes. "How are we going to figure it out?"

"I don't know but we will." He says and I know he means it.

"I can't... I can't do it." I shake my head.

"No, you're wrong." He gives me a look that tells me that he means it. "You can and you will. I know you're capable." He says. "And don't think for one second that I'm going to let them get away with it, I will file a lawsuit."

"We don't have enough time, Devin." I rub my temples. "I don't know what are we going to do.."

"We're not giving up... I know we don't have enough time but I'm going to file a lawsuit suit anyway. I can't just sit and watch while they stole the designs you worked so hard on."

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. "The damage has already been done... we can't... we can't launch the same design. Sage is known for its unique and creative design... they've already launched it..." I bury my face in my hands, I feel so hopeless and fearful.

He gently takes my wrists and pulls them away from my face, I look at him. "Did I say that we'll launch the same designs?" He raises an eyebrow. "We're going to redesign and still file a lawsuit."

Is he serious right now? Does he actually think that we have enough time to do that?

"Are you kidding me? There's less than three months left, How the hell are we supposed to redesign? To come up with completely new ideas and designs?" I look at him. "It's not easy, Devin."

"I know it's not easy but it's not impossible either." He says. "We did that together and we will do that again together. They stole your designs but not your talent."

I shake my head. He doesn't understand that it's not possible with the amount of time we have left. "No, Devin. No." I look away. "You don't get it, we've... we've lost everything..."

He gently touches my chin, turning my face back to him. "Not everything." He smiles at me and I glance at the tiny dimples on the corner of his lips. "We still have the design for the double collection, they didn't steal that."

I realize that he's right. "We have six designs... they're not enough.."

"We'll design more, it is going to be a double collection like we planned." He lets go of my chin.

"But, Devin, I can't-"

"You can, don't underestimate yourself. You're stronger than you think." He says and I look at him, my heart racing. "I believe in you, Rose."

My name has never sounded so beautiful.
"You're just saying that... you don't mean it."

"I mean it. I do." He smiles at me and I feel butterflies in my stomach. "We're going to figure it out, okay? I trust you and you need to trust yourself."

He trusts me. I smile and feel myself more relaxed and hopeful.

He's making me smile, Really?
Twelve year old me would never believe that.

"And besides, you know I love a good little challenge." He nudges me on the shoulder with his shoulder and I can't help but let out a small laugh.

"You're so obsessed with yourself." I playfully shove him.

"Who wouldn't be?" He smirks and raises an eyebrow and I laugh more.

Am I dreaming or is this actually happening?
Me and him laughing? Really?

Maybe....just maybe....
I don't even dare to think about it. Too afraid that I might ruin it with my own mind.

Let me enjoy this moment between us, whatever it is.

Lyrics🎧💌