Chapter 2: Pier 17 at Night
The city looked different after dark.
Gone was the relentless hum of rush hour. The sidewalks were quieter, lit by scattered pools of streetlight that made the pavement glisten like spilled mercury. The river whispered just beyond the edge of Pier 17, and the salty air tasted like secrets.
Ava checked her phone again. Nine o'clock exactly. No turning back.
She wasn't wearing her usual office armor tonight. Instead, black skinny jeans, a cropped leather jacket, and a simple white tee that felt like a second skin. Her hair was loose, braided only halfway down, a careless kind of elegance. She wasn't sure what to expect—but whatever it was, it wasn't going to be a latte run.
The pier was nearly deserted, save for a few scattered couples and a lone street musician strumming jazz on a saxophone. The sharp contrast to the chaos of her day made her heartbeat quicken.
At the far end of the pier, beneath a faded lamppost, stood a figure. Tall, graceful, wearing a long coat that looked expensive but worn just right, as if it had stories stitched into the seams.
Reina Sade.
Ava's breath caught. The designer was even more striking in person—eyes sharp and knowing, like she'd seen too much and still demanded the world's attention.
"Miss Monroe," Reina said, voice smooth but serious. "Thank you for coming."
Ava nodded, suddenly shy. "You said you needed my eye?"
Reina smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I need someone who understands what it means to fight for a vision. Someone who isn't afraid to step into the storm."
She reached into her coat and pulled out a small, worn portfolio. Inside were sketches, fabric swatches, notes—raw, fierce, and unapologetically bold.
"This is my new collection," Reina explained. "I want it to tell a story—not just of fashion, but of resilience, identity, and power. But I need it to reach the right eyes. That's where you come in."
Ava swallowed hard. This was bigger than anything she'd dreamed of.
Reina's gaze softened. "I'm offering you a choice. Stay safe in your assistant role, or take a risk and help me bring this to life."
The city's distant sirens faded into the night as Ava looked at the portfolio and then back at Reina.
This was the moment.
The moment she stopped waiting.
The moment she became the boss.