Three weeks.
That's how long Selina had been inside Kane Enterprises, breathing the same air as Oliver Kane and Clara Bennett. Three weeks of early mornings, endless coffee, and trying not to let Clara's constant "suggestions" get under her skin.
Except Clara's "suggestions" weren't really suggestions.
They were attacks dressed up in silk.
"Perhaps we should try a bolder design," Clara would say in meetings.
"Selina, don't you think this could be more… elevated?" she'd add, her tone sweet enough to rot teeth.
And Oliver—Oliver listened. He didn't always agree, but he never shut her down completely either.
Selina reminded herself every day: this was business. She wasn't here to make friends. She was here to win.
The morning of the product launch briefing, Selina walked into the conference room early, arranging her mockups on the table. The launch was huge; a luxury watch collaboration that would be blasted across billboards, social media, and magazines. Her campaign would be the face of it all.
At least, it was supposed to be.
The door swung open. Clara breezed in, a powder-blue skirt suit hugging her figure. Her heels clicked against the floor like punctuation marks.
"You're early," Clara said, setting her designer handbag on the table. "Eager to impress?"
Selina smiled faintly. "Just making sure everything's perfect."
"Oh, perfection is overrated," Clara replied, flipping open her tablet. "What matters is being unforgettable."
Before Selina could respond, Oliver arrived, trailed by two executives. He greeted them all, his gaze lingering on Selina for a second longer than necessary.
"Alright," Oliver said, settling at the head of the table. "Let's see what you've got."
Selina launched into her pitch sleek visuals, powerful taglines, a campaign built around timeless luxury and emotional connection.
Oliver nodded, the executives whispered approval to each other.
Then Clara leaned forward.
"I love the concept," she said, "but I took the liberty of asking our in-house team to draft an alternative."
Selina froze. "You… did?"
Clara tapped her tablet, and the screen lit up with a different campaign: louder colors, flashy text, celebrity endorsements. It screamed money and exclusivity.
"I just thought we should have options," Clara said sweetly. "And as you can see, this one already has interest from a major magazine cover."
Oliver's brows lifted slightly. "That's… unexpected."
"It's called initiative," Clara said. "I'm sure Selina understands."
Selina kept her voice steady. "Of course. Though I believe the campaign should align with Kane Enterprises' refined image. Flash can be effective, but it risks cheapening the brand."
Clara's smile tightened. "Or it can elevate it into the public eye where it belongs."
The executives exchanged glances. Oliver leaned back, clearly weighing the two approaches.
Finally, he said, "We'll merge elements of both. Selina's emotional storytelling with Clara's high-profile push."
Selina nodded, hiding the sting. It was a compromise but it meant Clara had just cut herself into Selina's project.
Later that day, Selina stood in the ladies' restroom, gripping the marble counter. Her reflection stared back at her, calm face hiding the churn in her chest.
The door opened, and Clara walked in. She didn't even pretend to be surprised to see Selina there.
"Don't take it personally," Clara said, checking her lipstick in the mirror. "This is how the game is played."
Selina met her eyes in the mirror. "If this is a game, then you should know I'm not here to lose."
Clara's lips curved into a slow smile. "Good. I like my competition… ambitious."
She slipped her lipstick back into her bag and walked out, leaving the faint scent of roses behind.
That evening, Selina worked late, alone in the glass-walled office. The city glittered outside, but inside, it was just the hum of the lights and the glow of her laptop.
She didn't notice Oliver until his reflection appeared in the window.
"You're still here," he said, stepping closer.
"Deadlines," she replied, closing a file. "And maybe I'm just trying to keep up with Clara's 'initiative.'"
Oliver studied her for a moment. "Clara's… competitive. She's been in this world a long time."
"And I haven't," Selina said, not as a question.
He didn't deny it. Instead, he said quietly, "Just remember you were hired for a reason. Don't let anyone make you forget that."
Selina felt something shift, just slightly, in her chest.
But as Oliver left, she knew one thing with absolute certainty:
Clara wasn't going to stop until she crushed her.
And Selina wasn't going to let her.
The Gala Trap
Selina had been to formal events before fundraisers, small networking dinners but never anything like the Kane Enterprises Annual Gala.
The venue was a masterpiece of glass and light, suspended high above the city in a skyscraper ballroom. Crystal chandeliers scattered golden reflections across marble floors. A live string quartet played in the corner, and waiters in black and white wove between the guests carrying champagne.
Selina felt like she'd stepped into another world—one built for people who never had to check their bank balance before buying something.
She smoothed her midnight-blue gown, the one she'd rented for the night, and tried to keep her posture poised as the cameras flashed near the red carpet. She wasn't here to blend in. She was here to stand her ground.
Oliver found her near the champagne bar, looking unfairly perfect in a black tuxedo. His eyes swept over her, and for a second, she swore his expression softened.
"You clean up well," he said. "You don't look terrible yourself," she replied, forcing a small smile.
Before he could say more, a voice sliced through the music.
"Selina! You made it."
Clara glided toward them in a gown that seemed custom-made to make other women feel underdressed. The shimmering silver fabric caught every beam of light in the room, and her diamond necklace looked like it could buy a small island.
She kissed Oliver on the cheek lingering just long enough for the photographers nearby to catch it before turning to Selina with a flawless smile.
"I was just telling the press how excited I am to unveil our new campaign tonight," Clara said.
Selina blinked. "Unveil?"
"Oh, didn't anyone tell you?" Clara's voice was syrupy sweet. "We decided to reveal a preview during the gala. Don't worry, I included some of your work."
The way she said some made Selina's stomach tighten.
Minutes later, the lights dimmed and a massive screen flickered to life above the ballroom stage. Clara's voice came through the speakers as glossy images filled the screen.
Selina's designs were there but muted, buried under Clara's flashy edits. The focus was on celebrity endorsements, not the emotional storytelling Selina had built.
The crowd applauded. Clara leaned close to Selina and whispered, "See? Unforgettable."
Selina's cheeks burned. She knew what this was a power move, and a public one.
Oliver approached her after the presentation. "It's not what we agreed," he said quietly.
"No," Selina said, keeping her voice even. "It's exactly what Clara wanted."
Oliver's jaw tightened. "I'll handle it."
But Selina shook her head. "No. I will."
Later in the night, as the party buzzed with laughter and champagne, Selina slipped away from the crowd and found Clara on the balcony, smoking under the cold night sky.
"You could've told me," Selina said.
Clara exhaled a thin stream of smoke. "And ruin the surprise?"
"This isn't a game to me," Selina said.
"Oh, it is," Clara replied softly. "It's just one you don't know the rules to yet."
Selina stepped closer. "Then maybe it's time I learn. Because I'm not going anywhere, Clara. And you'll have to do a hell of a lot more than sabotage my work to scare me off."
Clara smiled faintly, flicking the ash from her cigarette. "Challenge accepted.
"The city lights sparkled below them, but Selina's eyes were locked on her rival's. For the first time, she realized this wasn't just about Oliver. It was about power.
And she intended to win both.