"Effie." Mitchell''s voice dropped, his jaw clenched around her name.


    It was painfully obvious he was barely keeping his temper in check.


    Effie''s lips curled into a faint, almost mocking smile. Well, isn''t this rare-looks like even he knows when to back down.


    But what did that have to do with her?


    "Mitchell, whatever was between us is over. That''s just a fact. And Ryan isn''t unreasonable if you really fix things between yourpanies, I doubt he''ll go out of his way to make life difficult for you. So there''s no need to beg me. Sort out your own mess beforeing to me."


    Effie felt no pity for him. She only said this to stop Mitchell from pestering her any further.


    Let''s end things cleanly, she thought.


    But Mitchell saw only ridicule in herposure. He gritted his teeth. "Effie, you really won''t help me?"


    "I won''t," Effie replied, her tone t.


    Mitchell''s eyes shed with frustration. "Fine. Just don''t say I didn''t warn you," he spat, then turned and stormed out.


    Effie frowned, a chill of unease prickling at her.


    Mitchell was already on the edge; she couldn''t be sure what he''d do next, what lines he might cross.


    Still, worrying endlessly over the unknown was pointless.


    She''d deal with whatever came, when it came.


    "Effie, are you okay?" Shirley walked over.


    She''d actuallye back earlier, but had hung back, watching from a distance. If Mitchell hadid a hand on Effie, she''d been ready to grab the nearest chair and brain him with it.


    Luckily, Mitchell hadn''t lost it.


    When Effie heard what Shirley had been thinking, she couldn''t help but smirk. "Wow... you''re a force to be reckoned with."


    Shirley blushed, embarrassed.


    "Effie, this is my first design since going full-time. What do you think?" Shirley entered Effie''s office, holding her portfolio out with both hands.


    Maybe it was the newfound confidence that came with her official status, but this time her


    designs were bolder-fresh


    stylish, and unmistakably her own


    Effie nodded, genuinely impressed. "Not bad. These could go straight into production."


    "Really? No revisions?" Shirley''s eyes widened.


    Effie propped her chin on one hand and looked at her. "Do you see anything that needs changing?"


    Shirley shook her head. "I couldn''t spot anything—that''s why I brought them to you."


    "Well, I don''t see anything either," Effie said.


    "So... so that means..."


    "I''ll send your designs to the production team," Effie finished for her.


    "Wow! That''s amazing! I finally have my own pieces going into production!"


    Shirley''s face lit up with pure joy.


    Effie smiled. "If no one elsees up with a stronger design this month, yours will be our featured product."


    Shirley stood there, stunned. She''d


    been thrilled just to see her work made real-she''d never even


    ve


    might be thepany''s gship.


    For a moment, she was speechless.


    Effie grinned at her. "You should look forward to it."


    Shirley snapped out of her daze and nodded eagerly. "I am! I really am!" "Keep it up," Effie encouraged. "Design something even better next time." "Will do!"


    Shirley practically floated out of the office, still buzzing with excitement.


    Her coworkers immediately gathered around, asking what had happened.


    She didn''t mention the possibility of her design bing thepany''s main feature-she only said Effie was very pleased with her work.


    Even so, it earned her a few


    admiring looks from the others, and


    some started to think maybe Effie was a lot easier to impress than they''d thought.