89
It had been a few days since the hallway conversation that changed everything—the moment Ericka laid it all out for Ava. No more games. No more attitude. If she really wanted to be part of their world again, she'd have to earn it the hard way. With patience. With presence. With authenticity.
And to Amanda and Ericka's surprise... Ava listened.
For the first time in weeks, she stepped into the office without that signature smirk or air of distraction.
She greeted everyone politely, kept her headphones out, and actually paused to speak to the interns instead of breezing past them.
She had pulled her hair back into a neat ponytail, swapped her usual bold lipstick for a neutral gloss, and wore a sleek navy pantsuit with a soft beige blouse.
Polished. Professional. Quiet confidence.
Amanda noticed it first as she reviewed her morning emails in the design suite. Ava was already at her desk—early—and not on her phone. She was sketching something, headphones off, brow furrowed in focus.
Ericka didn't notice until the afternoon strategy session.
Ava had been sitting quietly at the far end of the table, taking notes and reviewing projections. Halfway through the meeting, when a senior executive began stumbling over the future vision for the brand's urban capsule line, Ava raised her hand.
The room stilled.
Ericka blinked. "Yes?"
"I just had a thought," Ava said, sliding her tablet forward.
"Instead of marketing the next urban capsule with static visuals, what if we partner with emerging photographers from underrepresented neighborhoods?
They could tell their own stories with our designs—sort of like wearable documentaries.
We could stream the campaign behind-the-scenes online and tie it into our sustainability mission. "
The silence held for a breath.
Then Ericka leaned back in her chair, a slow, curious smile forming. "Go on."
Ava did—clearly, articulately, and with surprising passion. She'd already sketched a draft moodboard and had a potential short list of collaborators.
Amanda sat frozen, glancing at Ericka, whose face was a practiced mask—but her eyes? Impressed.
After the meeting, when the room cleared out, Ericka stayed seated.
Amanda hovered near the doorway but paused when Ericka motioned for her to wait.
"Ava," Ericka said smoothly. "That idea—where did it come from?"
Ava shrugged lightly, meeting Ericka's gaze without flinching. "I've been thinking about what you said. About showing the real me. I figured the best way to start was doing what I do best—create."
Ericka didn't speak right away. She let the silence sit for a moment, then gave a small, approving nod. "Keep going. I want a full pitch deck by Friday."
Ava smiled. "You'll have it."
As she gathered her things and left the room, she passed Amanda, who gave her a small, almost surprised smile. Ava didn't say anything—just nodded respectfully and kept walking.
Back in the office, Ericka turned to Amanda, arching a brow. "That was... unexpected."
Amanda let out a soft laugh. "Maybe she really is trying."
"Let's see if she can keep it up," Ericka murmured. "It takes more than a good idea to build trust. But..." She tilted her head. "It's a start."
And just like that, the energy began to shift.
Ava was still Ava—bold, ambitious, sharp—but now her sharpness had direction. Purpose. She wasn't chasing Amanda or trying to rile up Ericka.
She was showing up.
The door clicked shut behind Ava, leaving a long, contemplative silence in the boardroom.
Ericka sat still in her chair, fingers tented thoughtfully under her chin, eyes locked on the now-empty spot where Ava had been seated. Amanda remained by the doorway, her arms folded across her chest, unsure whether to be impressed or suspicious.
"Well," Ericka finally said, her voice low and measured, "that was not the Ava I expected to show up today."
Amanda arched a brow, slowly stepping into the room and sliding the door closed behind her. "You think it was genuine?"
"I think..." Ericka paused, turning her chair to face Amanda more directly. "It wasn't a performance. Not like before. She wasn't trying to steal the spotlight—she contributed."
Amanda nodded, moving to the seat beside her. "I was watching her all morning. She's... different. Calmer. Focused. Like she's not trying to impress anyone—just trying to be useful."
Ericka smirked. "Imagine that. Talent applied in the right direction."
Amanda chuckled, but then her smile softened. "You think she's doing it for us?"
"Maybe," Ericka admitted. "But I'm starting to think she's doing it for herself, too."
Amanda hesitated, chewing on her bottom lip. "That idea she pitched... It was good, E. Like really good. If she'd come in like this from the beginning, I might've actually liked her a lot sooner."
Ericka raised a brow, amused. "Liked her how?"
Amanda flushed slightly. "You know what I mean."
Ericka reached over, placing her hand over Amanda's. "Hey, I'm not jealous. I meant what I said—if we're going to invite someone into us, it has to be someone we trust. Someone we admire."
Amanda met her gaze. "You admire her now?"
"I'm getting there," Ericka said honestly. "Today earned her points. But I'm not letting my guard down just yet."
Amanda nodded. "Me neither. But I'm not gonna lie... a part of me liked seeing her step up. Like she finally understands it's not about games anymore."
Ericka tilted her head, watching Amanda carefully. "You thinking about her again?"
Amanda shrugged, just barely. "I never really stopped. But it doesn't mean I trust her yet."
There was a pause, thoughtful and loaded.
Then Ericka leaned in slightly, her tone dipping into something softer. "We'll take it slow. And we'll do it together. No more unclear boundaries. If this is going somewhere... it happens on our terms."
Amanda smiled at that. "Like everything else with us."
"Exactly," Ericka said.
They both sat there a moment longer, soaking in the rare moment of calm clarity between high-level meetings and the emotional chaos of the last few weeks.
Then Amanda reached for her tablet, brushing her fingers over Ericka's hand as she stood. "Come on, CEO. Time to approve that lookbook draft."
Ericka stood and smirked. "Only if you whisper in my ear again while doing it."
Amanda laughed. "Down girl."