Evelyn stepped into the office.

A small group of her colleagues immediately surrounded her.

"Good morning, Evelyn!"

"Hey, what happened last night? You vanished from the dinner without a word."

"We were worried! The server said someone collected you. We thought something terrible had occurred!"

Evelyn prepared her apology. "I am so sorry. I had far too much to drink. My mind was foggy. I completely forgot to inform anyone."

One colleague shook her head. "You really can't hold your liquor, can you?"

"I suppose not," Evelyn admitted, sliding into her desk chair.

The memories of her recent drunken episodes flooded back. The first time, she had unintentionally angered Alexander. The second time... she had ended up in his bed.

A third incident was unthinkable.

Alcohol was nothing but trouble for her.

She took a steadying breath. A firm resolution solidified in her mind. No more reckless drinking. Ever.

Mid-morning, Nathanial Reed emerged from his office. He was beaming.

"Team, attention! We have just secured a monumental client!"

The office buzzed with instant excitement.

"Who is it, Nathanial? Don't keep us in suspense!"

Nathanial offered a knowing smile. "Cassandra Sterling."

A collective gasp filled the room.

"Cassiandra Sterling!"

"Incredible! She's a global superstar!"

The colleague beside Evelyn leaned in, whispering excitedly. "I thought she'd been working exclusively abroad for years. Is she truly returning?"

Nathanial chuckled, savoring the moment. "Yes, she's back for a major new production. There's a high-profile red-carpet event next month. The gown she wears will be the centerpiece. A career-defining moment."

He paused, making eye contact with everyone. "I want every designer to submit a proposal. Cassandra herself will make the final selection. The chosen designer will lead the project."

Evelyn's eyes sparkled with understanding. Now Nathanial's exhilaration made perfect sense.

Regardless of the winner, the prestige would elevate his entire department.

Nathanial's tone turned serious. "Give this your absolute best effort. If Cassandra selects your design, you could become her preferred designer. Imagine the doors that would open."

After he left, the office erupted into animated chatter once more.

"I'm a massive fan! She's breathtakingly beautiful!"

"I'd give anything for her autograph!"

"Autograph? If you win, you'll be working with her directly!"

"Forget autographs. We need to focus on creating winning designs!"

Nathanial's reminder was unnecessary. Everyone understood the stakes.

Selection meant a potential promotion, a significant raise, a complete career transformation.

The designer's name would be synonymous with excellence. This was Cassandra Sterling, after all.

Evelyn, however, wasn't focused on the fame. She simply wanted to excel at the task before her.

When she committed to something, she gave it her all. She was determined.

She immediately began her research, scouring the internet for every detail about Cassandra's public image, style, and preferences.

A palpable tension settled over the office. Designers were hunched over their screens, fully absorbed.

Only one person seemed utterly detached: Genevieve Prescott. While others worked feverishly, she sipped her coffee, appearing completely unperturbed.

A colleague couldn't resist. "Genevieve, aren't you starting? Don't you want to win Cassandra's account?"