Monday began with a kind of grayness that clung to everything. Not just the sky—but the air, the traffic, even the coffee in Tiana Kings' hand as she strode into the gleaming headquarters of Diamonds. The building's glass facade caught what little sunlight the morning offered and reflected it back like cold steel.
Dylan wasn't waiting at the front entrance. She didn't expect him to be.
He'd informed her the day before—clearly, professionally—that he would be absent for the morning. What he hadn't said, but she'd seen in the steady way he held his mother's arm, was that he needed the time.
Tiana didn't dwell on it. She rarely dwelled on anything. The elevator opened to the 37th floor and swallowed her into the day.
By 10:00 a.m., she was seated in the glass conference room, a cappuccino slowly cooling beside a slim silver pen. Her assistant, Emily Lane, sat to her right, tablet ready. Across the table, Claire Devaux from Marketing had her blazer thrown casually over the back of her chair, while Lexi Carter, PR director, looked fresh from a recent shoot—sharp suit, slicked-long hair, and an easy smile that grated on Tiana's nerves more often than not.
The screen behind them glowed with the brand logo: Girls. The name itself was provocative. Confident. Disruptive. Exactly what Diamonds was betting on to shake up the younger luxury market.
"Alright," Tiana said, folding her hands. "Where are we?"
Claire jumped in first, always eager. "We've finalized the color palette and the core collection silhouettes. The spring line is built around three pillars: boldness, vulnerability, and street-luxury fusion. The mood board is set, and our sample development is about 70% there."
Emily nodded and tapped a few things on her tablet. Tiana watched, silent, absorbing every word.
"Social pre-launch has already begun," Lexi chimed in smoothly. "The teaser campaign went out last week. So far, we've seen a 28% increase in engagement on the brand page. The hashtag #GirlsWearDiamonds is trending regionally. We're pushing it global by end of week."
"And influencers?" Tiana asked.
Lexi leaned forward. "We've locked in three major names—two Gen Z fashion icons, one European model. All three have audiences over ten million. We're holding the campaign shoot in Paris next month. NDA agreements are already signed."
Claire interjected. "We've also recruited a stylist for behind-the-scenes reels. Think casual chaos meets luxury—it's the aesthetic we're going for."
Tiana arched an eyebrow. "Casual chaos?"
"It's what the demographic is responding to. Polished isn't relatable anymore."
Tiana sat back, considering. "And the clothing itself?"
Claire hesitated slightly, then said, "We're behind on production. The overseas factory delayed the last shipment. But we've brought in a local manufacturer to pick up the slack. We'll be back on schedule in two weeks."
"Unacceptable," Tiana said, coolly. "The board expects a full reveal in six weeks. We can't have runway samples arriving the day before."
Lexi raised a hand. "We're adjusting messaging in case of delay. Playing it off as exclusivity—scarcity builds value."
"No," Tiana said. "Diamonds doesn't play defense. Fix the production issue."
Claire swallowed. "Yes, Ms. Kings."
There was a long moment of silence. Then Emily said gently, "We could shift the press preview date by three days and still stay within the quarter. That would give Claire the buffer she needs, and Lexi more time to build hype without risking overexposure."
Tiana glanced sideways at her assistant. Emily never overstepped—but when she offered solutions, they were usually solid.
Tiana nodded slowly. "Do it."
Claire and Lexi both exhaled.
"Any remaining approvals pending my signoff?" she asked.
Lexi handed her a folder. "These are the final campaign concepts. We're going with two primary taglines: 'Not Just Pretty'and 'Power in Lace.' Both tested well."
Tiana flipped through the mockups. Her eyes lingered on the imagery—bold colors, women of all shapes and backgrounds, laughing and fierce. It was clever. Subtle. Modern.
She set the folder down. "Approved."
Emily typed the update without a word.
The meeting lasted another hour, with discussions over distribution partners, logistics, and contingency plans. Claire mentioned a delay in textile shipment. Lexi suggested an influencer collaboration with a pop star. Tiana weighed each proposal with ruthless efficiency.
By 12:45 p.m., the room had emptied, leaving only the dregs of coffee and tension in the air. Tiana stayed behind, staring at the glowing screen with the Girls logo, her expression unreadable.
Emily lingered at the door. "Should I order lunch in?"
"No."
Emily nodded. "You have three calls after this. One with the CFO, two with merchandising."
"Cancel the last one."
Emily hesitated. "Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Alright."
Tiana didn't watch her leave. She sat in silence for another five minutes before standing and walking slowly to the window. The city sprawled beneath her, a mess of ambition and exhaustion. Somewhere out there, Dylan was probably sitting in a hospital waiting room beside his mother.
And here she was. Running an empire of beauty and power and noise—alone.
The rest of the day moved in brutal rhythm. A call with the CFO about margin compression. Another with a textile supplier about a thread shortage. Back-to-back calendar reminders that turned her day into a tunnel of directives and expectations.
By 6:00 p.m., Emily returned with a tablet in hand and a worried crease between her brows.
"Traffic's bad," she said. "You want me to call a car?"
Tiana shook her head, reaching for her keys. "I'll drive."
Emily blinked. "Really? You never—"
"Just tonight."
There was no argument to be made. Emily simply nodded and gathered her things.
Tiana descended to the underground parking garage in silence, heels clicking like a metronome. Her car—sleek, black, forgettable by design—waited in her private spot. She slipped into the driver's seat and exhaled. The silence was immediate and total.
It had been years since she'd driven herself anywhere. That had been her driver's domain. Quiet, efficient Dylan Haven, who always arrived five minutes early, never spoke unless spoken to, and somehow managed to make silence feel steady instead of awkward.
She missed that silence now. Not because it was comfortable, but because it wasn't empty.
The engine started with a low purr. Tiana pulled out, merging into the river of cars crawling through the city's arteries.
The city lights blurred past her. Her fingers gripped the wheel, but her mind wandered.
She thought about the Girls brand. About the energy of the campaign, the boldness of the message. Power and confidence wrapped in silk. Voice wrapped in fashion. It was everything her younger self would've never believed she could become.
She thought about Dylan—how out of place he looked in a hoodie and sneakers. How gentle his voice had sounded when he spoke to his mother. How easily he had stood when she arrived, even on his day off. No complaints. No excuse.
And she thought about herself. Tiana Kings, CEO of Diamonds, force of nature behind the brand's meteoric rise. Alone behind the wheel of her own car, driving into the night like a shadow in silk.
At a red light, she paused, fingers tapping the steering wheel. She picked up her phone.
A message blinked on the screen. It was from Emily.
Dinner delivered to your door at 7. You're welcome.
—E.L.
Tiana stared at it for a moment, then typed:
Tell Claire I want the new production schedule on my desk by 9 a.m. tomorrow. And remind Lexi to finalize Paris dates.
She hit send. Then put the phone down.
The light turned green.
And she drove on.