The blaring sound of my alarm jolted me awake. I groaned, reached over, and shut it off, letting the sudden silence settle over the room. After a brief prayer to start the day right, I kicked off the covers and jumped out of bed. It was Monday, the start of a new week, and I needed to look my absolute best.
I chose a sharp navy blue pantsuit, pairing it with a soft, cream colored silk blouse that added just the right touch of elegance. I clasped my gold wristwatch around my wrist, added a pair of simple stud earrings, and slipped into black leather heels that clicked confidently against the floor.
In front of the mirror, I brushed my afro curls into a sleek low bun, leaving a clean side part that framed my face. Polished and poised I was ready to take on the day.
I glanced at the clock and saw I still had fifty minutes to spare. Perfect.
I headed into my small kitchen and whipped up a quick breakfast; pancakes and a steaming cup of coffee. It wasn't elaborate but it was enough to keep me going. By the time I was done eating and cleaning up, I had just twenty minutes left.
Right on cue, there was a knock at the door, Kathy.
We'd planned to leave together since she had the morning shift at the hospital. I grabbed the rest of my things in a rush, locked up, and hurried out to meet her at the car.
Honestly, having a best friend with a car and a valid license was one of life's underrated blessings. Not that I couldn't drive, I actually had my license but I hadn't driven since the day I got it. And let's be real, I couldn't afford a car right now even if I wanted to.
As soon as we were both in, Kathy pulled out of the driveway. A few minutes later, she dropped me off in front of BG.Co; my workplace, and we exchanged quick goodbyes before she drove off to catch her shift.
As Kathy drove away, I felt it again. That unsettling sensation of being watched. I'd sensed it earlier too, just before we left the house. Maybe it's nothing. Maybe I'm just being paranoid.
Snapping out of it, I hurried into the building and made a beeline for my office to drop my bag. Without wasting time, I headed straight to the break room to prepare Miss Caruso's coffee. Her precious coffee that, according to her, must be waiting on her desk before she even walks into the building.
Yet, like clockwork, she'd still storm in and complain that it's cold. I sighed.
"Hmm… I honestly don't know what her problem is. But if she wants her coffee early, then early she'll get. I'm not in the mood to get yelled at or worse, fired today." I muttered under my breath, "Though honestly, avoiding the yelling part is a miracle no one's pulled off."
"Who's she talking to now?"
I jumped, nearly spilling the hot coffee. "Matt!" I gasped, clutching the mug as my heart did a somersault.
He rushed over, calm and quick, and gently took the mug from my hand, setting it safely on the table.
"Easy, love", he said with a half-smile. "We don't need you getting scalded this early on a Monday."
"Exactly", Isabella chimed in, striding in with a raised brow. "Save the drama for after lunch", she added with thick sarcasm, making me roll my eyes as she walked over to where Matt and I stood.
"So...?", she said, slightly lifting an eyebrow, the exact look she gives when she's trying to extract secrets from me.
"So what?" I replied, genuinely confused about what she was getting at.
"Seriously?, You need me to spell it out?".
"Mmhm. I'm not a mind reader Isa. So yes, please do," I said, nodding.
She inhaled dramatically. "Alright. AM.Co is launching a brand new collection of jewelry next month. And do you know what that means?" she nearly gasped, eyes wide like she'd just witnessed a crime.
"Oh boy, not again," Matt muttered, facepalming.
"Okay, guys, relax. It can't be that serious. And who the hell is AM.Co, anyway?", I asked nonchalantly as I picked up Miss Caruso's coffee and walked toward her office. Isa and Matt trailed behind, looking like they were walking toward a firing squad.
As soon as I stepped out of Caruso's office and closed the door, Isa grabbed my arm and pulled me straight into mine. Matt followed quickly, shutting the door behind us. In one coordinated move, they dragged my chair out from behind the desk, spun it around, and sat me down like I was about to face a tribunal.
"Okay, Simi, listen carefully to what I'm about to say," Isa began, dead serious. "Because I honestly don't know when I'll get the courage to say this again".
She looked at me intently, waiting for a signal to go on. I gave a small nod, and she turned to Matt, who gave her an encouraging wave to continue.
"First of all," she began, "I understand it's only been four months since you started working here, so it makes sense that you haven't experienced a product launch yet. Let me clarify. Atelier Moretti, or AM.Co as I called it earlier, is one of our biggest rivals here at BG.Co..."
"Uh, sorry to cut you off," I interjected, raising a brow, "but I thought BG.Co was the best in the game, miles ahead of the rest, making other brands almost irrelevant. So, why all this concern over AM.Co?".
"You're absolutely right. BG.Co has reached the peak of the industry and is still seen as the gold standard," she replied with a nod. "But Atelier Moretti is the only brand that has come close to competing with Bellini Gioielli in terms of creativity and design excellence. To be honest, neither company has released anything new for the past year. So now that AM.Co is gearing up for a launch, we're definitely anticipating serious competition".
"Exactly", Matt chimed in. "And the thing is, AM.Co has this uncanny way of delivering absolutely breathtaking designs. The level of detail they bring to each piece, it's almost like every design tells a story. Their uniqueness, elegance, and the artistry of their jewelry illustrator?, Impressive!. They really know how to work bespoke elements into their pieces".
"Wow", I breathed out. "Listening to both of you talk, someone might actually think BG.Co isn't all that great or doesn't deserve its place at the top", I let out.
"Listen", Matt began, his tone serious, "there's a reason BG.Co has reigned at the top for so long. Our designs? They're anything but dull you know that. They're bold, distinct, and powerful. But AM.Co... there's something almost hauntingly brilliant about them. If we don't raise the bar fast, we might actually watch everything we've built start to slip".
Isa nodded gravely. "What we're trying to say is brace yourself. Chaos is coming. And trust me, Miss Caruso? You've not even seen her at her worst. The moment she fully confirms that AM.Co is launching something new and I promise you, she already has, she's going to unleash hell in this entire office. The design department will feel it the most. And when that happens... there's no pleasing her. Nothing is ever enough."
"Absolutely nothing", Matt added quietly, almost like it was a warning.
I inhaled deeply, the weight of their words sinking in. "So I guess this means I won't be seeing much of you two anymore especially as you both have landed yourselves in the design department".
"Yeah… that's probably true", Isa gave a soft, almost regretful chuckle
"Pray we survive it", Matt said dramatically, placing a hand over his heart like he was about to be led to battle. That earned a small laugh from me despite everything.
"You'll be fine", I said between chuckles, but even I wasn't sure who I was trying to convince: him or myself.
Suddenly, a voice crackled through the announcement speakers, instructing all staff to report to the boardroom immediately. The three of us froze, then exchanged a knowing, weary glance as we already knew what was coming.
Without a word, I raised my hand and Matt grasped it to pull me up from my seat. I smoothed out my clothes, took a steadying breath, and nodded.
"Let's get this over with, shall we?", Isa said, her voice calm but edged with tension.
And with that, we stepped out of my office and made our way to the boardroom; where the rest of the staff were already gathered, waiting for the storm to begin.