Vanessa Hart didn't believe in patience. She believed in results.
And results, so far, had evaded her.
She stood in the mirror of her luxury suite, adjusting the diamond studs in her ears as her assistant rattled off Ethan's updated schedule from across the room.
"He's attending the Crossline Foundation Gala next Friday. You'll be on the guest list."
"Obviously," Vanessa murmured, applying a red lip with flawless precision.
"And Talia James?" the assistant asked hesitantly. "She's listed as the new creative head for Elancé's capsule show at the same event. Rumor is, she's dressing the board of directors."
Vanessa's hand paused mid-air.
Of course she is.
Talia wasn't just riding on Ethan's name, she was using it to thrive. And the worst part? The media loved her. Every time Vanessa opened a magazine or turned on a screen, there was Talia James, radiant, humble, effortlessly likable, and consistently outshining Vanessa's PR team.
