Chapter 33 Couple Watches
Christina’s gaze lingered on Xandra, whose smile was as cold as it was calculating. It was clear the celebrity was trying to undermine both her and Anna, likely hoping to create friction between them for her own amusement. But Christina wasn’t about to let her be manipulated so easily.
She took a deep breath, her mind racing as she glanced over at Anna. The other designer’s face had gone pale, but Christina could see the hurt and humiliation beneath the surface. It was an attempt to break her, but Anna’s pride wasn’t the only thing at stake—Christina’s own reputation and future as a designer were too.
“No,” Christina said firmly, her voice steady and unwavering. “I won’t accept Ms. Anna as my assistant. I’m capable of doing this on my own. And as for the design…” Christina paused, her eyes locking with Xandra’s. “I’ll do my best to make sure it’s everything you want, but it’s going to be my design, not someone else’s.”
Xandra raised an eyebrow, clearly unprepared for Christina’s defiance. Anna, meanwhile, looked as if she were about to speak, but Christina subtly shook her head, signaling that she had this under control.
Zachary, though caught in the middle of the tension, was silently impressed by Christina’s boldness. “Alright,” he said after a moment, his voice calm. “We’ll leave it to Ms. Steele then. But I expect nothing less than perfection from both of you.”
Xandra’s lips curled into a tight smile, but her eyes were still sharp, clearly calculating her next move. “Fine. I’ll give you a chance, Ms. Steele. But don’t disappoint me.”
As the meeting continued, Christina kept her composure, though inside she was boiling with a mix of frustration and determination. She was going to show Xandra that she could do this, no matter how much the celebrity tried to push her buttons.
When the meeting finally ended, Christina felt the weight of the challenge ahead. She was now not only fighting for her career but also for her self-respect in this cutthroat industry. As she and Anna walked out of the conference room together, the silence between them spoke volumes. Anna’s pride had taken a blow, but Christina wasn’t going to let her become a casualty of this drama.
“Don’t worry,” Christina said quietly as they walked down the hall, her voice steady. “You’re still an excellent designer. This isn’t your fault.”
Anna gave her a stiff nod, clearly struggling with the turn of events but appreciating the gesture nonetheless. “Thanks. But I didn’t expect her to do that to me…”
“It’s not over yet,” Christina replied, a spark of determination in her eyes. “Let’s prove to her that we can deliver something amazing—together.”
Anna looked at her with a mixture of gratitude and renewed resolve. “I’ll do my best,” she said, her tone softening.
Christina smiled. “And I’ll make sure you get the credit you deserve.”
As they headed back to their desks to begin the arduous task of designing the dress, Christina couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. Xandra’s scheming had only lit a fire inside her, and she was determined to show the world—and herself—that she could rise above it all, no matter the obstacles in her way.