Designed for his Heart

Chapter 9

Eva burst through the office doors, chest heaving as she gave apologies to the swarms of blank stares aimed her direction. She couldn’t believe she’d overslept this morning of all days - the day her team’s designs were being presented to corporate executives.

“How nice of you to finally join us Eva,” her boss Darren’s mocking voice pierced from the back of the room. She felt her cheeks burn crimson as all heads swiveled between her and her smirking superior.

“I’m so sorry, my alarm just didn’t go off for some reason,” Eva rushed to explain, though she knew excuses would not appease Darren.

“Interesting, my alarm seemed to work just fine this morning,” Darren replied breezily, eliciting scattered chuckles around the room. “But so glad our head designer could be bothered to arrive at some point. I’m sure our clients will be understanding.”

Eva bit the inside of her cheek, hard. The last thing she needed was to cause a scene and make this even more humiliating.

“My apologies, won’t happen again,” she forced out, avoiding Darren’s challenging stare as she hurried to her drafting desk, keeping her head down.

Out of the corner of her eye she noticed her teammates sporting mixed looks of sympathy and judgment as they shuffled papers conspicuously, averting their gazes.

Great. She had wanted to project utmost professionalism and reliability leading up to this critical pitch meeting. So much for that.

Trying to refocus, Eva spread the array of fabric samples and design sketches across her desk, mentally rehearsing the presentation talking points she could recite in her sleep. Now all she could hope for was a chance to redeem herself when the executives arrived.

She snuck a self-conscious sniff of her arm and wrinkled her nose. The frantic dash into work had left her feeling disheveled. Hardly the image she wanted to exude when potential investors came to assess the company’s creative direction.

Glancing around nervously, Eva noted everyone else was absorbed discussing the upcoming meeting. She gathered up her things and slipped quietly towards the hallway bathroom.

Thankfully the stalls were empty. She cranked the faucet as hot as it would go and frantically scrubbed her arms and face, finger combing the tangles from her messy bun. Mascara smudges in check, she splashed water down the front of her blouse for good measure.

After a few moments of steaming and straightening, Eva examined her reflection critically. Her eyes were still puffy with fatigue, but splashing water on her face had at least improved her messy look.

She slipped back out to her desk just as Darren’s voice rang across the room. “Alright everyone, conference room in five.”

A chorus of shuffling and murmured prep echoed around Eva. She took a deep breath, mentally prepping her presentation one last time before following her colleagues. You’ve got this. Forget about being late and show them why you were put in charge of this campaign.

The next few hours passed in a stressful blur of pitching, critiques, and revisions. By the tight smile Eva glimpsed through the glass conference room walls, it seemed like Darren was unhappy with the committee's feedback on her edgy designs.

Eva strongly stood behind her ideas, arguing that toning down or removing the provocative elements would make the overall statement of her collection weaker.

Finally, Darren reluctantly approved submitting her designs, even though she sensed he only agreed to avoid prolonging conflict.

Exhausted, Eva shuffled outside at lunch to meet her friend Audrey, who worked in the PR department. She found her waiting at a picnic table under the shade of a towering oak.

“Rough morning?” Audrey asked wryly, noting Eva’s weary expression as she collapsed onto the bench.

“Ugh, don’t even get me started,” she groaned, launching into a long rant about the details of her day so far.

Audrey listened sympathetically, making sounds of agreement through bites of her sandwich. “I’m sure your designs were amazing regardless, he just likes feeling in control,” she reassured.

Eva shrugged halfheartedly. “I guess so. But it’s always a struggle convincing him to approve any of my work. Everything is a safe, boring variation of what we’ve done for years. I just wish I could work somewhere I could really create freely, you know?”

Audrey nodded. "Yeah, I feel that way too. It's the same with our events and campaigns in PR. The executives barely let us change a font without having a panic attack."

She shot Eva a wry grin. "Maybe we should just ditch this place and launch our own agency. Although..." Audrey trailed off, face falling. Eva knew what she was thinking. The prospect of giving up their steady jobs terrified them both.

Eva forced a small chuckle. "Wouldn't that be nice. But yeah, scary thought."

They sat in contemplative silence until Audrey had to head back inside. Eva lingered a few moments, appreciating the fresh air and mental reset before braving the office again.

She returned feeling revived and ready to tackle anything else the day threw at her. Until she walked past the conference room.

Darren's grating voice carried clearly through the cracked door. “...and so I told them - this style is exactly my vision for our evolving brand image. Our designers have brilliant innovation, but they need a firm hand guiding their creativity. Which is where I come in..."

Eva froze, spine tingling with fury. Darren was in there taking full credit for her designs, her ideas that he’d done nothing but criticize and resist.

Before she could think twice, she barged into the room. “Excuse me, I’m so sorry to interrupt,” she began, voice strained with forced pleasantness. Darren swiveled towards her, eyes narrowing dangerously.

“We’re in the middle of a very important—”

"I just wanted to pop in and add some context," she continued, ignoring his glare. “Since I actually created those designs being discussed. Darren provided great guidance of course, but the vision stemmed from ideas I brought to the team.”

She smiled calmly at the group of executives who were observing the exchange with lifted brows. Darren looked on the verge of a stroke, his face turning dark red.

“What do you think you’re doing?” He hissed under his breath.

Eva turned her smile on him. “Just ensuring credit is attributed appropriately. We’re a team after all.”

Before he could respond, she spun on her heel. “So sorry again, please carry on!”

As she marched back to her desk, fists clenched and head spinning, Eva felt the enormity of what she had just done crash over her. She’d dramatically corrected her boss in front of important executives - she was surely getting fired within the hour.

Hands shaking with leftover adrenaline, she sank into her chair. Maybe she should just leave now and save Darren the trouble.

She glanced around at the life she’d built over years at this company. The drafting table where she’d stayed late countless nights perfecting her work. The potted orchid plant Audrey had gifted her years ago upon news of her promotion. The walls she’d proudly adorned with her most creative sketches.

Was she really ready to walk away from it all?

Before she could second guess, Eva steeled her nerves and marched into Darren’s office. He glanced up from some papers, eyes narrowed. “What is it now?” he bit out.

Eva placed her hands calmly on his desk. “I’m giving my two weeks notice. I appreciate the opportunities here, but it’s become clear my talents would be better suited elsewhere.”

Darren’s eyes bugged. “You...you’re resigning? Effective immediately?” He sputtered.

“I’ll wrap up my existing projects to ensure a smooth transition. But yes, consider this my formal notice.”

“Now you wait just a minute - we’re right in the middle of a major campaign! You can’t just walk out with no warning. That’s completely unprofessional!” Darren blustered, face mottling.

Eva felt her throat constricting. The cactus on Darren’s desk blurred as tears filled her eyes.

She took a shaky breath. “I’m sorry, but my mind is made up. I left detailed plans for handoff. Please send any final documents to my personal email. I wish you and the team all the best.”

Before Darren could respond, she spun on her heel and marched out, grabbing her handbag and a box for her things and ignoring Darren’s echoing shouts as she loaded her belongings with trembling hands.

This was it. The sudden end to her career here, but the start of...what exactly? She had no solid plans.

Eva took one last sweeping look at the office that had been her second home for years. She felt like the world was collapsing down on her. But she also had a tiny fluttering of hope in her chest - maybe she could finally build her vision without constraints or compromise.

With a deep breath, she turned and strode to the elevators, head held high. Hitting the call button with a definitive jab, Eva braced for a fresh wave of tears as the doors slid open.

“Oh!” She gasped instead. Because standing right before her was none other than the imposing figure of Dorian Vance.