Eloise
The soft glow of dawn pooled into my atelier, pale gold flooding across polished floors and illuminating sketches pinned on every wall. My fingers trembled as I adjusted the clasp on one of the velvet display busts, fastening a brushed silver collar necklace into place. Each link gleamed, elegant and cold, reflecting the emptiness I felt within.
Today was launch day. My rebranding day. A quiet, private unveiling of my new line under my reimagined name – Eloise V. Designs. It was like a testing name, not sure I will be using it. No more reminders of Lucian’s empire smothering my own identity.
The humming anxiety in my chest refused to settle. My reflection in the atelier’s tall glass windows showed a woman in a cream satin blouse, hair brushed sleekly back, eyes rimmed with dark
