Chapter 254

• The next morning, the younger designers arrived, carrying sketchbooks, pencils, and nervous energy. They had heard of the boutique’s legacy, of the triumphs and the battles, and they were eager but cautious. I could see it in their eyes—the desire to prove themselves and the fear of making a misstep.
• I gathered them around the central table, spreading out sketches, fabrics, and swatches. “This is more than a job,” I said softly. “Every choice you make here has a story behind it. Honor that, and you’ll honor the boutique.”
• One of the girls, barely twenty, raised her hand. “Does that mean we have to follow all the old designs exactly?” she asked.