Miss Josefina: Nobody's Princess

Chapter 121

Alex’s nerves were frayed, but Josefina’s voice, brimming with confidence, was the last straw. “Ms. Josefina, are you just saying that to comfort me? I know this is no small matter – my designs have been swiped clean, not a sketch left. Even if I start drawing now, it’s too late; inspiration doesn’t come on tap.”

He laid it out bare; there was no hiding his despair. In the firm, it was just Ava and Alex in the design department. Alex was at his wit’s end, incapable of fathoming a solution.

Kale, standing off to the side, didn’t question Josefina’s assertiveness. He knew that when Josefina made a promise, she’d keep it. She never committed to something she wasn’t sure she could deliver.

“Alex, why don’t you hit the ground running with something else? Don’t sweat the designs – I’ll handle it.”

Alex, uneasy, shook his head. “Ms. Josefina, you might as well fire me. I know you’re in this as a hired gun. Even as CEO, you’ve got skin in the game. If you fire me, pin the blame on me – it’s fair. I screwed up, didn’t secure our assets.”

Josefina was taken aback; Alex’s readiness to shoulder the blame was unexpected. Men with such responsibility were a rare breed these days.

With a deepening smile, Josefina reassured him, “Don’t worry. I won’t make you the fall guy. We’ll straighten this out. Go grab some breakfast, and take a breather.”

Kale chimed in, “Step out for now. If we need you, I’ll give you a shout.”

Alex, puzzled, questioned, “Kale, how come it feels like you’ve known Ms. Josefina for ages?”

Kale had only been with the company for a few days. His unwavering trust in Josefina was startling.

Unflinching, Kale replied, “As Ms. Josefina’s secretary, it’s only natural I trust her implicitly.”

Alex, beyond shocked, was impressed. Kale’s commitment was sky-high. Combined with Josefina’s aura of confidence, it was hard not to believe in her.

After Alex left the office, Kale inquired, “Ms. Josefina, are you planning to draft the designs yourself? If you do, won’t that blow your cover?”

“I’ve made a slight tweak in the design approach – it’s the best we can do for now. I’ve just taken the reins of the company, and I won’t let the schemers behind this have the last laugh at my expense. My company will not lose!”

The confident gleam in Josefina’s eyes convinced Kale that Ms. Josefina was destined to triumph!

...

Ava, with guidance from a mentor, made her way to Billy’s company. The designs she brought were a hit.

The secretary came in with an update, “Mr. Antonio, our latest designs are selling like hotcakes on pre-order. The factory’s working overtime to keep up.”

Billy stood up. His face was aglow. “That Ava, she’s something!”

The secretary added, “Mr. Antonio, we need funds for the inventory, and we’re running low on cash. You’ve got to figure something out, or we won’t meet consumer demand.”

“No worries about the money – I’ll work something out right away.”

Billy could almost see the cash flowing his way. With such a hot pre-sale, he had to get those clothes produced and into the stores pronto.

Ava, hearing the news, was not particularly thrilled. These were designs by an intern; how good could they be to garner such a following? Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

Frowning, Ava stood in the restroom, staring at her reflection.

Ruby sidled up, standing beside Ava, gazing into the mirror. “These clothes... they’re not your work, are they?”