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I’ve been working at Delute Designs for three years now, the first as an intern and the second as an assistant before finally being promoted to a junior designer. I’d gotten my big break when my design concepts had caught the attention of HP Energy, landing me the lead for the project—much to the annoyance of some of the more senior employees. I’ve been on Celine’s good side the last six months since then.

But being in Celine’s favor changes every day, and if my presentation bombs, I’ll be back on the bench until another opportunity comes up. I’ve already spent the last two months working on the Kelton project, under our team lead, Jenna, and finishing out a couple of company brandings for various clients. I am itching to work on something of my own again.

If I lose out on this client, I’ll be assigned to work under whoever brings in the next major one, and the only other person on the team with a project in the wings is Anne.

Anne, who hates me because I’d won the HP Energy contract from her. Anne, who tries to cut me down in front of Celine any chance she gets.

For a woman-founded, women-led company that prides itself on being made up of one hundred percent female and nonbinary employees and creating a family environment, there is a lot of cattiness behind the scenes.

I sigh, taking a large chug of my hazelnut coffee.

I will just have to hope for the best.

I spend the morning checking my emails and tweaking some files for an upcoming advertisement, all the while watching the clock tick away until our afternoon meeting. I’m barely able to even break for lunch, my nerves getting the better of me as I hear the occasional barking shout come from Celine’s office.

She is totally in a mood. It’s all over some client, from the way she keeps cussing “him” out. Whoever he is, I am pissed at him as well. I didn’t need some asshole aggravating her.

By the time two o’clock comes around, I’ve started to get all in my head. I feel like I’m walking into this meeting with my hands tied behind my back.

I trek into the large meeting room, scoring a chair next to Sally, one of the other designers on my team. She’s a lot more soft-spoken, waiting in the wings as Anne and I compete for favor.

Imani sits opposite me with her team. Delute Designs is a small company, a little over fifty employees, and there are four main design teams, each with their own lead and specialties. I am part of Jenna’s team, which specializes in branding.

Celine founded Delute Designs while she was still in college and has quickly risen in the ranks over the last decade as one of the most sought-after graphic design companies in the city, even hitting theForbes30 Under 30 list. From custom brand marketing to full-scale advertising campaigns, she is a name that is known, a name everyone respects.

That’s why, even though the workplace could be a little toxic at times, pitting employees against one another for the next big break, I’ve stuck it out. Working at Delute Designs makes me someone when, all my life, I’d been scraping the bottom of the barrel. If I could attain even a fraction of the sparkle that makes Celine shine, it’d prove that I am worth something.

I have no desire tobeCeline, though. She is cutthroat and has no issue stepping on people to rise to the top, and I have too much of a conscience for that. The company’s reputation–her reputation–is all that ever matters, and she refuses to let any of her employees ruin that perfect image she’s crafted. I’ve seen more people fired in three years than I’d thought humanly possible.

Celine is hard to please on a good day, and that is frustrating, but that doesn’t undermine her talent. I respect the way she founded Delute so young, how she had this rock-hard ambition and didn’t let anyone walk all over her. She has a backbone that never bends, and I admire that she stands her ground–even when it is questionable.

A hush falls over the room as Celine enters, her assistant trailing behind like a scared squirrel.

“How’s everyone doing today?”

It feels like a loaded question, but if no one answers, we’re screwed.

“Good,” Davina, our Senior Director of Marketing, takes one for the team.

“Glad to hear someone’s enjoying their week.”

Everyone’s eyes bounce around the table at the clear bitterness in her voice.

“I want a status update on the Kelton project.”

Davina clears her throat. “Everything’s in place. We should have all the items in hand by end of week for the event.”

“The event’s in two weeks.”

“Correct.”

“Receiving the items seven days prior to the event seems to be cutting it awfully close, Davina.”

“The step and repeats that arrived for the photo op area were off.”

Celine cocks her head. “Off?”

“The PMS color wasn’t correct.”