Chapter 179

They could hardly believe it.
Lydia had such an impressive grasp on fashion design and the skills to match. She didn’t just care about how something looked. She cared about the logic behind each design and whether it would actually work in real life. Her feedback wasn’t just about pointing out flaws. It came from real respect for art and for the craft of design.
The way she carried herself, so professional and so passionate, left everyone in awe. Comparing themselves to her made them realize just how much further they
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Jenny was especially stunned. She’d always known that Lydia was talented, but this was on another level. In that single hour, she’d learned more than she had in three years at school. Her notebook was almost filled front to back, and her brain was overflowing with inspiration. If learning at school was just theory, then listening to Lydia’s speech was like being handed the real tools of the trade. She knew how to mix design basics with what the market actually wanted. It was incredible, just as impressive as Jenny’s idol, the designer called L.
Lydia wrapped up the meeting. “I hope all of you do your best in the upcoming design competition. Show the company, the country, even the world what you can do. I want other people to chase after you, wanting to hire you. That’s it for today. Meeting’s over.”
Earlier, when they’d walked into the conference room, most of them had been annoyed, even a little defiant. Now, after hearing Lydia speak, it was like a fog had lifted. Deep down, they couldn’t help but admire her.
She was just that good.
Without her, they would have kept drifting, just doing the bare minimum at work, never pushing themselves.
Now, they wanted to try. They wanted to see how far they could go. They wanted to stay at the company because they earned it, because they deserved it, not because they were scared of being laid off or worried about what would happen next.
As everyone slowly filed out, lost in their own thoughts, Marissa stayed put, staring at Lydia from across the room.
Lydia caught her eye. “Was there something you wanted to say, Marissa?”
Marissa’s hands were clenched so tight her nails dug into her palms. Her voice was quiet and rough. “Why didn’t you confront me? Why didn’t you just fire me?”
When Lydia had first walked into the office, Marissa had been sure she was here to let her go.
Lydia smiled. “Why would I confront you? And as for firing you, I already said it. After the competition, if your, do an average job, you won’t need me to fire you. You’ll probably hand in your own resignation.”
Marissa frowned, looking stubborn. “And if I do well, if I place in the competition… will you let me stay?”
Lydia’s smile grew. “Of course. If you want to stay and you’ve earned it, I’d be happy to have you.”
Marissa hesitated, her voice even softer. “You really don’t mind that Parker was the one who promoted me?”
Just thinking about Lydia’s earlier comment made her cheeks burn with embarrassment.
“Your relationship with Parker is your own business. I’m not interestedin that. As long as you haven’t broken any rules and you can prove you deserve to be here, I’d be glad for you to stay.”
Lydia had already checked. Marissa hadn’t been involved in Parker’s
embezzlement gotten her job by
or any of his shady
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charming him. Sure, she’d brought a few relatives into the company to coffect easy paychecks, but Lydia was willing to let that slide for now.
The company was about to change. From now on, who stayed and who left would depend on real talent, nothing else.