Collaborating with AL

KAILEE

“Five minutes? The original timeframe was thirty minutes.”

I had no idea what was running through Ashton’s mind when he said that. But there was no way he expected me to deliver thirty designs in five minutes.

He shifted his attention to the files in front of him, then picked up a pen without glancing at me.

“Your time started thirty seconds ago, Ms. Donovan.”

My teeth clenched. I almost grabbed my things to leave, but I needed to prove to Sasha that she’d made the right decision by choosing me for this.

I didn’t waste another second with him. I retrieved my sketches and began briefing everyone on the designs.

Ashton’s eyes were on me the whole time. Rather than staring at the designs, he studied me with an unreadable expression, his back reclined against his chair.

“I couldn’t find any white designs,” he said three minutes later. “Care to explain that, Ms. Donovan?”

I almost scoffed at how professional he sounded. Forcing a smile, I replied politely.

“We’re approaching the rainy season, Mr. Lancaster. Since it’s going to be an outdoor shoot, we don’t want the models battling to keep the clothes clean.”

“The fifth design…”

“Is something wrong with it, Mr. Lancaster? Or are you trying to find a reason to say anything?”

The others murmured, but went silent the moment Ashton sat upright in his chair.

His expression hardened, and his voice grew sterner than it was when he walked in.

“I don’t like it.”

I set my sketches down on the table. “Okay.”

“You’ve got less than two minutes to conclude whatever this is.”

Then he turned his face away. My chest tightened as I looked at him, but I refused to let his words knock my confidence.

Barely two minutes later, Ashton got up while I was still talking. Zade followed him closely, carrying the briefcase Ashton brought in with him.

“Meeting closed,” he said, brushing past me without another glance. “Zade will convey whatever conclusion I have.”

Everyone started leaving after he walked out. I carefully arranged my things, praying silently for my past to be kept away from my future.

I waited outside Ashton’s office as directed by his secretary. Thirty-five minutes later, Zade approached me with a solemn look.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Donovan. Mr. Lancaster said your pitch was inadequate and Lancaster International is declining the collaboration.”

My heart sank into my stomach. A cold air swept over me, and I felt incompetent.

What would Sasha think? That she’d made the wrong choice?

Tessa wouldn’t let me hear the half of it, and my promotion… I might never get it.

“What?” I whispered. “He gave me five minutes to pitch, made me wait here for thirty-five more minutes just to reject me?”

“I’m truly sorry for the inconvenience, Ms. Donovan.”

I glanced at his door, anger rising in my chest. Without thinking twice, I stormed forward and pushed the door open.

He sat in his chair, sipping a cup of coffee. Ashton raised his head to me and frowned.

“Who let you in here?”

“I demand a fair time to propose my designs,” I said, halting a few steps away from his table. “That’s after telling me what exactly was wrong with those designs.”

He scoffed, then slowly dropped his cup in its saucer.

“They were inadequate.”

“In what way?”

“I’d appreciate it if you take your leave, Ms. Donovan. I’m a very busy man.”

My hands clenched into fists. He rolled up his sleeves and returned to the files on his desk.

“Your judgement doesn’t make my designs worthless,” I muttered. “You might be a busy man, but I’m a woman who knows her capabilities. Admit it or not, you’ve been unfair and unreasonable since you walked into the boardroom and saw me. Maybe you’re not so professional after all.”

I didn’t wait for his response before walking out of his office. Zade stood outside, terror etched on his face. Ashton would probably yell at him for letting me in.

I took a cab back to Bloom Fashion, bothered and thinking of a way to break the news to Sasha.

She was talking to Tessa when I walked in, and my stomach immediately dropped.

“Kailee,” she chimed after turning around to see me standing behind her. “You’re back.”

I licked my lips nervously. Tessa rolled her eyes at me before excusing herself.

“I am.”

“I wasn’t expecting you to return early.”

“Sasha,” I whispered. “There’s something I have to tell you.”

She gently pulled my arm and led the way into her office.

“I was just telling Tessa about how well you handled the proposal. Lancaster International agreed to the collaboration.”

I froze for a second, staring at her like she’d said something foreign.

“Wait, what?”

How was that possible?

Ashton had refused the collaboration.

Sasha nodded excitedly. “I got a call from the CEO of Lancaster International a few minutes ago. He said he loved your designs and would like to begin the collaboration as soon as possible.”

“He said that?”

“Yes. Wasn’t that the news you had for me?”

I forced another smile, my heart thumping in relief. My efforts paid off after all, and maybe my promotion spot still stood.

But what I couldn’t understand was why Ashton had changed his mind.

“Of course, it was.”

“Although, some changes have been made in the original arrangements. Lancaster International wants a representative from our team to work closely with their designers. So, you’ll temporarily relocate to Lancaster International for the six-month duration.”

My eyes widened. I clutched my bag tightly, unsure if I’d heard correctly.

“You want me to relocate to Lancaster International?”

Working in the same company with Ashton Lancaster? I couldn’t see how that would work after watching the way he’d acted earlier.

He’d grown stern, demanding, impatient, and that wasn’t something I could put up with for six months.

Sasha walked to her seat, sorting through the files on her desk.

“The arrangement is understandable since you would be working with their top designers,” she whispered. “Also, Mr. Lancaster specifically requested that you resume working there on Monday.”