The soft hum of the city outside was drowned by the quiet warmth inside Emily's apartment. It was a Saturday morning, the kind that typically promised a break from the constant rush of the workweek. Yet here Emily was, sitting cross-legged on her couch, her laptop open in front of her. Papers with Girls branding were scattered across the coffee table, alongside her phone and a few cups of half-drunk coffee.
Normally, she would have taken this time to relax—perhaps gone for a walk in the park or grabbed brunch with friends. But instead, she was hunched over the laptop, going over the Girls project with a meticulous eye. Tiana's expectations were high, and Emily was determined not to disappoint. The brand was meant to be a game-changer—a clothing line designed to empower women, help them reclaim their confidence, and redefine femininity on their terms. But the stakes had only grown higher as the days passed.
Emily tapped a few keys, scrolling through the designs and notes Tiana had passed along, when the doorbell rang.
She straightened up, closing her laptop with a sigh, and made her way to the door. There stood Tiana, standing tall and poised, just as she always did. Even on a Saturday morning, when most people would be dressed in comfortable clothes, Tiana wore a black leather jacket, fitted trousers, and her signature high heels. Her cold, calculated aura didn't dissipate with the weekend—if anything, it seemed to intensify.
"Morning," Emily said, a small smile crossing her face, though she couldn't ignore the slight unease that always seemed to pulse when she was around Tiana.
"Morning," Tiana replied, stepping inside without invitation, as she always did. She moved like someone who belonged everywhere she went—assertive, decisive, without a single glance of hesitation.
Emily closed the door behind her, glancing at the coffee table where papers were scattered.
"I was just going through the Girls project," Emily said, motioning to the documents. "I was hoping we could have a quick rundown. I know we've already discussed it, but—"
Tiana's sharp gaze flicked over the room, sweeping across the scattered papers, before landing on Emily's face. Her eyes, always so unreadable, were impossibly cold, even more so than usual. It was like talking to an ice queen. "I trust you've gone over the details, Emily. I don't need to discuss it again. Just execute."
The words stung a little, but Emily tried not to show it. Instead, she nodded, taking a breath. Tiana had always been like this—efficient, to the point, and often dismissive. Still, the coldness in her tone this time felt different. She couldn't help but wonder what was weighing on Tiana's mind.
"Right," Emily said, glancing at her phone. "I've also reached out to potential influencers for the launch, and I've got a few model options for the shoot. Do you want to review the list? I'm happy to adjust if there's anyone you have in mind."
Tiana didn't respond immediately. Instead, she lowered herself into one of the chairs, her back straight, her posture perfect, as if she were still sitting in her glass-walled office overseeing the whole world. The room felt colder the moment she sat down, and Emily couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
Tiana's gaze was now fixed out the window, her fingers drumming lightly on the armrest of the chair. "I don't need to go through the models," she said after a beat. "You know my standards. Just make sure they represent strength. And make sure we have women of all backgrounds. This brand is for every woman, not just a select few."
Emily gave a nod, trying to push past the undercurrent of tension. "Of course. I've got a great selection, and I'll send you the final list once I narrow it down."
Tiana's eyes shifted to her, and for the first time, Emily saw something like vulnerability in her eyes, though it was gone almost as quickly as it appeared. The briefest flicker of something more human, something soft, before Tiana returned to her usual impassive expression.
"You should focus on the details. The brand launch needs to be flawless." Tiana's voice, though quiet, was firm, a low hum of authority.
Emily tried not to get caught up in the emotion that was rising in her chest. Tiana's coldness was nothing new, but there was something different today. Something that gnawed at her—a feeling that had been steadily growing since their meeting earlier in the week. The way Tiana kept everyone at arm's length. The way she never allowed anyone to truly get close, even on a Saturday when the rest of the world slowed down.
"Is everything okay, Tiana?" Emily asked before she could stop herself. The words hung in the air for a moment, and Emily immediately regretted them.
Tiana's eyes narrowed slightly, her posture stiffening. "I'm fine," she said sharply. "Why do you ask?"
"I—I don't know," Emily stammered. "It's just… you seem so distant, even today. I mean, it's Saturday. Aren't you… are you going to take a break or relax a little?" Emily almost felt bad for asking. She knew Tiana's idea of relaxation didn't involve the same things as others. But the words were out now, and they lingered between them, unspoken but undeniable.
Tiana's eyes flicked to the window again, her lips pressing into a tight line. "I don't need a break," she said, her voice devoid of emotion. "Work never stops. You know that, Emily. Diamonds is my life, and until it's where I want it to be, I'll continue to give it everything I have."
Her words, though seemingly mundane, carried weight. There was something behind them that spoke volumes—a silent plea, maybe, but it was hidden beneath layers of self-control. Emily knew better than to push further.
Instead, she took a deep breath and nodded, trying to maintain her professionalism. "I get that. I do. But… even people like you need time away from work, don't you?"
Tiana's gaze sharpened, her eyes flashing momentarily, but she quickly masked it. "I don't have time for that," she said quietly, almost to herself, as though the words weren't meant for Emily's ears.
Emily felt a pang of something unfamiliar—a mix of sympathy and confusion. Tiana, for all her strength and cold precision, was a woman burdened by something deeper, something Emily couldn't quite understand. She was so determined, so focused, that it almost seemed like she was running from something. But what?
For a moment, the room felt heavy. The walls seemed to close in around them, and Emily couldn't quite shake the feeling that Tiana was shutting herself off from more than just work. The cold, distant woman in front of her wasn't just managing a company—she was managing her emotions, keeping them buried under a wall of control.
But Emily, though she'd tried not to, couldn't help but wonder: what was Tiana running from?
The silence stretched between them, thick and uncomfortable, before Tiana finally stood up. "We're done here. Keep me updated," she said, her tone sharp, dismissing the conversation as easily as she had started it.
Emily stood too, feeling the weight of the unspoken words still hanging in the air. She nodded, though her mind was elsewhere, her thoughts racing.
"Of course. I'll send over the finalized plans tomorrow. Have a good day, Tiana."
Tiana didn't respond, only giving a brief nod before walking toward the door. She paused, her hand on the doorknob, and without turning around, said, "Just remember: Girls is my legacy. Don't fail me."
The door clicked shut behind her, leaving Emily standing in the middle of the room, the echo of Tiana's words still ringing in her ears
As the silence filled the apartment, Emily found herself staring at the table full of papers. The weight of Girls still pressed down on her, but now there was something else in her mind: a growing unease, a gnawing curiosity about Tiana that refused to go away.
She glanced at the clock on her phone and exhaled, pushing aside the nagging feeling that she had just witnessed something she shouldn't have. There was a coldness in Tiana's eyes that had nothing to do with business—it was personal.
But what was it?
And why did it feel like there was a story waiting to unfold beneath the icy surface of the woman who ran Diamonds?