Chapter 154 Work Day

Chapter 154 Work Day
Maddie's POV

The hum of sewing machines and the clatter of fabric being cut in the section next to Miranda's office filled the office, making it feel like the center of a small, controlled storm. I sat at the large drafting table, my eyes skimming over one of the final designs, making last minute tweaks as I sipped my lukewarm coffee. Miranda was pacing back and forth, deep in conversation with one of the tailors, her hands animated as she gave instructions. The air was electric with anticipation as the fashion show Miranda had put together was fast approaching.

This was the culmination of months of work that she put into it, our sketches, fabrics, fittings, and it was all coming together, even in the last minute chaotic way that fashion always seemed to demand. But what made it even more special was that part of the collection was a girl’s fashion line, inspired entirely by Bella. I glanced over at her, sitting on a plush chair with her sketchpad balanced on her knees, her brow furrowed in concentration as she carefully sketched.

I smiled, pride swelling in my chest. Bella had taken to sketching like a fish to water. She had such a natural eye for design, and watching her pour her little heart into it was nothing short of magical. I never expected that this project would give her such an outlet, but it was one of the most fulfilling parts of the process for me.

"Maddie, are we good with the pink chiffon for the third look?" Miranda’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

I nodded, flipping through the stack of sketches. “Yes, it’s perfect for the flowy effect we wanted. I just need to confirm the length during the final fitting.”

Miranda nodded, satisfied, but her eyes were already moving to the next task. She had a laser-sharp focus, especially when things were down to the wire. I admired that about her, even if it sometimes meant she worked us to the bone.

“I can’t believe how fast this show is coming together,” Miranda said, her voice buzzing with excitement. “This collection is going to be fantastic. The combination of your sketches and Bella’s inspiration... it’s going to steal the show.”

I smiled, though I felt a bit of that familiar nervousness creeping in. “I hope so. It’s still surreal seeing my designs come to life like this.”

Miranda grinned at me, her usual confidence shining through. “Maddie, trust me. This is your best work yet. You have pushed yourself in ways that are going to leave people speechless.”

I glanced at Bella, who had paused her sketching to look at us. Her eyes were wide with excitement, her little legs swinging off the edge of her chair. “Maddie, when will we see the dresses?” she asked, her voice filled with curiosity.

I stood up from my seat and walked over to her, kneeling so we were at eye level. “Soon. They are finishing them up now. Remember the pink one we designed together? You will get to see it on the runway.”

Her face lit up, her smile beaming from ear to ear. “I can’t wait!” she jumped with excitement.

Miranda stepped beside us, her eyes twinkling as she looked at Bella. “You know, Bella, you are a real fashionista in the making. Maybe one day you will be designing your own full collection.”

Bella giggled, the sound filling the room. “I want to make dresses like Maddie!”

I couldn’t help but laugh, wrapping my arms around her and planting a kiss on the top of her head. “You’re already doing it.” I said as I pulled back.

As Bella went back to her sketchpad, Miranda turned to me, an expectant look in her eyes. “So, Maddie… I wanted to ask you something.” I stood up from my kneeling position.

I could tell by her tone that she was up to something. “What is it?”

“I want you to join Lana on the runway,” she said, as if it were the most casual thing in the world.

I blinked, caught off guard. “What? Me? On the runway?” I couldn't be on the runway to model.

Miranda nodded, her expression serious. “Yes, you. Look, you are the designer, and I think it would be amazing for you to walk alongside your work. Plus, you have been working so hard on this collection, it’s only fitting that you take the spotlight.”

I felt a wave of anxiety wash over me. The idea of walking down a runway in front of hundreds of people was… overwhelming. I wasn’t a model. I was a designer, a behind-the-scenes person. I loved the process, the creativity, but being the center of attention like that? It wasn’t me.

“I don’t know, Miranda,” I said hesitantly. “I don’t feel comfortable doing that. I’m more of a ‘stay in the background’ kind of person.”

Miranda crossed her arms, giving me that determined look she always did when she wasn’t going to let something go. “Maddie, this is your moment. You have earned this. And it’s not like you will be alone. Lana will be there with you.”

I shook my head, feeling the nerves creeping up my spine. “I appreciate it, but I would rather not. I will appear on stage as the designer, but I would feel more comfortable with Bella by my side instead of walking the runway.”

She raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting that answer. “You want Bella to go on stage with you?”

I smiled down at Bella, who was lost in her sketches once again, her little hand moving across the paper with focus. “Yes. She has been such a big part of this collection. The girl’s line is inspired by her, after all. It would mean the world to me to have her there.”

Miranda paused for a moment, then smiled, her stern expression softening. “You know what? That’s even better. You and Bella together...it will be perfect.”

I felt a surge of relief, grateful that Miranda was understanding. I wasn’t cut out for the spotlight, but seeing Bella’s face light up as she stood on stage with me, proud of the designs she helped inspire… that was a moment I wanted to share.

“Thank you,” I said, my voice softer now. “This means a lot.”

Miranda nodded, her eyes warm with approval. “You’re welcome. And don’t worry, everything is going to be amazing. The audience is going to love the collection. And seeing you and Bella together up there? It will be the highlight of the show.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “I hope so.”



The rest of the day went by in a blur. We were busy with last minute preparations, fittings, and confirming details with the team. Bella stayed close, continuing to sketch as we worked, occasionally showing me her drawings with so much pride it made my heart swell.

I found myself sitting beside her, watching her as she focused intently on her work. She could spend hours with it if she wanted to. Her little brow was furrowed. She was so full of life, of creativity, and I realized that no matter how much pressure I felt from the fashion world, moments like this, seeing my step-daughter inspired by what I loved, made it all worth it.

“Maddie, look!” she said, holding up her latest drawing. It was a dress, pink and sparkly, with little hearts all over it.

“That’s beautiful,” I said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re going to be a great designer one day.”

She beamed at me, her eyes shining with excitement. “I want to be just like you.”

I felt my heart swell with pride, and I wrapped her in a hug. “You will be better than me one day. Would you like to get something to eat with me?” I asked.

She nodded and placed her sketch pad down, as she got off the chair. I grabbed my purse and took her little hand in mine as we walked out of Miranda's office.



Mariko's POV

Sitting behind my desk, I glanced up at the chair across from me, and there was Angel, a pen twirling between her fingers as if she were a businesswoman in the making. It was bring-your-kids-to-work day, and while Bella was off with Maddie, busy working on the fashion show with Miranda, Angel had insisted on coming with me. She said she wanted to learn about "the business world" and had peppered me with questions since we got here.

I couldn’t help but smile at her eagerness. Watching her was like seeing a younger version of myself, so full of curiosity and determination.

"So," Angel began, her voice serious as she looked at me with those big, wide eyes. "What exactly do you do here?" she asked.

I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms, happy to indulge her curiosity. "Well, I'm a director in this company, I am basically second in command. We help other businesses grow by giving them the tools and support they need to succeed, like money, advice, and sometimes helping them figure out their big plans. We also partner up with other businesses," I explained.

Angel's brow furrowed, and she nodded, as if trying to take it all in. "So you help them make money?"

"Exactly," I said, smiling. "And make better decisions for their future. It's not just about money, though. It's about making sure they are making smart choices for their company. It’s kind of like guiding them."

Her eyes lit up with understanding. "Like how you help me and Bella with our schoolwork at times?"

I chuckled. "Something like that, yes. Except with a lot more paperwork and meetings."

Angel sat up straighter, clearly intrigued. "I think I want to do business. I want to help people make good decisions and maybe even start my own company one day."

Hearing her say that made me proud, and my chest swelled with warmth. "I think you would be really good at it, Angel. You are smart, and you care about doing things the right way. But there is plenty of time for all that. You just focus on your school for now, and when you are older, I will help you with whatever you want to do."

She smiled at that, a gleam of excitement in her eyes. "Thank you. I'm going to think of all the businesses I can start. Maybe something for kids... like toys or clothes."

I raised an eyebrow. "Toys and clothes, huh? That is a pretty big market."

She grinned, looking pleased with herself. "Yep. I already have ideas. But I will tell you later when I have more."

I laughed softly. "I can't wait to hear them."

Just then, Angel glanced at the clock on my desk. "I'm going to get some lunch from the cafeteria. Do you want anything?" she asked.

I shook my head. "No, I'm good. Go ahead. And don't forget to take your pass with you, okay?" The pass was given to kids along with stickers to identify them whenever they walked around.

She nodded, hopping off the chair and grabbing her pass from the desk before heading toward the door. "I will be right back!" she walked out.

As the door clicked shut behind her, I took a deep breath and leaned back in my chair, letting the quiet of my office settle around me. It felt nice having Angel here, a reminder of why I worked so hard every day.



Moments later, the door opened again, and this time it was Reggie who stepped in. He had a way of entering a room that made it feel like he was bringing a burst of energy with him, even in the most mundane settings.

"Mariko," he greeted with a nod as he walked in, glancing at the now empty chair Angel had occupied. "I see you have some company today."

I smiled, gesturing for him to sit. "Yeah, Angel's been grilling me about business. She has ideas already."

Reggie chuckled, taking the seat across from me. "That girl has ambition. Good for her."

I nodded, leaning forward, my tone shifting as I addressed the question I knew was coming. "So, how are things going on your end?"

"All good," he said. He gave me a knowing look, but before he said anything else, he asked the question I had been expecting. "How are you and Maddie holding up?"

I hesitated for a moment, weighing my words. "We are fine. Better, actually. I’m just... relieved Maddie didn’t go through with the procedure."

His eyebrows lifted in surprise, but the smile that followed was full of understanding. "I’m glad to hear that. I know how much that decision weighed on you both."

I nodded, feeling the weight of my own thoughts. "Yeah. I mean, it’s her body, her choice. I would never want to pressure her into something she wasn’t sure about. But when she changed her mind at the last minute... I don’t know. A part of me was relieved, even though I still want to respect her wishes. It’s just hard."

Reggie leaned back in his chair, his gaze steady as he considered my words. "It’s understandable. You want to be supportive, but at the same time, you have your own feelings about it. That is natural. What matters is that you both talked it through, and she made a decision that felt right for her."

"Yeah," I said quietly, staring at my hands for a moment. "I just want us to focus on what we have right now. We have a good family, and I don’t want to add to the stress. Maddie has been through a lot."

Reggie nodded, his expression thoughtful. "It’s good that you are thinking about that. You have your priorities straight. Maddie’s wellbeing comes first, and you have been there for her. Just keep supporting her, and she will do the same for you."

I let out a long breath, feeling the tension ease slightly. "Yeah, you’re right. I’m just trying to do the best I can."

He gave me a reassuring smile. "That’s all anyone can do, my friend."

There was a brief pause, a comfortable silence between us. Then he shifted gears, pulling out his tablet and glancing at the screen. "Alright, enough about that. We have that meeting next week with the investors. I wanted to go over a few details with you before then."

I nodded, grateful for the change in topic. "Of course. What do we need to cover?"

Reggie pulled up some notes, and we spent the next few minutes discussing the upcoming meeting, going over projections, and making sure we had everything lined up for the presentation. It felt good to focus on work, something tangible that I could control.

As we wrapped up, Reggie stood, tucking his tablet under his arm. "Everything looks good on my end. We will be ready for the investors next week."

"Thank you," I said, standing as well to walk him to the door.

He turned back to me before leaving, his expression softer this time. "And Mariko, remember, you are doing a great job, both at work and at home. Just keep going, one step at a time."

I smiled, appreciating the support. "I will. Thanks again."

As he left, I returned to my desk, letting out a slow breath. I was glad for the distraction of work, but the conversation about Maddie still lingered in the back of my mind. It wasn’t easy juggling everything, being a father, a husband, being second in command to this business, but I knew I wasn’t alone in it. Maddie and I were in this together, and that’s what mattered the most.

I looked at the clock, realizing Angel would probably be back from lunch soon. As much as I wanted to dive back into work, the thought of spending the rest of the day showing her the ropes at the office felt like the perfect balance to everything else swirling in my head. It was moments like this, small and meaningful, that reminded me of what I was working for in the first place. And with that thought, I got back to work, feeling a little lighter and more at peace.