NESSA
Nessa awoke to her buzzing phone. Still drowsy, she reached over, grabbing it. When the screen lit up Nessa saw several missed texts and calls from her secretary. Oh no, it was 11:00 am; she was supposed to be at work over an hour ago! Nessa abruptly bolted out of bed and quickly changed into a navy dress with gold embroidery. She had worn it yesterday, but it didn’t matter, she had to go. She brushed her teeth, slicked her hair into a tight bun, put on a coat of red lipstick, threw on her black pumps, grabbed her purse, and was out the door.
Nessa would normally stop at the local café to get a croissant and a hot chocolate, but today she didn’t have time. She should have been at work over an hour ago… she was so late. She had forgotten to take her phone off silent while she was working on picking out the fabrics for the designs. When she checked it this morning her secretary Violet had called and texted her several times. Violet was probably wondering where Nessa was. Nessa had never been late for work before. She was normally there before her secretary.

VIOLET
Violet checked her phone for the tenth time. Nessa still hadn’t responded to her texts or calls. Violet had called and texted Nessa multiple times. Where was she? Violet wasn’t always on time, but she was never an hour late like Nessa. Everyone was waiting for her. Nessa was supposed to tell everyone the color of the fabrics she wanted, so that they could source them and start sewing. Nessa had promised to tell everyone yesterday, but she said that she wasn’t done figuring it out and that she would be ready today. Nessa never had anything in order and always left everyone scrambling. “I’m here,” said an out of breath voice behind Violet. Nessa had finally arrived. “You’re here. Do you have the color of the fabrics picked out?” asked Violet. The look on Nessa’s face showed Violet the thing she most dreaded to hear. “You don’t have them picked out?” inquired Violet. “I don’t, but don’t worry I promise I will have them ready by tomorrow.” responded Nessa. More empty promises thought Violet. “Well that’s ok,” said Violet putting a fake look of kindness on her face to mask the anger bubbling up in her veins. Nessa apologized again and then left for her office. Violet was glad when she did because she was just about to explode with rage. Nessa didn’t understand how lucky she was to have rich parents that could afford to send her to Paris and lend her the money to start her own fashion line. Violets’ parents were dirt poor and Violet had to work extremely hard to earn enough money to even go to Paris. Violet had worked extremely hard for Nessa just to be able to make enough money to pay rent, all while Nessa lived rent free in the apartment her parents owned. Violet thought to herself how ungrateful and undeserving Nessa was to have her own fashion house. Violet would do anything to have the kind of life Nessa had.

THE ACCIDENT
After working for a few hours, Nessa decided to head home. On her way, she decided to stop at her favorite restaurant in Paris, “La Bella Italian.” Everyone knew how she loved that restaurant. She saw the restaurant’s bright lights from across the street where she was standing. When the light turned red, she proceeded to walk across the street but midway, she saw a bright light to her right and before she could turn, everything went black, and her whole body radiated with pain. Then the pain just stopped.

THE TAKEOVER
“I’m so sorry to inform everyone,” Violet said, a tear slipping from her eye, “but while walking to a restaurant Nessa unfortunately,” Violet almost chocked on the words “was hit by a truck and didn’t survive the impact.” Everyone in the room gasped, and some even cried. They enjoyed the time they spent with Nessa and had become very close to her. “Does this mean that we’re not going to do the fashion show?” a worker asked. “Of course, we’re still going to do it! I know this is a hard time for everyone, but I will take the liberty of being your new boss,” said Violet. Some workers didn’t look so happy hearing the news, so Violet added, “We will do it in honor of Nessa of course.” Before anyone asked another question Violet said, “Why don’t we all get back to work.” Violet dashed off before anyone could interject anything. When Violet entered Nessa’s office it was a mess with pieces of paper and design sketches everywhere. She picked up some of the sketches Nessa had done. She had to admit they were good, better than anything she could have come up with. Violet was now the new “Fashion Queen.” When a worker named Lacy came into Nessa’s, well Violet’s new office, she asked Violet for any designs she wanted put into production. Violet knew that her designs were not as great as Nessa’s and that as the new boss everyone was counting on her to come up with great ideas. So, Violet decided to just claim Nessa’s sketches as her own. She was dead anyway. “Here are a few of my sketches.” She handed some to Lacy. Lacy took a look and said, “These look like the sketches Nessa showed me yesterday.” Violet quickly replied, “They’re not! These are mine; now get back to work.” Lacy didn’t look too convinced but left as told. Before Violet could start working, she had a text she had to send:
Darling Pierre,
Thank you so much for all your help. I’ve always wanted to run my own fashion line and now I can, now that my boss is out of the way…. It’s all thanks to you! MERCI. See you tonight!
Love,
Your Violet