Evelyn felt the weight of a stare.

She turned to see Genevieve Prescott looking right at her.

Genevieve scoffed. She lifted her chin, a smirk playing on her lips. "Is there a problem?" she asked, her voice dripping with condescension.

Her group of followers immediately chimed in. Their voices overlapped, a chorus of mockery.

"Who is she? I've never seen her before."

"Does she have any notable work? Or did she just wander in off the street?"

"How does someone like her dare to show up here? She looks straight out of design school. The nerve to apply at Aethelgard Industries is laughable."

"Exactly. Aethelgard only interviews established designers. People with real portfolios. How did her resume even get past screening?"

Evelyn understood instantly. This was a targeted attempt to humiliate her. She kept her expression neutral, her gaze cool.

"So," Evelyn said, her voice even. "I assume you are all famous, then?"

Genevieve let out a derisive laugh. Her eyes were full of arrogance. "New to the industry and this ignorant? Do you even follow design news?"

She gestured dismissively around the waiting room. "Look at where you are. You're already at a disadvantage. Now you're proving you don't even know your competition."

Laughter rippled through her clique.

"How pathetic. No reputation. No knowledge of top designers. Why are you even here?"

"Let's educate her," one woman said, looking at Genevieve with admiration. "This is Genevieve Prescott. You're from Crestwood, right? How can you not know her?"

She paused for dramatic effect. "She's from the prestigious Prescott family. Incredibly talented. Adored by hundreds of thousands online."

Evelyn's eyes narrowed slightly. A memory clicked into place. "So," she said slowly. "You're Genevieve Prescott?"

Genevieve practically preened under the recognition. Pride filled her expression. She tilted her chin higher. "That's correct. You've heard of me? I suppose you're not completely clueless."

Evelyn offered a small, deliberate smile. "Oh, I've heard your name." Her tone was deceptively light. "I heard your design academy thesis was ghostwritten. And that it got exposed online when you refused to pay. Is that true? I must admit, I'm curious."

The air in the room shifted.

That scandal had been a major humiliation for Genevieve. The ghostwriter had presented undeniable evidence. The Prescott family had spent a fortune to bury the story. Most people had forgotten.

Until now.

Evelyn hadn't thought about it until someone emphasized Genevieve's reputation. The memory surfaced clearly.

Since they had gone out of their way to mock her, she saw no reason to hold back.

Genevieve's face flushed a deep, angry red. "How dare you!" she snapped. "Everyone knows I was framed! It was a jealous attempt to ruin my career!"

Her outburst drew quiet, knowing chuckles from the other designers in the room.

The veterans in the design world remembered the incident well.

Genevieve was speechless, sputtering in rage. Her followers quickly jumped to her defense. One pointed an accusatory finger at Evelyn. "What is your problem? You can't stand that you'll never be on her level, so you resort to baseless accusations? You will retract that and apologize to Ms. Prescott immediately. Or prepare for a lawsuit!"