There were two kinds of silence at Diamonds headquarters.
The first was strategic—when Tiana was focused, when sketches were being finalized, when a launch loomed. It was a silence charged with purpose.
The second was poisonous.
This morning, it was the latter.
Emily Lane stepped into the open-floor design studio with her usual coffee in hand, her tailored white blazer crisp, her hair twisted into an elegant knot. But the way eyes trailed after her—then darted away—put her instantly on alert.
She'd been in fashion long enough to know the difference between admiration and speculation.
And this wasn't admiration.
At the espresso machine near the fabric wall, she overheard two junior stylists whispering:
"I saw him drop her off last night. Late. She was wearing that velvet suit. Alone. With him."
"She doesn't usually let drivers in, does she?"
"I don't think he's just her driver anymore."
Emily's stomach tightened, but she didn't flinch. She breezed past them with a smile that could slice diamonds.
At her desk, she pulled out her iPad and opened the day's schedule. Tiana wasn't in yet.
Or rather—Tiana hadn't arrived.
Because for the first time in their three-year professional relationship, Tiana hadn't checked in after an event. No midnight text. No early-morning update.
Just... silence.
Emily tapped her screen rhythmically, thinking.
Last night, Dylan had driven Tiana home from the GIRLS launch review.
And he hadn't returned the car.
Her phone buzzed.
Tiana Kings: Push my 9 a.m. to 11. Reschedule the tech consult for tomorrow. And Emily—coffee. Black. No sugar.
Emily sighed. That was code for: I didn't sleep, don't ask.
But it didn't stop her curiosity.
Or the growing web of gossip spinning through the glass walls of the office like perfume.
As she passed the central design floor to head to the elevator, she caught Andre—one of the senior PR reps—smirking into his phone. When he saw her, he lowered it a little too slowly.
"You got something to say, Andre?" Emily asked sweetly.
He grinned. "You tell me. Should I congratulate you?"
"On what?"
"Keeping the boss's secrets."
Emily's eyes narrowed. "You're confusing me with someone who tolerates innuendo."
He raised his hands, backing off. "Relax. Just thought you might know if it's true."
She stepped closer. "If what's true?"
"That Dylan Haven spent the night."
Emily didn't blink. "You should spend more time reviewing press kits and less time starting whispers you can't finish."
Andre chuckled. "Touché."
Emily walked away without another word. But her mind was buzzing.
She didn't deal in gossip. She dealt in facts, efficiency, and making sure Tiana Kings remained ten steps ahead of everyone in the building.
So as soon as the elevator doors opened, she didn't hesitate.
**********
Tiana stood at the window, her silhouette outlined by the skyline.
She wore a silk robe-style blouse in dark plum, tucked into high-waisted slacks, and stilettos she hadn't bothered to kick off. Her hair was swept into a loose twist, strands escaping to frame her cheekbones.
She looked like she hadn't slept.
Emily entered without knocking, coffee in hand.
"I brought caffeine," she said. "And damage control."
Tiana turned, one brow raised. "Did I miss a scandal?"
Emily set the coffee on her desk. "You tell me."
Tiana moved behind her desk, sipping. "The launch review went exactly as planned. Praise is rolling in. Buyers are pushing up orders."
"That's not the buzz I'm hearing," Emily said.
Tiana looked up.
Emily met her gaze directly. "The team thinks Dylan spent the night."
Silence.
Then Tiana said coolly, "Let them think what they want."
"That's not an answer."
"I don't owe them one."
"No," Emily agreed. "But you might owe yourself one."
Tiana set down the coffee. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Emily approached the desk, voice gentler now. "I've watched you build this empire, T. You've made yourself untouchable—unbreakable. Every move you make is calculated. Except this one."
Tiana didn't respond.
"Was it a mistake?" Emily asked.
Tiana crossed her arms. "Do I look like someone who makes mistakes?"
Emily didn't flinch. "You look like someone who's trying very hard not to admit she cares."
A long silence followed.
Then Tiana exhaled, her voice quieter. "I didn't plan it."
Emily nodded. "That's obvious."
"It just... happened."
"And now?"
Tiana walked to the window again. "Now he's back to being quiet. Distant. He drove me here this morning and didn't even say goodbye."
Emily tilted her head. "You wanted a goodbye?"
Tiana didn't answer.
Emily sat. "T, you can control a runway, a press cycle, a market trend. But people—real feelings—don't work like your collections. They don't fit into boxes and lookbooks."
Tiana turned, arms folded tightly.
"Do you think I'm a fool?" she asked. "Falling for a man who doesn't even want me the way others do?"
"No," Emily said gently. "I think this is the first time you've fallen for someone because they don't want you the way others do."
That hit harder than expected.
Tiana sat, her posture rigid. "He won't stay."
"You don't know that."
"He doesn't believe in love, Emily."
Emily's voice was soft. "Neither did you. Until now."
Silence stretched between them.
Finally, Tiana whispered, "I don't want to be a rumor."
Emily leaned in. "Then don't be. Be the story."
Tiana's brows lifted slightly.
Emily smiled. "You're Tiana Kings. If you want something, own it. The whispers only have power if you let them live in shadows."
A slow breath. Then a nod.
Tiana stood again, regaining her poise. "Tell PR to stay silent. No comments. No confirmations."
"Done."
"And send Dylan a message."
Emily hesitated. "What should it say?"
Tiana looked her in the eye.
"Tell him I'm not interested in fairy tales. But I do play games too. If he wants to walk away, he better mean it. Because I don't chase. I build. And I won't waste what I've built waiting for someone afraid of the fire."
Emily smirked. "Now that sounds like the woman who launched GIRLS."
Tiana finally allowed a faint smile. "And tell him to bring the car around at 6. I have a dinner meeting. Alone."
Emily rose. "Message delivered. Rumors handled."
Tiana turned back to the skyline.
And though the city still buzzed below her, for the first time that day, her thoughts were silent.
Not empty.
Just focused.
Because for all her power, for all her pride, Tiana Kings had finally learned the one thing she'd spent her career avoiding:
Even the strongest women sometimes want to be chosen.