The venue was buzzing with excitement, a swanky gala following the fashion week festivities. The glimmer of champagne flutes, the hum of elegant conversations, and the soft clinking of glasses filled the air. Ellen stood by a window overlooking the city, taking a moment to breathe. She felt the weight of the past few weeks—of success, of her team’s hard work, of everything she had overcome. Tonight, she was finally feeling like herself.

That was until she saw them.

Rick and Alexis were standing across the room, the perfect picture of the glamorous couple they had always seemed to be. Rick, in his perfectly tailored suit, exuded that same confidence—maybe even more now, with his own reputation still tethered to his former life. Alexis, with her piercing eyes and that all-too-familiar air of superiority, was hanging onto his arm like a well-cultivated trophy.

Ellen’s heart rate kicked up a notch. She hadn’t expected to see them here, but of course, they’d show up. They always did. She had no intention of talking to them, but before she could turn to leave, Rick caught her eye. He looked at her with that familiar mix of arrogance and something darker—like he couldn’t quite figure out how to feel.

Alexis, ever the opportunist, followed his gaze. When she saw Ellen, a smirk curled at the corner of her lips. She leaned into Rick, whispering something in his ear. Rick’s face hardened, and he started walking toward Ellen, with Alexis gliding beside him, her heels clicking on the marble floor like a slow ticking clock.

Ellen’s breath caught, but she held her ground. She wasn’t going to let them have the satisfaction of seeing her rattled.

“Ellen.” Rick’s voice was cool, controlled, but there was a tension behind it. He’d never looked at her like this before—not when he wanted to win her back, and not now, when everything between them had changed. “We need to talk.”

Ellen tilted her head slightly, crossing her arms as she studied him, feeling a twinge of bitterness. “I don’t think we have anything to talk about, Rick.”

Alexis sidled up next to him, her lips painted in a sharp, calculating smile. “Oh, I’m sure you do,” she said, her voice dripping with faux sweetness. “You know, it’s just so cute that you think anyone still cares about what you’re doing. Especially after…” She gestured vaguely, as if the past didn’t even matter. “You know, all that.”

Ellen’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t flinch. Let them speak. Let them make fools of themselves. She leaned in just a little, her voice low but clear. “Still trying to tear people down to make yourself feel better, huh? How typical.”

Rick gave her a tight smile, clearly trying to assert some dominance in the conversation, but Ellen wasn’t having it. His words came out slow, measured. “We just thought you should know… You’re never going to amount to anything, Ellen. It’s cute that you think you can pull off this fashion mogul thing. But you’re not built for it. You’re not like us. You never were.”

Ellen’s heart didn’t race. If anything, she felt… calm. The words didn’t sting anymore. She had no room in her life for people who tried to put her down. Not anymore.

“Rick…” She stepped closer to him, the space between them growing small, her voice dripping with finality. “You’re right about one thing. I’m not like you. I’m not a manipulator who uses people to climb up the ladder. I’m not a fraud who hides behind someone else’s success.”

Alexis scoffed, stepping in front of Rick with a practiced motion, her eyes flashing with feigned offense. “Oh, please. Spare us your self-righteous speech, Ellen. You’ll always be the girl who needed someone else to make her feel valid. Without Rick, you were nothing. And now look at you—still nothing, just a few people who think you’re doing something special because you made a dress out of plastic.” She sneered. “You’re a joke. You’ll fade out soon enough, just like everyone else who thinks they can play in the big leagues.”

Rick took a half-step forward, his voice growing more forceful. “You’re embarrassing yourself, Ellen. You really think anyone’s going to care about your ‘cause’ for more than a season? People forget. People move on. You think you’ve ‘changed the world’ with some recycled fabrics? This industry doesn’t care about your idealism, no matter how much you want it to. You’ll get your moment, but it’ll pass. Just like everything else.”

Ellen looked at them, really looked at them, her mind sharp and focused. Their words were meant to hurt, but they didn’t even register. Instead, she felt an overwhelming sense of clarity. These two, the ones who had torn her down time and time again, were still the same: empty. Insecure. Desperate for validation.

“Rick, Alexis,” she said, her voice now cold but strong, “I’ve seen this game before. And it’s pathetic. You’re both perfect for each other, you know. The way you tear others down to make yourselves feel powerful, the way you pretend to be something you’re not. You’re both master manipulators, hiding behind your pretty faces and your money. But guess what? The world’s changing, and the kind of people you are don’t last. You’ll be exposed for exactly what you are—and I’ll be standing on the other side, looking down at you from where I’ve already built my empire.”

Alexis’s jaw tightened, and for a brief moment, her mask slipped. “You really think you can take me down, Ellen?” Her voice was low, almost venomous. “You’re delusional.”

Ellen smiled. “I don’t need to take you down, Alexis. You’ll do that to yourselves. But trust me—you’re not my competition. You’re not even in the same league. I’ve already won. I am what you were both too small-minded to ever understand. So, enjoy your hollow victory. I’m busy building something that actually matters.”

Rick looked almost confused by her words, the tiny thread of doubt he had about Alexis starting to show. But Alexis stepped in between them, fixing her eyes on Ellen with a tight smile. “This isn’t over, Ellen. You’ll see. We always get what we want in the end.”

Ellen’s eyes flicked from Rick to Alexis, and she shook her head, almost pitying them. “I don’t need to ‘win’ against you, Alexis. I’ve already won. And trust me, you’re not going to like where I’m going next.”