Chapter 15 Cherry

　　Seven Years Later 　　Afternoon light flooded my art studio as I traipsed up the stairs into the airy space. Maisy, my assistant designer, trailed behind me, slower as she gingerly ascended with a gown draped across her arms as though it were made of glass. 　　“Put it on the mannequin, and you can get on with the alterations this afternoon,” I said. 　　“Sure thing,” Maisy chirped. 　　My heels clicked over the hardwood floors, and I folded myself gratefully into my desk chair. I didn’t think I’d sat down all day. 　　My gaze tracked to the dress Maisy was draping over the mannequin. The striking burgundy gown was a bespoke number made for the actress AJ West. She’d requested me to make something for the BAFTA award ceremony she was attending as a nominee. It wasn’t for another month, and I was pleased with the fitting we’d just had with AJ and that the final alterations had been agreed on. 　　I slipped one foot out of my heels, massaging its arch with my other foot. The downside to designing