#Chapter 148: Bully

Agnes The following morning, I stood in the design department’s fabric storeroom, surrounded by endless bolts of luxurious materials. How long had I been in here? Minutes? Hours? The sketches for my new dress were complete, and the patterns were cut, but I still couldn’t decide on a color. After the disaster with the emerald gown, I wanted something different, something that would make a statement without reminding anyone of the fashion show incident. My fingers traced over a bolt of midnight blue silk, then moved to a deep burgundy velvet. Neither felt right. The dress design was bold, almost armor-like with its structured bodice and dramatic lines. It needed a color that would complement the design without overpowering it. I pulled out my phone to snap pictures of a few swatches side by side when it started buzzing in my hand. The caller ID showed Thea’s school. My stomach instantly knotted. “Hello?” I answered, moving away from the fabric racks. “