CLAIRE

"Celebrating how?" Sofia asked.

"Team dinner," I decided. "Tonight, somewhere nice, company pays."

Excited chatter filled the room. "Where are we going?" Rebecca asked.

"I'll make a reservation," Nina offered. "Somewhere in the city with cocktails and good food."

"Perfect," I agreed.

The rest of the afternoon was spent cleaning up and planning for the next orders. By five PM, Nina had secured a reservation at an Italian restaurant.

"Seven PM," she announced. "Table for fourteen."

"Fourteen?" I asked.

"You, me, the twelve seamstresses," Nina counted. "Unless you're not coming?"

"I'm absolutely coming," I confirmed.

I spent the next hour at my desk, responding to emails and updating social...