The afternoon sun cast long, golden shadows across the expansive floor of the Cross Industries executive boardroom. The room was a testament to Kaelen Cross’s aesthetic: sharp angles, dark slate, and floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a commanding view of the Manhattan skyline.

Serena stood at

The design studio at Cross Industries was a sanctuary of controlled chaos. Bolts of Kyoto silk were draped over heavy mahogany cutting tables, their rich textures catching the morning light that streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Pinned to the corkboards lining the walls were dozens of s

Julian Thorne stood by the floor-to-ceiling window of his penthouse office, staring blindly at the sprawling Manhattan skyline. His knuckles were white as he gripped the edge of his mahogany desk. On the massive flat-screen television mounted to the wall, a news anchor was breathlessly recapping the