Miss Josefina: Nobody's Princess

The hallway was alive with the sounds of a heated argument.

"Alex, you're just an intern. Me putting my name on your sketches is a favor, a nod of respect. Don't push your luck!"

Ava, the company's designer, was glaring at Alex, her eyes brimming with sarcasm.

Alex stood his ground, his expression steely. "You might be the company's designer, but I drew those designs. They have nothing to do with you. What gives you the right to claim my work as your own? My designs will bear my name only!"

Ava crossed her arms, her tone dripping with disdain. "Alex, you do realize I'm mentoring you, right? If my name is on the design, I'll tell everyone you're my assistant. Your name will get out there, and your reputation will grow. Isn't that what you want?"

"No, it's not," Alex refused flatly. Fresh out of school, he didn't hesitate to speak his mind whenever something rubbed him the wrong way. Alex was fiercely defending his rights.

Ava thought she could easily manipulate the novice. "Alex, you're just a fresh intern. Whether you even get a permanent position is still up in the air. Even if you make a fuss, who's going to back you up? Remember, I'm the one with the title of designer here."

temptations. "Give me the designs, and

were red with anger, yet he refused to cave in. "I'm going to

on a man's shoulders? Do you

Ava was a woman, he might have already

Alex was swallowing his grievances, Josefina appeared. She opened the door to the hallway and stood at the threshold, her piercing dark eyes fixed on Ava. "I'm backing

with disbelief, staring at

was stunned, her face a mask of incredulity. Was Josefina an idiot for supporting Alex instead of her? She snorted, not taking Josefina seriously. "Alex

"And? Does being an intern

value talent the most! I'll stand

"Are you saying I'm less

are

as she spoke sharply, "The designs you handed in yesterday were derivative of Anya's work from last year. Did you