Chapter 22: Ravi’s Interview

It had been two weeks since Purdey had returned from Bali and work had become really busy again both during the day at Atelier Axis with demanding clients from Singapore, and late nights where Purdey was creating new content to maintain her top spot. The competition had grown fierce, especially with Paris Ow Yang aggressively vying for her position. Their rivalry had escalated into a virtual duel of daring outfits and public appearances. Purdey had countered Paris’s revealing lingerie sets with her own barely-there ensembles at exclusive Sydney rooftop parties, drawing gasps when she appeared in a sheer mesh dress at the harbour front that left little to imagination. She’d followed this with a strategic brunch at Bondi’s most photographed café wearing a dangerously low-cut bodysuit paired with the thinnest silk wrap skirt, ensuring the paparazzi captured every angle. The daughter of Sydney’s elite medical family had responded with increasingly provocative content, but Purdey maintained her edge through carefully orchestrated public sightings in risqué outfits that toed the line of decency while showcasing her superior styling and confidence—qualities her younger competitor had yet to master despite her growing following.

Purdey woke to the shrill ring of her phone, swimming up from layers of deep sleep like a diver ascending through murky waters. The bedroom was bathed in mid-morning light that filtered through half-closed blinds, casting slanted golden bars across her rumpled sheets. The German Au-Pair, Nadine, had been a godsend—keeping the girls occupied after school yesterday while Purdey collapsed into bed, her body spent from consecutive nights of minimal sleep, her mind still buzzing with design concepts and content strategies even as exhaustion claimed her.

Her hand fumbled across the polished wood of the nightstand, knocking over a glass of water before locating her phone. The cool liquid soaked into the carpet, another mess to deal with in her already chaotic life.

“Hello?” Her voice came out raspy, throat dry from mouth-breathing through the night.

“Are you coming to work today?” Gin’s crisp voice cut through her grogginess like a cold splash of water. “It’s nearly ten.”

Purdey bolted upright, blinking at her bedside clock, the red digits confirming her tardiness. A wave of panic surged through her chest. “Shit. My alarm—” The words died in her throat as she realized she’d forgotten to set it, another casualty of her exhausted state.

“I covered for you in the client meeting. Said you were reviewing site plans.” There was a hint of concern beneath Gin’s professional tone.

“Thank you.” Purdey swung her legs over the bed, toes curling against the plush carpet, noticing a sticky note on her nightstand in Nadine’s neat handwriting: Took girls to school. Lunches packed. Dinner in slow cooker. Relief washed over her; at least one part of her life was functioning properly.

“You sound terrible,” Gin said. “Late night?”

“Something like that.” Purdey padded to the bathroom, tiles cool against her bare feet, turning on the shower with her free hand. Steam began to fill the space, promising temporary revival. “I’ll be there in forty minutes.” Her mind raced through her closet options, calculating which outfit would require the least ironing.

“Wear something good. The Singapore clients are touring the office after lunch.”

Okay,” Purdey said as she hung up and stripped off heading towards the shower. While under the shower waters, hot streams cascading down her tired muscles, thoughts about how Gin and her had moved to Atelier Axis came to her mind. The prestigious firm had been a step up for both of them, but the constant pressure to perform, to innovate, to stay relevant in a field where youth seemed increasingly valued left her wondering how long she could maintain this punishing pace.

It had been 6 months since Gin and Purdey joined Atelier Axis. The transition came after weeks of hushed conversations and careful negotiations. What started as casual drinks with Axis’s creative director turned into formal interviews and eventually competing offers that doubled their previous salaries.

Their decision wasn’t easy. Leaving their small firm meant abandoning projects they’d nurtured from conception. Gin spent three sleepless nights weighing options, calculating risks. Purdey worried about increased hours affecting time with her daughters.

But Atelier Axis promised what they craved: budget to match their ambitions and clients who understood their vision. The contract included a dedicated junior team and final sign-off rights on all design elements.

Their first day walking into the sleek glass building on Collins Street, security badges clipped to their clothes, they shared a moment of silent panic before Gin squeezed Purdey’s hand. “We belong here,” she’d whispered, her usual confidence wavering.

Three months in, they’d adjusted to the pace. They still had creative freedom but now managed international projects with budgets that made their previous work seem like student assignments. Their small office near the corner window became a sanctuary of organized chaos, walls papered with sketches and material samples.

The shower revived her somewhat. She selected her most commanding outfit—a Chanel BOUTIQUE two-way set that epitomized luxury and authority. The impeccably tailored black wool jacket with its distinctive silk trim hugged her shoulders perfectly, while beneath it, the matching sleeveless dress showcased her toned arms. The dress’s V-neckline revealed just enough décolletage to be alluring without crossing professional boundaries, the fine wool-silk blend caressing her curves before ending just above her knees. She could remove the jacket later if needed, transforming the conservative ensemble into something more provocative while maintaining its architectural elegance. She paired it with red-soled heels that added three inches to her height. A slash of red lipstick completed the transformation from exhausted mother to powerful architect.