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."
She pressed on with a mix of threats and temptations. "Give me the designs, and I'll make sure you're promoted to a designer. How about that?"
Alex's eyes were red with anger, yet he refused to cave in. "I'm going to tell the boss!"
"Josefina? The woman who climbed the ladder leaning on a man's shoulders? Do you really think she'll side with an intern over me?"
Alex was fuming. If it weren't for the fact that Ava was a woman, he might have already thrown a punch!
Just as 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 Alex."
Alex's eyes went wide with disbelief, staring at Josefina as if she were a guardian angel.
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