The Housewarming Charade

"I'm planning to go into business with Stella," she said, not hiding her intentions.

Stella's studio was a joint venture with Celine from the start. They already had solid connections, including government contracts. The path was paved—she just needed to hit the ground running.

Sterling Boutique was a mass-market apparel brand.

Celine's focus was bespoke tailoring. There was no conflict.

"You can