In a city built on glass and steel, a single loose thread can unravel your entire life.Elena Vance arrived in New York City with eighty-four dollars in her bank account, a calloused finger from thousands of accidental needle pricks, and a frayed canvas tote containing her life’s work. Leaving behind her small Ohio town, she has one desperate goal: to break into the cutthroat, hyper-glorous world of haute couture. Armed with a vintage Singer sewing machine and an uncompromising eye for structural design, she manages to claw her way into Runway NYC, the most prestigious and brutal fashion selection round in the world.But the fashion industry does not play fair. Behind the blinding neon lights of Times Square and the pristine, white glass runways lies a vicious meat grinder controlled by elite gatekeepers and predatory competitors who can smell desperation from a mile away. When her raw talent and sustainable, avant-garde visions catch the eye of the notorious Julian Cross—the icy creative director of Moda Paris—Elena instantly becomes a target.From the dusty, hidden deadstock warehouses of the Garment District to the high-stakes pressure of corporate ready-to-wear challenges, Elena must navigate a minefield of sabotage, missing fabric shipments, and cruel industry politics. Orchestrated by Julian's ruthless right-hand man, Sebastian Vance, and her affluent, silver-haired rival Christopher, the competition is rigged to break her. As the ticking clock of the runway looms and her masterpieces are literally sliced to pieces, Elena must decide how much of her soul she is willing to stitch into her garments. In a world where vision is cheap but tenacity is paid in blood, she will either design her way to the top of the empire—or be discarded like scrap fabric on the cutting room floor
