Esha stood frozen, her eyes locked on the sheer avalanche of gifts that had arrived at their apartment. It was like Christmas, Black Friday, and a luxury fashion giveaway had exploded in her living room.
Evelynn, staring at the mountain of boxes, muttered, "Okay, but are we sure this isn't some kind of elite mafia initiation ritual?"
Alana was already halfway into a box. "I think I found the Holy Grail. It's a Salazar-exclusive handbag. It has a tracking chip."
"Why?" Esha blinked.
"So that peasants don't steal it," Evelynn said, nodding seriously.
Then they found it—the most hauntingly iconic gift of them all: a life-sized Leo plushie complete with a button that made it talk.
Esha pressed the belly.
"Don't be sad. Leo is rad!"
All three of them screamed.
"I'm donating this," Esha said, tossing it like cursed treasure.
"That's going to haunt an orphanage somewhere," Alana whispered.
But there was more. VIP membership cards to exclusive clubs. A designer pen that probably cost more than her tuition. A silk shawl that shimmered like moonlight. Perfumes that came in bottles fancier than most weddings.
And finally, a sweet little letter from Leo, including, An apology for not inviting her to his spring tea party ("old people talk about cheese for 3 hours, it's a torture event, you're welcome"),
Updates about school,And a crudely drawn Operation: Kidnap Esha blueprint.
"I'm afraid," Evelynn admitted. "But also impressed."
"I need to send them something back," Esha declared dramatically, tossing aside a leopard print scarf like a queen bestowing favor.
"But they already gave you all this," Alana argued.
"That's why," Esha said. "It's basic etiquette. You give me ten gifts, I give you one fabulous one in return."
Evelynn looked at her, eyebrow raised. "You're saying one outfit designed by you equals all of this?"
"Yes," Esha replied without hesitation. "Have some self-respect. I'm the Cloth Fairy."
She spun toward her laptop and opened her new premium online store: Rise. The homepage looked like a Vogue cover married an Apple product—sleek, elegant, with a touch of sass. Her logo, a phoenix in mid-bloom, sat proudly at the top.
"Rise, huh?" Evelynn muttered. "Very dramatic."
"It's a metaphor," Esha explained. "Phoenix. Rising from the ashes. Rebirth. Reinvention. Fashion. And fire."
"So basically, your trauma and your tailoring," Alana summarized.
"Exactly."
She immediately began plotting the return gifts. Clothes. Designer-level outfits. Personalized. Bespoke. Over-the-top but tasteful. Gifts that would scream, You thought you were generous? Well, now look at me, peasant.
"Now, I just need their measurements," she muttered. "Too bad I can't just text them like, 'Hey Leo, what's your shoulder width?'"
"Please don't," Evelynn said. "That's weird even by your standards."
"Fine, I'll just stalk them—wait!"
Ding!
Universal Measurement Detector: Available for purchase - $5000
"What in the Orwell is this?" Esha whispered, eye twitching. "You want me to pay five thousand dollars to be a magical tailor creeper?"
"It's an investment!" her system chirped cheerfully. "Now you can scan anyone you know and get real-time measurements! It's fashion-forward surveillance!"
"You're an ethical disaster," Esha grumbled but bought it anyway.
Ding!
Universal Measurement Detector unlocked. Acquaintance list updated.
She scrolled through the new database. Leo Salazar. Ethan Salazar. Xavier Salazar. Celeste Salazar. Even Alistair Salazar was on the list.
"Hold up. Why is Xavier on this list? I haven't even met him!"
"You did," the system said. "Remember? He approved a gift to be sent."
Esha stared at the screen. "Wow. That counts as acquaintance now?"
"System has loose definitions," it chirped proudly.
Now equipped with divine knowledge of their exact proportions, Esha got to work. She started with Celeste.
"Queen Celeste deserves something timeless," Esha mused. "Chic. Refined. A little sparkle, but not flashy."
She created an ivory asymmetrical dress with rose-gold accents and an embroidered neckline, paired with a cream blazer that screamed CEO who doesn't tolerate nonsense.
Then came Ethan. She imagined a man who probably flirted with mirrors.
"Tailored forest green suit. Subtle plaid. Double-breasted. Velvet lapel. Gold cufflinks shaped like panthers."
She paused. "Should I add a subtle pocket embroidery that says 'Shut up, Ethan'?"
"No," Alana and Evelynn said in perfect sync.
Next was Alistair.
"Hmm, the intimidating billionaire dad. Gotta show strength and taste."
She picked a midnight blue three-piece suit, added minimalistic matte buttons, and stitched his initials in a calligraphy font inside the collar.
"For when he dramatically takes off his coat mid-confrontation."
Evelynn clapped. "That's the kind of detail that wins inheritance battles."
Leo's outfit was a given.
"A cotton-blend sweatshirt with 'Leo: Local Hero' printed in puff ink. Paired with cargo joggers and custom sneakers with glow-in-the-dark soles."
She added a reversible bomber jacket—one side sleek black, the other cartoonish chaos.
"He'll love this."
Then came Vivienne Salazar.
Graceful. Regal. Quietly lethal with her side-eyes. The woman who could shut down gossip with a single tilt of her head.
"She deserves something powerful," Esha said.
She designed a deep plum A-line dress with a high neck, long bishop sleeves, and an open back with silk ribbon lacing. Over it, a velvet shawl embroidered with golden wings. The ensemble screamed "Fashion Oracle."
On the inner tag, Esha wrote:
"For the woman whose silence is louder than a scandal."
Evelynn peered over. "I'd kill for that shawl."
"You can ask nicely," Esha said.
"I could," Evelynn replied. "But I won't."
Last came Xavier.
This one stumped her.
"Should I make something sharp or casual?" she muttered.
"Sharp," Evelynn said. "He seems like the type who goes to brunch in tactical gear."
After much thought, Esha decided on a storm-gray trench coat over a maroon turtleneck with slim black pants and boots.
Two days later...
⸻
Celeste
She opened the box and gasped. "This is elegance weaponized."
She wore it to a business brunch and caused three rivals to spill their mimosas in shock.
⸻
Ethan
"This woman really stitched sarcasm into my soul," he whispered, but still wore the suit and felt like #NotEveryoneWantsMeButTheyShould.
⸻
Alistair
Alistair stared at the suit.
"...Hmph," he grunted.
He wore it the next day to a board meeting. Stocks rose inexplicably by 5%.
⸻
Leo
He wore the entire outfit to school and refused to take it off.
"Look at the pockets!" he told his teacher. "I have a granola bar, my plushie's mini-plushie, and a secret message!"
He had embroidered his own message on the bomber jacket: "Property of Leo's Big Sister Esha."
⸻
Xavier
He held up the trench coat. Cool. Sophisticated. Dangerous.
"...Hmph."
But he wore it.
Twice.
On purpose.
⸻
Vivienne
Vivienne's reaction was the most dramatic by being the least dramatic.
She opened the box slowly. Took out the shawl. Felt the silk lining. Then, she smiled. Barely.
"This girl... is clever."
She wore it to a museum gala and caused a fashion blog war over whether she had quiet luxury or divine intimidation aesthetic.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Back at the apartment, Esha collapsed on the couch, exhausted but triumphant.
"Rise has risen," she declared. "And so have I. From rags to royalties."
"Still dramatic," Evelynn said, sipping juice.
Alana nodded. "But you earned it."
"You know what?" Esha said. "Let's celebrate."
"How?"
"Pizza. Expensive kind. With real truffle."
Alana gasped. "We're living in 4D."
Esha smiled. "Ladies, we're not just roommates anymore. We're fashion revolutionaries."
"And our enemies?" Evelynn asked.
Esha grinned. "Bad taste and retail prices."