It didn’t take long to notice.

Serena wasn’t simply liked at Parsons — she was adored. But not with the noisy admiration people reserve for rising stars. The affection she inspired was quieter, more reverent, as if she were a secret everyone wanted to keep for themselves.

You could see it in the small things.

The way the creative director’s voice softened when she entered a room. How his eyes lingered on her a second too long before returning to his notes. The way the finance manager ...