A romantic drama-comedy interactive novel set in the glittering, ruthless world of early-2000s fashion media.
You never wanted this job.
Fresh out of university and determined to build a serious career in journalism, you expected your first step into Viremont Media to be a modest editorial position that would be something respectable and far removed from celebrity gowns and couture politics.
Instead, through an administrative mistake you can’t seem to undo, you’ve been assigned as junior assistant to Vivienne Egmont, the notoriously exacting editor-in-chief of Aureum, the most influential fashion magazine in the world.
No one lasts under Vivienne longer than a few weeks. Her standards are impossible and her approval nearly mythical. In the polished halls of Aureum, where reputations are made and ruined between runway shows and cover shoots, your ignorance is obvious, and your failure expected.
But, hey, surviving one impossible day becomes surviving another. Then another, right? As your footing in this world grows steadier, so does your proximity to the women who define it: rivals, allies, icons, and perhaps something more. Perhaps what began as an unwanted assignment becomes a dangerous invitation into power.
Will you adapt and thrive in a world you once dismissed as shallow? Will you hold fast to the person you were before Aureum changed you? When ambition, loyalty, and love collide, what will you become?
Romance Options
Vivienne Egmont
The legendary editor-in-chief of Aureum is brilliant, feared, impeccably composed, and utterly intolerant of mediocrity. Behind the icy reputation lies a woman who has sacrificed almost everything in pursuit of excellence. Earning her trust may prove harder than surviving her expectations.
Appearance
Jaw-length blonde hair, pale blue eyes, alabaster skin, and elegant glasses. Rarely seen without immaculate tailoring and towering heels. She is the undisputed gatekeeper of style.
Clara Whitmore
Viremont’s polished and socially effortless public relations executive. Warm and socially effortless, Clara possesses the rare ability to navigate corporate warfare with a smile. She always seems to know exactly what people need before they ask.
Appearance
Curly brown hair, warm brown eyes, and a polished corporate wardrobe. Shorter than most people expect, though her presence more than compensates.
Elise Park
Vivienne’s senior assistant and your reluctant mentor. Sharp-tongued, fiercely competent, and permanently overworked, Elise expects excellence because she demands it from herself. Earning her respect is difficult. Keeping it is harder.
Appearance
Straight black hair, expressive brown eyes, and edgy designer makeup. Usually dressed in severe power silhouettes that make sleep deprivation look fashionable.
Serena Valemont
An international actress and supermodel whose life generates headlines with alarming consistency. Glamorous, impulsive, and endlessly entertaining, Serena cultivates an image of chaos while revealing surprisingly unexpected depths to those willing to look past it.
Appearance
Long wavy red hair, green eyes, sun-kissed skin, and a wardrobe designed to ensure every room notices when she enters it.
Damian Mercer
The ambitious executive overseeing Viremont Media’s publishing empire. Charismatic and dangerously intelligent, Damian possesses a charm that feels calculating even when it appears sincere. He rarely enters a room without leaving with exactly what he wants.
Appearance
Tall and broad-shouldered with slicked-back black hair, striking gray eyes, and the effortless seduction of a man accustomed to power. His smile is easy, but trusting it is another matter.
Features
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Play as a male protagonist navigating the intensely female-dominated world of luxury fashion media in 2004
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Shape your personality and appearance
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Rise from reluctant outsider to indispensable insider. Or, well, reject the world trying to remake you
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Navigate office politics and scandals at the highest levels of Viremont Media
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Pursue four distinct female romance routes, from slow-burn professional tension to glamorous chaos
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Decide what success means and what it will cost you
Disclaimer:
This project was kickstarted by my love for the movie The Devil Wears Prada. I don’t claim any credit for inspiration I’ve gotten by the wonderful characters, and when you see any glaring similarities, please keep this in mind. I hope you enjoy!
Developer’s Note:
Hi! This is my first interactive fiction project, and I’m very much learning as I go.
The story is gender-locked to a male protagonist with a MAJORITY of female romance options because I specifically wanted to explore the gender dynamics of a young man entering an elite, female-dominated industry. I’m also.. uh.. entirely new to coding, so I wanted to keep the project’s scope manageable while I learn ChoiceScript and interactive storytelling.
I’d genuinely love feedback, whether that’s thoughts on the premise, character dynamics, features you’d want to see, or things that would make this more compelling to play. Oh, and any errors, grammatical or otherwise!
Thanks for reading!
To play the demo, go here: https://cogdemos.ink/go/7687
AI Disclosure:
No — This project does not contain the output of Generative AI
