Chapter 35 Chapter 35
Melissa trudged back to her apartment, the weight of defeat pressing down on her. She’d never felt so powerless.
It was clear that Hannah wasn’t bluffing–she had the means and connections to make sure Melissa couldn’t get a foothold in the design industry. But giving up wasn’t an option.
For hours, Melissa sat curled up in the corner of her apartment, hugging her knees as frustration gnawed at her. Eventually, she forced herself to snap out of it Get a grip. This pity party won’t pay the bills.
Deciding to lower her sights, the resolved to apply to smaller companies–places where her name and resume might not attract scrutiny. With a shaky breath, she opened her laptop and started browsing job listings.
There were plenty of openings at small firms, but the salaries were depressing A job offering 3,000 dollars a month was a rarity, and none came close to the 5.000 dollars she needed to meet Bradley’s terms
After two hours of searching and sending applications, she leaned back in her chuir, utterly drained and empty–handed,
Her thoughts spiraled back to the agreement she’d signed. “Why the hell did I let myself get haired into this?’ she berated herself.
If she’d just swallowed her pride, she could’ve worked out an arrangement to see Curtis once a week. Instead, she’d let her temper lead her into a Heal that now felt impossible.
Without a job. her only connection to Curtis was a phone screen, and Bradley’s smug voice still rang in her ears. “You want to see him? Over my dead body.”
Desperation creeping in, Melissa typed “high–paying jobs” into the search bar, hoping for a miracle. The results popped up immediately–but as she scrolled through, her hope turned to disgust. Nightclub hostess. Livestreamer. Masseuse. Escort. None of these were legitimate jobs, and they crriamly weren’t for her.
She slammed her laptop shut, hitterness tightening her chest. Making money shouldn’t be this damn hard. Her phone buzzed, breaking through her frustration. Straightening up, she took a deep breath and answered the video call.
Curtis’s face appeared on the screen, his wide eyes and bright smile like a balm for her soul. “Mommy!” he cried out, his voice full of excitement.
“Curtis!” Melissa’s face lit up, her frustration momentarily forgotten-
“Did you find a job today?” he asked eagerly, his small hands clutching the edge of the screen.
To him, her job hunt meant everything they could finally be together again once she succeeded. He could hardly wait
Melissa’s heart ached, but she kept her smile intact. “Almast, sweetheart. Mommy’s really close.”
Curtis clapped his hands, his enthusiasm infectious. “I knew it You’re the best! When are you coming to get mer
Her chest tightened, but she forced herself to keep her voice light. “Soon, baby. I just need to finish a few things first. You be good for Daddy in the meantime, okay?”
After they hung up. Melissa stared at her phone, her son’s smiling face still etched in her mind. For those ten minutes, he had given her something priceless: hope.
I have to keep going for him, she told herself
Determined, she reopened her laptop. This is Chassis. There has to be a way, she thought. If her lack of experience was Holding her back, then she’d let her designs do the talking.
Pulling up her design software, she stared at the blank canvas for a moment before diving in. The hours flew by as she sketched, her focus sharpening with every stroke
Despite her time away from the industry, she hadn’t lost her touch. She’d stayed up to date with trends, and her ideas were sharp and relevant Immersed in the creative process, she felt a spark of joy she hadn’t felt in weeks.
By the time she finished her first design, the city outside her window had grown quiet. The lights in the surrounding buildings had dinimed, and the world was cloaked in late–night stillness.
Melissa stretched, her muscles stiff from hours of work, and took a step back to admire the screen. A genuine smile spread across her face..
Without hesitation, she drafted a concise, professional cover letter, attached her portfolio, and sent her application to the Parvati.
Parvati wasn’t just a company—it was a fashion empire. With its own design team, manufacturing facilities, and retail channels, it dominated every aspect of the industry.
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