Chapter 4. A New Friend

" Yes. That is why I am here, as a matter of fact, my team and I have been able to narrow it down to a few sketches base on the team of this year's competition" She tilts her head forward presenting the sketchbook on his desk.

Chloe fox was the best-graduating student from the New York fashion school after which she journeyed to Paris where she worked with famous designers and then to Spain where she met Carter Colton at a competition, he was intrigued by her perfect stitches and offered her to come work for his company.

Chloe accepted his proposal not because it was better than the prior proposals she got from famous designers, but the fact that she fell in love with him from afar on the first day she met him when he was invited to give a speech at her school in New York. Ever since then, she had secretly prayed for the day she would meet him again and when she finally did, she didn't waste the opportunity.

But Carter Colton was a tough nut to crack despite all the tricks she tried on him, he never looked her way for the past three years, and sporadically, she was doubtful of his potency. But irrespective of everything, Chloe was not ready to give up on the one that makes a heartbeat.

" Is this all you've prepared for the competition? I might as well give this project to another team" Carter Colton was tapping his finger on the desk while staring at the sketch before him.

" Wait, are you saying this is not good enough? I went through the requirements for the competition, one of the team is a beach fashion and women wants to look good even in beach wear".

" Which fabric are you considering for beach fashion style?"

" We will be using Rayon and chiffon to initiate a unique beach style that is convenient for summer"

" Are you initiating a design that can only trend during summer?"

" Summer is the period most people prefer going to the beach, so when creating a design, we consider our user's likes and need"

" It doesn't mean others don't go to the beach other seasons. The judge wants you to think out of the box".

" Are you insulating that my design is not good enough for the ECO-FASHION?"

" Your design is brilliant as always, but occasionally, I need you to think out of the box, you know wow the judges and create something unexpected"

" And that is what I am doing, Mr. Colton, by mixing a combination of rayon and chiffon. You don't see that even in the best collections of beach wear".

" But it doesn't mean any other designers can think of that. Chloe this is good, it is unique in its way, but I need you to WOW me. Go back and get me something new."

Realizing he wasn't staring at her, she rolled her eyes, cursing him while she left the office.

Carter Colton always had eyes for good designers that were how he was able to take over the fashion world, he made Chloe fox the head of designs not because she was the best designer, but because she showed zeal and courage more than other designers, she was a fast learner, a good listener and very dedicated to her work. Even though all Chloe wanted was to please Carter Colton, for him, he thought her zeal was due to the love she had for her job.

Chloe took the elevator to the fourteen floors, and even as she emerged into the styling and design department where she was the god, she immediately conjured up all the designers in her team. For her, she would go beyond the earth just to please Carter Colton, even if it seemed impossible.

Audrey sat at her usual spot in the garden, holding a magazine with Carter Colton on the front page.

" It doesn't look like they will be contacting you, what are you going to do?" Emma, who sat beside her also, staring at the magazine she was holding, inquired.

" There is only one option left, I am going to go right into the horse's mouth"

" What?!!" " Yes! I will go and find Carter Colton".

" Have you never heard of Carter Colton, you will not be able to come three miles close to him. Audrey, I know you saved up some money, I also have little savings, why not start up something new? You have to let this go".

Audrey bite her finger, even though a part of her was telling her to listen to her friend, she just couldn't for she knew her heart will never be at rest.

" Am sorry Emma, but I have to do this, I can't stop halfway regretting it and saying only if I had tried more."

" I wish you good luck dear" Emma tugged her into a hug, almost shedding tears.

The next day, Audrey took the available flight to New York. It was two hours thirty minutes flight and Audrey flew in economy class. She knew no relations there or a friend, but she was ready to sleep on the street as long as she got what she wanted.

Arriving in New York, Audrey could recall a few times when she tagged along with her mother when she was invited to a show. The famous Carter Colton was not yet famous when the Jace family was leading in the fashion industry, but now all that was left of J.and. J is a piece that she was trying to hold on to for her mother's sake.

She found the nearest hotel on the map on her phone. Staring at forty stories building right in front of her, Audrey knew she had come far to back down now. She stepped into the hotel and went right straight to the receptionist.

" Good day, ma'am!" The receptionist greeted me politely.

" Welcome to ALL STARS HOTEL, how many rooms will you be needing ma'am and what is the duration" A warm smile plastered on her face.

" Just a room and I don't know how long I will be staying yet"

" That won't be a problem ma'am, you need to pay a deposit of $800, then we can, and your bill will be sent to you once you check out"

" Sure" Audrey hands over her credit card to the receptionist who slots it into her electronic machine and withdraws it handing it over to Audrey.

" Am sorry ma'am, this card has been blocked, would you like to try out another one?"

" I left rushing, this is the only one I have, can you please try again?"

" Am sorry ma'am, but you were rejected, I can't slot it in again" Audrey placed her hand on her head trying to think but nothing was coming forth, she could just ask Emma to book her a flight back home, but she didn't want to go home without achieving what she came for.

She couldn't fathom why her credit card would be blocked, but then the thought came to her mind as she dialed a number from her phone

" Hello, father!" " Yes dear, how are you?"

" Am fine father, I was trying to access my account, but it says it is blocked, could you please help me verify the issue with our account manager?"

" Am sorry dear, but I blocked it on purpose because I won't sit and watch while you destroy me"

" What?" Audrey pursed her lips tightly, a sudden urge to scream so loud.

" Father!! Why would you do such a thing?"

" You went to New York without my consent, how dare you! Do you think you can disobey me? You've heard it easy all your life, well, I think that has been the issue. Maybe this will get you back to your senses" She could hear the beep from the phone as the other party ended the call.

Audrey stood still unable to say away, while the receptionist went ahead to attend to others, she was feeling a burning rage inside of her. Her father talked about her getting everything easy, while in actual sense he was the one who got everything easy. He was a nobody when he met Helen, but she fell for his easy-going and funny attitude, even though her parent disapproved of the marriage, Helen still went ahead without their consent and got married to him.

She was their only child, and despite how furious they were, they were left with no choice but to accept him.