Chapter 24: The Panelists

When the door closed behind him, the woman muttered under her breath, "What's there to panic about? Unless you're not qualified."

After 20 minutes, the employee returned, calling out, "Samantha LeClerc?"

Samantha stood up with a prideful smile, but there was something in her posture that suggested she already had the job. "Wish me luck," she said to no one in particular, then followed the employee into the interview room.

Sophia was left alone for a few more minutes, her nerves returning in full force. She stood up and paced slightly, trying to calm herself.

Finally, the door opened 20 minutes later, and the same employee called her name, "Sophia Blackwell?"

Her heart jumped in her chest. "Here goes," she whispered under her breath.

***

Meanwhile, somewhere in the city, Marcus lay on the bed, his arm loosely around Lila as she nestled against his chest. The weight of his family's crisis should have sobered him, but old habits die hard. Lila traced circles on his shoulder, her face angled up at him.

"Don't stress about your family's business so much, honey," she murmured, a smirk playing on her lips. "I heard foreign investors are coming to Kylia. They'll be hosted in Eldridge City. If we can snag an invitation… well, let's just say it could be the break your family needs."

Marcus' eyes brightened, and a glimmer of hope softened the tension on his face. "Are you serious?" His voice was low, almost like he was afraid the hope might slip away if he spoke too loud.

Lila tilted her head, laughing softly. "Of course, darling. When have I ever lied to you?"

"Well, getting an invitation sounds easier than it is," he muttered, skepticism creeping back in. "Our company's barely on its feet, and people know it. There's no way they'd invite us, not in this state."

She lifted her chin, meeting his gaze with a steady, determined look. "Don't worry. I have that covered."

Marcus pulled her close, relief softening his features. "You have no idea what this means to me… to us. Grandpa will be thrilled to hear this. The future of our company could really depend on you, Lila."

Lila's lips curled into a satisfied smile, pride flickering in her eyes. "Of course," she said, voice barely above a whisper. "I told you I'm more resourceful than Sophia."

At the mention of Sophia, Marcus tensed, his jaw clenching almost imperceptibly. A shadow crossed his expression as he looked away, his thoughts clouding over. The question lingered, unspoken but heavy in the air, did Sophia have anything to do with their company's downfall? He could never shake that suspicion.

Lila noticed his change in expression, her fingers pausing on his shoulder. She pursed her lips, then sighed. "Still hung up on her, are you?"

Marcus snapped out of it, forcing a smile back onto his face. "No, it's just… Sophia. There's still so much I don't understand. The way things fell apart…"

Lila lifted her hand, placing a finger on his lips. "Forget her," she whispered, her voice sharp. "Right now, it's just you, me, and this opportunity. Trust me, Marcus. I'll take care of everything."

A conflicted look flickered across his face, but he nodded slowly. "Alright… I trust you, Lila."

She leaned her head back against his chest, a small smile of triumph crossing her face.

***

Back in Allure Fashion, followed the employee into the interview room, her legs feeling like they were made of jelly. When she entered the room, her eyes went straight to the panel. Four people were sitting behind the table; three men and a woman.

Sophia's breath caught when she recognized the woman. Nina Simons. Her old senior from college.

Nina looked up as Sophia entered, her expression unreadable. Sophia gave a polite nod to everyone.

"Miss Blackwell, we've been looking forward to your interview," one of the other panelists said with a warm smile. "Please, take a seat."

She took a seat before introducing herself. "Good morning, I'm Sophia Blackwell. A dedicated designer, and I'm eager to bring my skills and passion to Allure Fashion."

One of the men smiled warmly at her. "Tell us a little about yourself as a designer Miss Blackwell. What excites you about fashion design?"

Sophia smiled, sitting up straighter in her chair. "I've always believed that fashion is a way to express who we are without speaking. It's not just about clothing, it's about conveying emotion, story, and culture. I've worked on several projects, focusing on combining traditional elements with modern trends. I've always had an eye for detail, and I've developed several designs that I hope will impress you."

The panel seemed impressed as they nodded and exchanged glances. One of the men leaned forward. "Can you walk us through your design process?"

Sophia nodded, her confidence growing. "Sure. I start by researching the trends and understanding what's happening in the industry, but I always make sure to incorporate my personal style into each piece. I sketch my ideas first, then move to digital mock-ups. Once I'm happy with the design, I create prototypes to see how the fabric and the structure work together. The final product is all about balance between aesthetics, comfort, and innovation."

The panelists listened, they glanced at her portfolio, flipping through the pages of her design drafts. They looked impressed, and she felt a surge of pride.

But Nina didn't seem impressed. She crossed her arms and, after a brief silence, spoke coldly, "Miss Blackwell, you were involved in a plagiarism case back in college. I'm sure you remember it."

Sophia's face tightened, but she refused to let Nina see her discomfort. "Yes, I remember," she said confidently. "But what you're leaving out, Ms. Simons, is that the school did a thorough investigation. I was proven innocent. Someone else stole my design, and I was the victim. You can't blame me for that."

Nina was momentarily stunned. She hadn't expected Sophia to speak so confidently. The other panelists exchanged glances, clearly disappointed in Nina's approach. Was it really necessary to bring up the past? They wanted to end the interview, but Nina got nervous. She saw how Sophia impressed others, and she couldn't allow her to get a job at Allure Fashion. Sophia's designs were so good back then that Nina couldn't even compare to her despite being her senior.

The head panelists glared at Nina, then looked at his colleagues asking, "Does anyone have any other question for Miss Blackwell?"

Nina quickly tried to regain control again. "I heard you got married right after your internship. But you haven't worked since. And now, you're only looking for a job because your husband divorced you?"

Sophia froze. How dare she bring up something so personal? But she didn't let the anger show. "Miss Simons," she said, voice steady, "I don't think my personal life has anything to do with my career, so I won't discuss it."

She paused, letting the weight of her words hang in the air. "You're right about one thing, though, I haven't worked in a corporate setting since my internship. But as a designer, you should know well that art goes far beyond corporate walls. I've been working on my designs at home, and I'm up-to-date with trends, thanks to the internet. The draft I presented to you today is just one example. If you'd like, I can show you some of my other work."

She took out her phone and scrolled through her designs. She passed it on. The panelists leaned in, their eyes widening in surprise as they viewed her work. Even Nina seemed taken aback. The designs were fresh and unique, nothing they had ever seen before.

The panelists were all impressed. "Sophia, this is incredible," one of them said. "Where have you been hiding this talent?"

Nina seethed, but she couldn't say anything. The damage had already been done. She had given Sophia yet another chance to showcase her qualifications.

Sophia left the interview room confidently, despite the nervousness in her heart. She knew Nina never liked her back then in college and things might be the same even now. Her sharp eyes and rude questions could tell, yet Sophia didn't have a choice but to brace herself for what may come. That's why she decided to ignore Nina's presence in the panel and concentrate on impressing the rest of the panelists with her passion for design.