Chapter 3: The Chairman Asked for the Girl They Had Thrown Away
I was halfway home when my phone rang.
The number was unfamiliar.
I almost ignored it.
Then it rang again.
I stopped beside a bus shelter and answered.
"Hello?""
"Good afternoon. May I speak with Miss Maya Carter?""
"Speaking.""
"This is Patricia from Sterling Fashion International. Are you somewhere you can talk?""
My stomach tightened.
"Yes. Is something wrong?""
There was a pause.
"Actually, I was hoping you could return to the building.""
I stared at the passing traffic.
"Why?""
"We need to clarify something regarding your visit.""
I swallowed.
"Did Vanessa complain about me?""
Another pause.
"Who?""
"Vanessa. The woman from the creative department.""
Patricia's voice became more serious.
"Maya, can you tell me what happened?""
I looked at the sidewalk.
My hands began shaking again.
"She took my portfolio. She destroyed my drawings. Then she grabbed my hair and had security escort me out.""
Silence.
Then Patricia spoke slowly.
"Did you say she grabbed your hair?""
"Yes.""
"Did anyone witness this?""
"Three women were with her. There was also a security guard.""
Patricia exhaled.
"Please don't leave the area. I'm going to arrange transportation back to the building.""
"I don't understand. Am I in trouble?""
"No, Maya. You're not in trouble.""
I didn't know whether to believe her.
But something in her voice made me agree.
Twenty-five minutes later, I was back at Sterling Fashion International.
This time, a security supervisor was waiting at the entrance.
"Miss Carter?""
"Yes.""
"My name is Robert. Mr. Sterling would like to speak with you.""
My heart nearly stopped.
"Mr. Sterling?""
He nodded.
"Arthur Sterling.""
I looked at him in disbelief.
"Why would he want to speak with me?""
"I was told to bring you directly to his office.""
I followed him toward the private elevators.
The doors opened onto the top floor.
The atmosphere was completely different from the rest of the building.
Dark wooden walls.
Quiet corridors.
Large photographs of legendary fashion collections.
And at the far end, an enormous office with glass walls overlooking the city.
Robert knocked.
"Sir, Miss Carter is here.""
A deep voice answered.
"Send her in.""
I stepped inside.
Arthur Sterling stood beside a large desk.
Patricia was seated on a sofa.
Beside her was a man I recognized from the recruitment team.
Daniel.
And on the desk, carefully protected beneath a transparent folder, was my silver-and-black gown design.
I stopped breathing.
"My drawing...""
Arthur looked at me.
"Miss Carter?""
"Yes, sir.""
He gestured toward a chair.
"Please sit.""
I sat carefully, keeping my hands in my lap.
He studied my face.
Then his gaze moved to my crooked glasses and the red marks near my scalp.
"Are you hurt?""
I tried to smile.
"I'm fine.""
He didn't look convinced.
"That wasn't my question.""
I lowered my eyes.
"My scalp hurts a little.""
Arthur turned toward Patricia.
"Has anyone arranged medical assistance?""
"Not yet, sir.""
"Please arrange it.""
Patricia immediately stood.
"Of course.""
Arthur waited until she sat back down.
Then he picked up my drawing.
"Did you create this?""
"Yes.""
"How long did it take?""
"Almost three months.""
"Why?""
I looked at the design.
"Because I wanted it to feel like two different things at once.""
He raised an eyebrow.
"Explain.""
"The silver represents the beauty people see. The black embroidery represents everything they don't. The struggles, the memories, the things that make someone who they are.""
Arthur looked at the drawing again.
"And the handwritten message?""
I hesitated.
"It's for my mother.""
"Is she a designer?""
I shook my head.
"She was a seamstress.""
Arthur's expression softened slightly.
"Was?""
"She passed away when I was sixteen.""
"I'm sorry.""
"Thank you.""
He returned to the design.
"Who taught you to draw?""
"My mother taught me to sew. I taught myself to design.""
"Have you ever worked in a professional studio?""
"No, sir.""
"Have you ever had your work displayed?""
"No.""
"Published?""
"No.""
"Sold?""
I shook my head.
He leaned back.
"Then why did you apply here?""
I looked directly at him.
"Because I believe I can become a great designer.""
Daniel shifted in his chair.
Arthur remained silent.
I continued.
"I know I don't have the same education as some of the other applicants. I know I don't have connections. But I work hard, and I know how to construct what I draw.
I don't just imagine beautiful clothes. I think about the fabric, the weight, the movement, and the person who will wear them.""
Arthur's eyes narrowed slightly.
"That's a more thoughtful answer than I've heard from some experienced designers.""
I didn't know what to say.
He placed the drawing on the desk.
"Tell me about the incident downstairs.""
My throat tightened.
I described everything.
The portfolio.
The comments.
The drawings being trampled.
Vanessa grabbing my braid.
The torn visitor badge.
I tried not to cry.
But when I reached the part about my mother's design, my voice cracked.
"That was the one thing I wanted to save.""
Arthur listened without interrupting.
When I finished, he looked at Daniel.
"Did you witness anything?""
Daniel shook his head.
"No, sir. But I saw Miss Carter's interview this morning. She was professional and well prepared.""
Arthur turned toward Patricia.
"Was her application approved?""
Patricia checked her tablet.
"Her interview score was among the highest for the junior assistant position.""
"Then why was she removed from the building?""
Nobody answered.
Arthur stood.
"Bring Vanessa here.""
Patricia looked worried.
"Sir, Vanessa is currently overseeing the autumn collection preparations.""
Arthur's voice became colder.
"Then she can oversee them from outside this office.""
Daniel immediately picked up the phone.
Five minutes later, the door opened.
Vanessa entered wearing a cream-colored designer jacket.
Her expression was confident.
Until she saw me.
Her smile vanished.
"Mr. Sterling.""
Arthur gestured toward the chair opposite his desk.
"Sit down.""
Vanessa glanced at Patricia.
Then at me.
"Is there a problem?""
Arthur picked up the torn visitor badge from a folder.
"Do you recognize this?""
Vanessa looked at it.
"Yes. It's the visitor badge belonging to an applicant who violated department rules.""
"Her name is Maya Carter.""
"Yes, sir.""
"Did you remove her from the building?""
"I asked security to escort her out.""
"Did you destroy her drawings?""
Vanessa's expression tightened.
"Sir, those drawings were scattered on the floor. I was simply trying to maintain order.""
Arthur opened another folder.
Inside were photographs taken by the security cameras.
One showed Vanessa holding my portfolio.
Another showed her heel crushing the red gown design.
A third showed her pulling my braid.
Vanessa's face drained of color.
Arthur placed the photographs on the desk.
"Would you like to explain these?""
She stared at them.
"Mr. Sterling, I can explain.""
"Please do.""
Vanessa straightened.
"Maya was disrespectful. She refused to follow instructions. I was protecting the department's professional standards.""
Arthur looked at her.
"By pulling her hair?""
"That was a misunderstanding.""
"By destroying her work?""
"I didn't realize the drawings were valuable.""
He pointed to the silver-and-black gown.
"Do you know what this is?""
Vanessa glanced at it.
"An amateur sketch.""
Arthur slowly shook his head.
"No.""
He lifted the transparent folder.
"This is the first design I've seen in years that made me stop walking.""
Vanessa went silent.
Arthur continued.
"I've spent forty years building this company. I've worked with some of the finest designers in the world. And you dismissed this woman's work without even understanding it.""
Vanessa tried to smile.
"Sir, with respect, talent requires more than a pretty drawing.""
"Agreed.""
He turned toward me.
"Miss Carter, do you have any other designs?""
I nodded.
"Yes. Several.""
"Where are they?""
My eyes filled with tears.
"Vanessa took my portfolio.""
Arthur turned sharply.
"Where is it?""
Vanessa looked uncomfortable.
"I believe it was discarded.""
"Discarded?""
"Yes, sir.""
Arthur pressed a button on his desk.
"Robert, please come in.""
The security supervisor entered.
"Yes, sir?""
"Find the portfolio. Check every waste container and every storage area near the creative department. I want it recovered.""
"Immediately, sir.""
Arthur looked at Vanessa.
"Until we establish what happened, you are relieved of your supervisory duties.""
Vanessa stood abruptly.
"What?""
"You heard me.""
"Mr. Sterling, I've worked here for eight years!""
"And I have just watched you assault a job applicant on company property.""
Her voice rose.
"You can't do this over a nobody!""
The office became completely silent.
Arthur looked at her for several seconds.
Then he said something that made even Patricia look stunned.
"That nobody may be the most important discovery this company has made in years.""
Vanessa stared at him.
Then she turned toward me.
Her eyes were filled with hatred.
"This isn't over, Maya.""
Arthur stepped between us.
"You're mistaken, Vanessa. It is.""
She walked out, slamming the door.
I sat motionless.
I had never seen anyone speak to Vanessa that way.
Arthur returned to his chair.
"Miss Carter.""
I looked up.
"Yes, sir?""
"I'd like to make you an offer.""
My fingers tightened around the arms of the chair.
"What kind of offer?""
He slid a document across the desk.
It was a temporary appointment agreement.
*Junior Design Associate — Sterling Fashion International.*
I stared at the paper.
"Sir, I don't understand.""
"You came here looking for an opportunity. I believe you deserve one.""
My eyes filled.
"But what about my qualifications?""
"We'll evaluate your work based on its quality. Not the price of your clothes or the name of your school.""
I couldn't speak.
Arthur smiled faintly.
"There's one condition.""
I looked at him.
"What is it?""
He tapped the silver-and-black design.
"I want you to create this gown.""
My heart began racing.
"Really?""
"For our upcoming international showcase. You will have access to our materials, workshop, and technical team.""
I stared at the drawing.
The gown my mother had inspired.
The gown Vanessa had crushed beneath her heel.
Now Arthur Sterling wanted it on an international runway.
"Can you do that, Miss Carter?""
I wiped my tears.
Then I nodded.
"Yes, sir. I can.""
Arthur extended his hand.
"Welcome to Sterling Fashion International.""
I shook it.
For the first time in my life, someone had looked at my work before judging my appearance.
But as I left his office, I noticed something strange.
Two women were standing near the elevators.
Chloe and Madison.
They immediately stopped talking when they saw me.
One of them held a phone.
The other whispered something.
Then my own phone vibrated.
A message had appeared from an unknown number.
I opened it.
There was a photograph of my mother standing beside a sewing machine.
May you like
And beneath it were eight words:
*"Ask Arthur Sterling what happened to Grace Carter.""*
