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I screamed and clapped my hands together.Omg! My first year! This is insane. I can’t believe this is happening to me. My dreams are coming true.“Thank you so much, Professor Elan. This means so much to me. I can’t believe it. Thank you.”
She actually smiled. “Let’s take a ten-minute break. Kayla, you’re next.”
After thanking the model, I returned to my seat.
“Nadia thinks she’s something because she’s sleeping with Paul Crane,” the guy behind me hissed. “If I could succeed on my back, I’d be ahead, too. My designs are better than her ugly clothes.”
I turned around and glowered at him.“Jealous?Work harder than me. Otherwise, shut the hell up. No one cares what you think.”
Even with my doubts, I wouldn’t allow anyone to get away with disrespecting me anymore.
He twisted his lips but didn’t say anything else. The woman seated next to him said, “I love your dress.” She’d never spoken to me before.
“Thanks,” I told her and turned back around.
My life had changed overnight. Most people around me gave one of two reactions—hatred or praise—but nothing in between. I’d gone from Midwest farmer’s daughter to an NYC transplant success almost overnight in all my courses. Was it because I was doing better, or had Paul interfered?
A nagging suspicion crossed my mind as it had before. Instead of dismissing it, I sent a text to Paul.
Nadia: You didn’t help me or influence my work here, did you?
A few minutes later, I received his text.
Paul: I wouldn’t do that to you. Why?
Nadia: I had an excellent presentation. Professor Elan recommended my design as one of the best of the year.
Paul: I’m not surprised. Congratulations. We’ll celebrate this weekend.
Nadia: At your place?
Paul still hadn’t lived up to his end of the agreement. He’d been over to the Hudson plenty of times and taken us to other sites, but never had I been brought to his home.
My disappointment grew with each passing minute. Finally, I put my phone away for the rest of the class.
When the class ended, there still was no answer from Paul.
Sighing heavily, I packed up my portfolio case to leave when Professor Elan came to stand before my workstation.
“Givenchy sent a request for a recommendation letter for you regarding their summer internship. Honestly, I was furious you hadn’t spoken a word to me about their interest in the past few weeks.”
I bit the inside of my cheek.Tomas was persistent.“I didn’t apply. A friend at Givenchy recommended me for the internship—”
“Doesn’t matter how it happened; what matters is that itdid. We’ll need to help you prepare—”
“I’m not going,” I said. “I’m sorry. My dad’s sick, and I don’t want to be far away if something happens to him—”
“You can’t pass up a lifetime opportunity on a what-if, Ms. Sokol. I’m sure your dad would understand. Fashion opportunities are rarer than snowflakes. Your attendance is notonly about you; it reflects on our design school as a whole. You won’t endear yourself to anyone here if you turn down one of the best fashion houses in the world.”
From Professor Elan’s scowl, I wouldn’t endear myself toher.
“I’ll look into it, Professor Elan. Thank you.”
She snorted and walked away. My future success at school also depended on the internship. I wouldn’t ask my dad because I knew he’d tell me to go. If anything happened and I missed seeing him, I’d never forgive myself. Besides that, I didn’t know what would happen between Paul and me.
I checked my phone, but still no answer.
If I went, would he replace me with someone else?Sadly, I wasn’t confident Paul wouldn’t find another arrangement. He was highly sexual.
