A whirlwind of confusion swirled in Zack’s mind. Selena’s words slammed into him – advance salary for months? He had never done such a thing. Bella had never requested it, nor had he been aware of her mother’s surgery.
He vaguely knew the issues related to her ancestral house and the financial crisis she had been facing. But this surgery – it was a whole new thing he hadn’t known existed. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚
Zack was perplexed. A fierce curiosity burned within him. How had Bella managed the money for this surgery? What had she sacrificed to get her mother the treatment she needed? He wanted to know everything about her.
Schooling his emotions, Zack plastered a reassuring smile on his face. "Get some rest, Mrs. Dawn," he said gently. "I’ll be back to see you and..." He reached into his wallet, pulling out a business card. "Here, take this. Please don’t hesitate to call if you need anything at all. I want to help."
Selena’s face creased into a grateful smile. "Thank you so much, Mr. Hudson."
With a curt nod, Zack left the room, his mind racing with a thousand questions.
Selena watched Zack leave, hope and anticipation bubbling within her. "He seems like Bella," she murmured, clutching his business card. "I must talk to her about him."
Outside the hospital room, Zack’s demeanor remained calm, but inside, he resolved to find out everything. He met Selena’s attending nurse.
"Excuse me!" he called out with urgency. He intercepted the nurse before she could disappear around the corner. "Can you tell me about the patient in room 302? What’s wrong with her?"
The nurse eyed him with suspicion. She had not seen him visit Selena before. "Are you a family member?" she inquired, her tone guarded.
Without missing a beat, Zack fabricated a story. "Yes, of course," he asserted, his voice firm. "I was out of town on business. Now that I’m back, I want to catch up on everything."
The nurse’s skepticism softened slightly. "Her liver is failing," she explained with a grave expression. "She needs a transplant immediately. Without one, she won’t make it. We’re waiting for a suitable donor so we can proceed with surgery."
The news hit Zack like a blow to the chest. He hadn’t comprehended the severity of Selena’s condition, and the revelation left him shaken. Guilt crept in as he realized Bella had been carrying this immense burden all alone.
A surge of protectiveness washed over him. He would do whatever it took to help Selena get the treatment she needed.
With a heavy heart but a resolute mind, Zack thanked the nurse and headed back to the office. ~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excitement crackled in the air as Bella settled into her first meeting with Willow. The team Willow had brought with her was helpful and kind. Bella felt a surge of gratitude for being part of this dynamic group.
"These are the ideas I want to see alive in this project," Willow addressed the team, showing the spreadsheet. "I want everyone to tap into their creative genius and come up with the most captivating design drafts. Let’s delve into the world’s best-selling products, draw inspiration, and craft something truly unique."
A chorus of enthusiastic nods rippled through the team. Ideas flowed freely as they brainstormed new market demands, dissecting top designs from renowned global brands. They also acknowledged the potential roadblocks that might lie ahead.
"Challenges are stepping stones," Willow declared, a determined glint in her eyes. "They keep us sharp and push us to excel. Let’s tackle this head-on, starting now!"
"Let’s do this!" the team echoed in unison, their voices charged with collective purpose.
"One more thing that I always tell you: secrecy is the priority," Willow cautioned. "Since we are not working at our office, we need to be extra cautious. Don’t talk about the design drafts. What we discuss in the meeting should remain in this room. Understood?"
"We get it, ma’am," everyone said together.
"This meeting is over. Now go get back to work."
With the mission clear and the team energized, Willow dismissed them. One by one, they filed out.
Bella was about to leave the meeting room when Willow’s voice stopped her. "Bella, hold on a second."
Bella turned back with a smile. "How can I help you, Willow?"
Willow reached into a drawer and pulled out a pamphlet, placing it firmly on the table in front of Bella. "Take a look at this. There is a major fashion show happening next month, and I want you to showcase your designs in it."
"What?" Bella’s eyes widened in surprise. "Me? But Willow, I’m not prepared for something like that! I still have so much to learn."
Willow’s gaze held a quiet confidence. "Do you trust me, Bella?"
Bella hesitated. "Yes, of course, I do," she stammered, "but—"
"No buts," Willow interrupted gently but firmly. "Just say yes and participate."
The unexpected opportunity left Bella speechless. "A month from now? That doesn’t give me much time, especially with the workload here."
Willow anticipated this concern. She slid a file across the table towards Bella. "These are the design drafts you sent me earlier," she explained. "They are fantastic, Bella. You can use them as a starting point. I’ve made a few suggestions for improvement, though."
She nodded to the file. "Take a look – you can incorporate them and create new drafts, or stick with your original ideas, whichever you feel most comfortable with."
Willow tore a page from her notepad and scribbled something on it. "Here," she said, handing it to Bella. "Go and meet Joshua, our material specialist. Discuss your designs with him – the fabrics, the colors, everything. He’ll be your partner in bringing your vision to life."
A whirlwind of emotions swirled within Bella. She couldn’t understand whether she should laugh or cry. Working alongside Willow and honing her skills was all she had dreamed of, but showcasing her own designs at a fashion show - Felt surreal.
"I don’t know what to say, Willow... This is..."
"Bella!" Willow walked over to her. "You don’t know how good your designs are. Trust me, these are going to be bestselling designs. If you weren’t good, I wouldn’t have asked you to work with me."
Gratitude welled up in Bella’s chest. "Thank you, Willow. Thank you for this incredible opportunity. I won’t let you down."
"I know you won’t," Willow said with a smile. "Now, time is ticking. Go meet with Joshua."
"But the work here..."
"Don’t worry about that," Willow assured her. "I’ll handle things here. Go, focus on your designs, and let your creativity soar!"
As Bella absorbed Willow’s guidance and encouragement, a mix of apprehension and excitement filled her. The prospect of showcasing her creativity on such a stage was both daunting and exhilarating. With Willow’s unwavering belief in her abilities and practical guidance, Bella left the conference room with renewed determination.
Meanwhile, Olivia slipped into Ivy’s office. "There’s something you should know," she began, her voice dripping with feigned concern. "Willow had a meeting with her team earlier. But guess what? After everyone left, Bella stayed behind with her in the meeting room for some time. And then, I saw her leaving the office early again!"
Ivy’s face contorted in fury. "Leaving early again? That woman has a knack for dodging work! This time, I won’t spare her."
She rose from her seat and dashed out the door.
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