* Adrian's pov:*
I watched as Ken scrutinized Stella's design, his gaze lingering on every detail. The judges were also examining it, but Ken's intensity was unmistakable. I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride - Mrs. Confidence had truly outdone herself. The design radiated bravery and calmness, its perfection leaving me breathless. I'm not one to throw around the word 'perfect,' but this design was the epitome of it.
As I glanced at the judges, I saw my own awe reflected on their faces. Their eyes scanned the drawing, their expressions a picture of wonder. I felt a sense of pride swelling within me, and I knew in that moment that I would stop at nothing to have Stella on my team. She was a talent I couldn't afford to let slip away."..
"As I continued to observe, I noticed that the guy standing next to Stella had an impressive design as well. But GST - Getting Stella's Talent - was my top priority, and I couldn't care less about the competition.
I shifted my attention to the live broadcast, where the contestants were being interviewed. Stella was chatting and laughing with the same guy, and I felt a pang of irritation. She seemed stubborn, but I was confident that soon she'd be under my wing.
A sense of calm washed over me as I watched her, feeling like I was already the victor, claiming my prize. Before I knew it, the emcee announced the start of the next round, and the contestants were summoned back to their stations."..
*Stella's pov:*
"Stella's pov: As the next round began, I couldn't believe I'd made it to the top ten. This was it – the final round. Shawn had told me that making it to the top twenty would guarantee interest from at least that many companies. But now, as a top ten finalist, I knew I'd be courted by only the crème de la crème of companies.
A sense of pride and accomplishment washed over me. Taking a chance and entering this competition had been a risk, but it had paid off. I was confident that by the end of the day, I'd be walking out with a job offer – a tangible step towards achieving my dreams.
But amidst all the excitement, a tiny voice of doubt crept in. I hoped that my skills would speak louder than my gender. I'd heard stories of women facing rejection and bias in the industry, and I couldn't help but worry that I might face the same fate. I pushed the thought aside, focusing on the present moment. I'd come too far to let fear hold me back now."Learning that the top winner would get to work under the prestigious Huston Group of Companies boosted my morale. Working for one of the top companies would be a dream come true!
But my mind kept drifting back to the earlier encounter with Master Devil Adrian. His behavior had left me with mixed feelings. Part of me was hesitant to work with someone who seemed so dismissive and arrogant. Yet, winning the top spot would mean I wouldn't have to worry about companies rejecting me because I'm a woman.
I tried to push the thoughts aside, focusing on the task at hand. In this round, we had to design an outfit – my area of expertise. With my mum's guidance, I'd honed my skills, and I was confident in my abilities. The challenge was to create both male and female outfits that were trendy, unique, and made a statement.
With two hours on the clock, I picked up my tools and dove into the design process. My creativity flowed effortlessly as I worked tirelessly to bring my vision to life."...