CHAPTER 43 The Final Round

  Camila's fingers trembled slightly as they slid across the sleek surface of her phone, dismissing the memory of the morning's unpleasantness with a decisive flick. The notification that glowed against the screen's backdrop was a lifeline, pulling her from the murky waters of doubt into the electrifying thrill of opportunity.

  "Here we go," she murmured to herself, a smirk playing on her lips. She could almost feel the energy of the competition venue coursing through her, the buzz of anticipation that mingled with a thread of anxiety.

  "Design on-site?" she whispered, reading the details of the final round. Her heart skipped a beat, drumming a rhythm of excitement against her ribcage. "This is it, Camila. Showtime."

  She paced her studio apartment, each step punctuated by the click of her heels on the hardwood floor. Her mind raced faster than her feet, ideas sparking like fireworks against the night sky of her thoughts.