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LIORA'S POV;
After Max dropped me off, he kindly insisted on accompanying me into the studio. His presence was reassuring, as if he sensed I could use some extra support today.
“Good morning, Ma’am. Good morning, Sir,” my staff greeted us warmly. A few of them had already arrived, bustling around with their usual morning tasks. Their smiles and cheerful hellos were small comforts, lifting my spirits just a little. I tried to smile back, keeping up the appearance of composure.
Just as I settled in and placed my bag on the desk, my phone beeped. I glanced down at the screen and saw an email notification. My heart skipped a beat. The subject line bore the name of the competition I'd just applied for: Runway fashion. With a flicker of excitement, I quickly opened the email, but as my eyes scanned the message, that initial spark of hope quickly faded.