Can’t Win Me Back

When Rose got to her office, she found Clarissa standing stiffly, waiting for her.

“Are you Clarissa Sparks?”

At the sound of her name, Clarissa hurriedly rose to her feet. “Ms. Emerson.”

Rose studied her with surprise. She had expected the matriarch of the Schmidt family to exude grace and authority, not the demeanor she encountered.

Clarissa only wore a simple white suit with her hair in a neat bun. Though her makeup was impeccably applied, it couldn’t hide the exhaustion etched on her face.

“Ms. Sparks, please take a seat,” Rose said, masking her initial resentment toward a meeting with a member of the Schmidt family. She decided to withhold her emotions and assess the situation first.

an evening gown,” Clarissa pleaded. “Money is

Please, I implore you!”

remarked, noticing Clarissa’s trembling hand as

have always operated by appointment only. Making exceptions would disrupt our production schedule and compromise the quality of our work, which

finish, Clarissa sank to her knees before

panicked and quickly went to pull her

she pulled Clarissa up, Clarissa’s sleeves slid

caught a glimpse of a few large bruises and bloody marks on her

reeled

where her mother endured humiliation to provide her with a better life. The haunting

order for an evening gown. Only a masterpiece from you can surpass all others. Your designs would overshadow them