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.

for this sudden visit, but I desperately need your help in designing an evening gown,” Clarissa pleaded. “Money is no object. I can pay you double or even triple what others would offer. All I ask is for

Please, I implore you!”

for you to beg,” Rose remarked, noticing Clarissa’s trembling hand as she

only. Making exceptions would disrupt our production schedule and compromise the

Rose could finish, Clarissa sank to her knees

Sparks?” Rose panicked and quickly went to pull her

she pulled Clarissa up, Clarissa’s sleeves slid

glimpse of a few large bruises and bloody marks on her

reeled from

Rose witnessed Clarissa’s distress, her thoughts drifted to her own past, where her mother endured humiliation to provide her with a better life. The haunting image of her

a masterpiece from you can surpass all