One Night

Chapter 209

Audrey & Third Person

Audrey

“I… I don’t understand…”

A failure. The judges had voted majority ‘no’ on my project.

I had worked so hard on it-countless hours spent sitting up at night, perfecting every little detail. My mother, my mentor, had personally helped me up until her coma. Even she had insisted that it would be great.

And I’d thought that the judges loved it, based on their reactions when I had revealed the final piece.

“Can… Can I ask why I failed?” I asked, ignoring Mr. Black’s coal-like eyes on me.

Judge Daniels gave me a sympathetic look. “Personally, I did love your work, Audrey. I found your presentation to be an 8 out of 10. The craftsmanship is exquisite, and your passion shines through. But…”

“But your project lacks originality,” Judge Fuller cut in, gesturing to Mr. Black beside him “As Mr. Black pointed out, you have recycled your old designs. We expect more from a student of your caliber.”

“Yes,” Mr. Black added with a self-satisfied grin. “Judge Fuller and I agreed that your work is quite… repetitive.”

…I knew it. I knew he was going to do something like this.

“But I only used small scraps of fabric from my old pieces as a symbolic gesture,” I insisted. “The gown looks nothing like anything I have made before! Each element was carefully chosen to represent my journey, my transformation, and that’s it.”

Mr. Black’s smirk widened, and I felt a chill run down my spine. His eyes gleamed with malice as he spoke. “Is that so?” he asked, gesturing to the luna moth on the bodice of my dress. “Because from what I understand, you presented a very similar gown during your Brooks Designs internship last summer. I believe it was the same gown that got you into Paris Fashion Week, correct? Hardly original, wouldn’t you say, Mr. Fuller?”

Judge Fuller nodded. “Indeed. Audrey, I was intrigued by your project at first, I will admit.” He tapped on his phone for a few moments, then turned the screen toward me. “But Mr. Black revealed photos of your dress from last summer.”

I felt the blood drain from my face as I leaned forward and studied the picture.

The picture of the dress I had made last summer. The one with the luna moth on the bodice, only this one…

This one looked almost identical to the one on the mannequin now. As if the original image had been… doctored. The room seemed to spin around me as I struggled to find the right words to respond.

“This… This isn’t…”

Suddenly, a memory flashed through my mind-Mr. Black and… Leo.

The pieces clicked into place, and a surge of anger cut through my panic. My eyes narrowed as I realized what was happening; Mr. Black had somehow gotten photos of my gown from last year and had Photoshopped them to look similar to the one I had made for my thesis. The color was different, and the skirt had been altered from a liquid silk to a fluffy tulle.

Chapter 209

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I wasn’t sure where he had gotten the original photos of how he had figured out what my grown for my thesis would look like, but it didn’t matter. What mattered was that he had made the old images look almost identical to my current project with a bit of editing magic.

“You’re doing the same thing now, aren’t you?” I accused, jabbing a finger in his direction. “You hate me. Mr. Black, because I got you in trouble last year. And now you’re trying to sabotage me again, just like you did last summer!”

The other judges gasped.

Mr. Black clutched his chest, feigning hurt. His performance was so exaggerated it would have been comical if the situation weren’t so dire. “Why, I would never!” he gasped. “To think that a respectable man such as myself would stoop to such levels… I’m wounded. Audrey, truly wounded.”

“Oh, bullshit. I know you hate me, Mr. Black,” 1 growled, my fists clenched at my sides. I could feel my nails digging into my palms, but I didn’t care about the pain. “But you can’t just go and manipulate the other judges. This isn’t fair! You’re nothing but a-

“I think that’s quite enough, Miss Klein,” Judge Fuller interrupted, standing from his chair. “These accusations are completely unfounded and, frankly, unprofessional.”

I fell silent, my heart pounding in my chest. Judge Daniels sighed, her kind eyes now filled with disappointment. “I’m sorry. Audrey, but the decision is final. You must repeat your last semester and will not graduate with your class.

“But those pictures-”

“The rules are the rules,” Judge Fuller said firmly. “The majority vote was ‘no. And you cannot accuse judges of foul play simply because you are upset with the outcome. It’s unbecoming of a future professional.”

Mr. Black nodded, his face grim but his eyes sparkling with gleeful malice. “Perhaps one extra semester will give you time to develop truly original ideas,” he cooed. “Think of it as an opportunity for growth, Miss Klein.”

I felt tears stinging my eyes as the reality of the situation sank in. I wouldn’t graduate with my friends. All my hard work, all those sleepless nights… for nothing.

But there was a solution to this. Eyes widening, I stepped forward, reaching for Judge Fuller’s wrist. If only I could show him my memories, show him what had really happened last summer…

“Mr. Fuller, if I could just-”

“Do not touch me!” Judge Fuller gasped, jumping back before I could make contact. “How unprofessional!”

“No, I wasn’t-”

“Go home and cool off, Miss Klein,” Judge Daniels said cautiously, rising from her own chair now. “One extra semester won’t be the end of the world. Use this time to refine your skills and come back stronger.”

“But…”

“Go, Miss Klein,” Judge Fuller bit out, clutching his wrist as if I’d burned him even though I hadn’t touched him. “I don’t want to have to call security.”

My throat felt tight, too tight to even speak. Gathering my portfolio with trembling hands, I turned on my heel and stumbled out of the room, feeling as though the floor was tilting beneath my feet.

As I stepped into the hallway, I saw Edwin waiting for me, a bouquet of vibrant flowers in his hands. His face lit up when he saw me, but the smile quickly faded as he took in my tear-streaked face and devastated expression-and felt my horror

down the bond.

The flowers slipped from his grasp, scattering across the floor.

“Audrey-”

I couldn’t face him. Not now. Not like this.

Without a word, I ran past him and Tina, ignoring their calls as I fled.

Third Person

Mr. Black rose from his chair, a satisfied smirk playing at the corners of his mouth as he dusted off his immaculate suit. He made a vague excuse about a pressing engagement and slipped out of the room, finding an empty classroom down the hall.

Once he was certain he was alone, surrounded by the musty smell of old textbooks and chalk dust, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number he knew by heart. The line rang twice before a gruff male voice answered.

“It’s done,” Mr. Black said without preamble. He glanced around, making sure no one was within earshot.

“And?” the voice on the other end pressed, more impatient than usual.

Mr. Black allowed himself a small chuckle, savoring the moment. The look on that little girl’s face… It was priceless If only he had a picture.

“I did what you asked-swayed the other judge to fail her. The woman wouldn’t listen to me, but the man was easy to manipulate. A few well-placed comments about originality and professional standards, and he was eating out of my hand. She failed spectacularly.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line, then a sound that might have been one of approval.

“Excellent work, Mr. Black. You’ve played your part well. The girl’s spirit must be crushed by now.”

Mr. Black’s smirk faded slightly, his free hand fidgeting with his tie. “Yes, well, about that. When will I get what was promised? I’ve taken considerable risks here, you know. And the payment-”

“Soon,” the voice replied. “We just need to knock her down one last time, and soon she will run into Coldclaw’s arms-no need for abduction. Everything is falling into place.”

“Yes, yes,” Mr. Black interrupted, glancing around once more to ensure he was still alone. “But my payment… You understand the dire situation I am in with my business. I need a windfall.”

The man on the other end chuckled. “Don’t worry; once our plan is complete, your company will absorb Brooks Designs, just as promised.”

Mr. Black let out a sigh of relief.

“You will be rich, Mr. Black,” the man on the other end said. “Very, very rich.”