Caroline’s Point of View
Winning the competition should have been the hardest part.
I pour everything into my designs, fighting against sabotage, betrayal, and every possible obstacle thrown my way. Yet, standing in my boutique weeks later, watching the steady stream of customers come and go, I realize something.
The real battle has just begun.
Success has turned into an exhausting whirlwind. My inbox is constantly flooded with custom orders, my phone never stops buzzing with inquiries, and every time I sit down, another customer walks in needing assistance.
At first, the rush of it all is exhilarating. Now? It’s just exhausting.
Penelope leans against the counter, arms crossed, watching me struggle to balance three jewelry boxes while answering a customer's question. "You need help," she says, unimpressed.
"I’ve got it," I insist, shifting my grip.
I do not have it.
One box slips, and in my panic to catch it, the others follow.
With a loud clatter, all three hit the floor.
Penelope s
