Chapter 41

The ceremony ended, but Alexia had no idea how she made it out of the conference room. She had thought this competition might be her chance to turn her career—and her life—around. Instead, it all amounted to nothing. The entire afternoon passed in a daze. She couldn’t focus, and her spirits remained low. Finally, it was time to leave work. A sudden pang in her stomach sent her to the restroom as she was heading out. Inside, muffled voices carried through the stall doors. "I heard that during the morning showcase, everyone—judges and audience alike—was impressed by the janitor's design. They all thought she'd take first place for sure. Who would’ve guessed you'd be the winner? Talk about a plot twist." "It's no surprise," another voice said smugly. "After all, I'm the future Mrs. Reed." "Oh right, the future Mrs. Reed! But the judges didn't know about your connection to Mr. Reed, did they? Why did they suddenly change their minds and pick you?" "Mr. Reed came to the conference r