Yolanda Greenwood walked to the window and answered the phone.
"Out of the hospital?" The man's deep, magnetic voice filled the air.
"Uh-huh." Yolanda responded, realizing how long it had been since she'd last heard his voice, and how much she missed it.
Both fell silent for a moment, then spoke at the same time, "About the divorce..."
"You go first," Yolanda added.
"I've already signed the divorce agreement," Cooper Coldson's voice slowly rose, "I've been out of town these past few days..."
"Great, just let me know the moment you're back, and we'll proceed with the formalities."
The line went dead the next second—he clearly didn't want to hear another word.
Yolanda let out a wry smile and put her phone away.
Lola Gold could guess who had called and what the conversation was about.
She didn't know how to comfort Yolanda, so she changed the subject, "What are your plans going forward?"
"Locks," Yolanda's face filled with apology, "can I stay with you a few more days?"
She didn't have any savings and couldn't possibly ask Eliana Reed for money, let alone hope to get anything out of the divorce.
"I'll find a job right away. Once I have the money, I'll move out."
"What are you talking about, silly?" Lola hugged Yolanda, her heart aching.
If that incident hadn't happened, Yolanda would surely be a renowned fashion designer by now.
"My place isn't big, but you can stay as long as you like, however..."
She chuckled, "I stream live three times a week, no more than two hours each time. Those two hours..."
Yolanda raised her hand to swear, "I promise to disappear without a trace during those two hours."
Lola burst into uncontrollable laughter.
She feared those two hours would utterly shatter Yolanda's remaining hope in the beauty of the world.
They made their arrangements, and one ordered takeout while the other checked recruitment listings.
The last time Yolanda had logged into a job site was years ago when she had just graduated.
Back then, she dreamt of making a career to prove herself to Eliana Reed, but since then...
Yolanda shook her head, not wanting to remember.
"Yolanda," as Lola set the takeout order, she casually chatted, "have you done any painting these past few years?"
"Hardly any."
The year she married Cooper Coldson, she had been completely absorbed in their household, devoid of time or mind for painting.
She was uncertain, "Locks, do you think I might not be able to paint anymore?"
"How could that be?" Lola had absolute confidence in her best friend, "Trust me, you were born to paint. There's no problem at all."
Yolanda smiled and proceeded to fiddle with the unfamiliar website, stumbling upon several old interview invitations.
They were from two years ago, from the well-known domestic fashion design company Baruy.
The company Yolanda had most wanted to join after graduation.
With a glimmer of hope, she clicked on the company homepage and was ecstatic to find they were still hiring Painters.
"Locks," Yolanda couldn't contain her excitement, "Baruy is hiring!"
"Really?" Lola was happy for her, "Try it, haven't you always wanted to go there?"
"But..." Upon seeing the recruitment requirements, Yolanda's confidence faltered.
She was no longer a recent grad and had no relevant work experience, practically no advantage.
Lola encouraged her, "Send them those paintings from university, just give it a try before you worry."
"Okay." Yolanda didn't hold out much hope but sent her paintings anyway.
Unexpectedly, that afternoon, she received an invitation for an interview the following day.
"Congratulations Yolanda, I told you you're the best."
Lola suggested they have some beer at home that night to celebrate.
"Not in a hurry." Yolanda wanted to prepare properly, "After I nail the interview, I'll treat you to a big dinner."
She spent the remaining time preparing for the interview, even considering returning to the Greenwood Family home to collect her originals, but the thought of Eliana Reed's face made her abandon the idea.
The next morning, Yolanda arrived early at the Baruy company.
HR asked her to wait in the conference room and notified the interview manager, Jenny Reyes.
"She's actually here?" Jenny huffed, "Let her wait then."
After hanging up the phone, someone beside her asked, "Manager Reyes, who's here for an interview that's got you so upset?"
"A copycat." Jenny said with disdain.
Did this shameless plagiarist think Baruy was some low-end workshop?
She summoned her, intending to put her in her place, not believing she would dare show up.
Just wait and see!
Yolanda waited in the conference room from morning until night, being told each time she inquired that Manager Reyes was busy and to wait a little longer.
Desperate for the rare interview opportunity and keen to work at Baruy, she waited patiently.
When she finally met the elusive Jenny Reyes at the end of the day, Jenny scrutinized her from head to toe.
She looked nice and meek—how could she commit such a shameless act?
"Manager Reyes, hello!" By that time, Yolanda had become immensely disillusioned with this supposed top domestic company.
Standing up with her bag, "Let's end today's interview here. I've been waiting here just to tell Manager Reyes something."
"Your behavior as Baruy's interviewer was thoroughly unprofessional today. I believe Baruy is not the right place for me, goodbye!" With that, Yolanda walked toward the exit.
"Stop!" Jenny sneered angrily.
A plagiarist daring to be so self-righteous? Who gave her the courage?
"You're right, Baruy isn't suitable for you."
"Baruy's shows are internationally acclaimed; how could we dare let a copycat into our company?"
Yolanda turned back in disbelief, "What do you mean?"
"Don't you know what I mean, Miss Greenwood?" Jenny snorted with contempt, "Did you really think we wouldn't notice you copied foreign works?"
Plagiarism?
Foreign works?
Impossible.
Yolanda didn't understand a word, "I don't understand what you mean, which of these paintings did I plagiarize?"
"All of them!"
"Whose work did I copy?"
Jenny sneered lightly, "Don't you know who you copied from?"
She pouted, "Yolanda, I'll admit you have good taste, these pieces have won awards and they really match our company's style, but their original creator is in our company."
"That's impossible!" Yolanda was in disbelief.
These were her own creations from her university days; how could they be someone else's?
"I want to meet this so-called original creator," she demanded to see who had stolen her work.
"You wanna see? Which onion do you think you are?" Jenny said her piece and turned to leave, "If you have any shame, leave quickly, don't make me call security."
Helplessly, Yolanda left in a daze.
But she couldn't figure it out—who exactly had she supposedly plagiarized? And won awards abroad?