Chapter 6

"Charlotte, Professor Theodore Norman, the president of the university, wants to see you," a professor said.

I shut my notebook, its pages crammed with the key points for the company project my dad had assigned me. Ever since I agreed to help with the negotiations, I'd been pouring almost all my free time into brushing up on business skills.

When I stepped into the president's office, Theodore, Director Cody Lewis from the Department of Arts, and a few other professors were already there. Theodore flashed me a friendly smile and gestured for me to take a seat.

"Charlotte, next month marks the university's 50th anniversary, and we're throwing a huge Arts Festival," Theodore said, adjusting his glasses. "Word is you're super creative with design, so we'd love for you to handle the main look and the venue setup."

I blinked, caught off guard. "Why me?"

"Julian put your name forward," Cody said with a grin. "He said even though you're a business major, you've got a real gift for design."

Julian always stuck his nose in. My calendar was already jammed. How was I supposed to squeeze this in?

Theodore asked, "Can I take a look at the other candidates' work before making a decision?"

I was all set to turn them down, but then I spotted Sarah eavesdropping outside the door, clutching a stack of design drafts. Seeing her made me reconsider.

"No need. I'll do it," I said with a smile. "But I have one condition: full creative freedom."

Theodore and Cody exchanged a look and then nodded in agreement.

As soon as I stepped out of the office, Sarah hurried over. "Charlotte, I heard you're in charge of the Arts Festival design. That's so cool." She blinked her eyes. "I actually submitted a proposal too. How about we work together?"

"No, thanks." I brushed past her. "I like working solo."

"Is it because you don't like me?" she suddenly raised her voice, making a few students glance our way. "I just wanted to help."

I stopped and turned to look her straight in the eye. "Sarah, drop the act. Your trick doesn't work on me anymore."

Her face froze for a split second, and then she quickly switched back to her helpless look. "You're mistaken, Charlotte. I really just want to learn..."

"Then why don't you go learn from Ethan?" I said with a mocking laugh. "Isn't he your favorite tutor?"

Sarah's eyes welled up with tears. Right on cue, Ethan's voice came from behind me. "Charlotte, are you picking on her again?"

I didn't even bother to look back. "Ethan, your angel needs some tender loving care. Go on, take her away."

Silence hung in the air behind me. I headed straight for the library, fuming. Julian had landed me in a mess.

In the corner of the library, Julian was flipping through a music score. I slammed my bag down on the table in front of him.

"Explain yourself," I hissed.

He looked up, his eyes full of amusement. "Are you mad at me?"

"You have no idea how busy I am." I gritted my teeth. "Dad's project, schoolwork, and now this Arts Festival."

"You need this," Julian said, closing the music score. "It's a chance to showcase your talent."

I said, "I don't need—"

"Yes, you do," he cut me off. "Everyone thinks you're living off your family's reputation. It's time to show them what you're really capable of."

I opened my mouth but couldn't come up with a retort. Julian knew me too well. He understood how much I craved recognition, not as the Williamson heiress, but as Charlotte Williamson.

"Sarah submitted a proposal too," I grumbled.

Julian grinned. "That's all the more reason to take it on, isn't it?"

I shot him a glare but couldn't help laughing. How could I let Sarah win?

For the next two weeks, I moved into the library and the design studio. Daytime was for classes, and nights were spent buried in my dad's project. I'd be up till dawn working on the Arts Festival design. Coffee was my lifeblood, and my dark circles were so bad that I looked like a raccoon.

But the results blew everyone away. My design mixed the university's history with a modern vibe. The main visual was a giant tree made from the names of every graduate over the past fifty years. Theodore and the professors couldn't stop raving, and even the pickiest professor from the Department of Arts had to admit it was good.

"Charlotte, I never knew you had this kind of talent," Cody said, clapping me on the shoulder. "Guess you're more than just the Williamson heiress."

His words hit me right in the feels. After all these years, someone finally saw me for my skills, not just my last name.

On the day of the Arts Festival, I arrived at 4 a.m., keeping an eye on the workers. As dawn was breaking, Ethan showed up at the auditorium entrance. He was in a plain white shirt and black pants, hair all messy, like he'd just rolled out of bed and rushed over.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, setting down my blueprints.

He walked over in silence and handed me a cup of hot coffee. "I heard you pulled an all-nighter."

I was stunned. The warmth of the coffee seeped through the cup into my hand, and it felt almost unreal. Why would Ethan bring me coffee?

"Thanks," I said warily. "But I don't need your sympathy."

"It's not sympathy," Ethan replied, frowning. "I'm just on the student council, so it's my job to make sure everything goes smoothly."

I just nodded, keeping quiet. He stood aside as I instructed the workers to set up the display board, and suddenly asked, "How long have you been awake?"

"No idea," I muttered without looking up. "Three days? Maybe four."

"Why are you pushing yourself so hard?" Ethan asked.

I paused and looked up at him. "Because I want to prove that I'm not just a fool who keeps chasing after you."

His eyes narrowed for a moment, like my words hit a nerve. We stared at each other in silence for a few seconds before he looked away first.

"Your design is good," he said stiffly.

I was stunned speechless. Ethan had never complimented me before. Just as I was about to say something, Sarah popped up in the doorway. "Finally found you, Ethan."

She hurried over and made a point of wedging herself between me and Ethan. "Charlotte, Professor Norman wants to see you." Then she turned to Ethan, her voice going all sugary. "Ethan, our class's board is messed up. Can you help us out?"

Ethan glanced at me, nodded, and went off with her. I watched them walk off, shook my head, and went back to work. Ethan's random nice streak didn't mean anything. No point getting my hopes up.

At ten in the morning, the Arts Festival officially kicked off. The auditorium was packed, and my design was the star of the show. Theodore singled me out for praise during the opening speech, and the applause was thunderous. I stood off to the side and spotted Julian in the crowd, raising his thumb at me.

"Charlotte, your design is so 'original,'" Sarah sidled up next to me, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. "I heard you took a lot of inspiration from some big-name designers."

I gave her a frosty stare. "Spit it out."

"Oh, nothing," she said, acting all innocent. "Just curious. If you weren't a Williamson, do you really think your design would've made the cut?"