Miss Josefina: Nobody's Princess

Lauren shook her head and said. "Ruby, you silly kid. Even if you get down on your knees, she's not going to let you off the hook."

Billy leaned against the couch, completely spent from the ordeal. "Why did you have to steal what wasn't yours, Ruby? If you hadn't lied in the first place, would our family be in this mess, owing someone ten million bucks?"

Ruby was speechless, choked up by her father's words and her own remorse. "I'm so sorry."

Billy was beside himself with frustration. "What good does knowing you're wrong do now? Ten million! Even if we sold you, we couldn't fetch that kind of money."

Lauren scoffed at the absurdity. "Ten million, they might as well be highway robbers. What kind of piece of art is worth that much?"

Billy shot her a look of exasperation. "Lauren, have you lost your mind? Anya's designs could fetch more than that with ease, and here Ruby went and passed them off as her own and even sold them. It's all or her."

The words hit Ruby like a ton of bricks, and she couldn't muster a single word in her defense.

Lauren was stunned as well. Ten million-where on earth were they going to find that kind of money?

Meanwhile, at the Harrison household that evening, Josefina noticed a flurry of activity as strangers bustled in and out, moving things around.

As Josefina approached to find out what was happening, Hattie informed her, "Your dad's clearing out a room for you to use as a studio for your designs."

Josefina was taken aback. "There's no need, I can work on my designs in my bedroom just fine."

Hattie smiled warmly. "Josie, you don't need to be so polite with us. We've got plenty of space, and picking out a room for your work is no trouble at all. If you have any requests, just let us know, and your dad and I will see to it."

Josefina could only smile and thank them.

"We've whipped up some delicious food for you in the kitchen. Come eat. You're so thin, you need to eat more."

Josefina's phone buzzed with an incoming call, and she stepped aside to take it. Kale's voice came through on the other end. "Ms. Josefina, so many companies want to collaborate with us. My phone's about to explode."

Josefina sighed internally. She had specifically instructed not to disclose her identity. So much for keeping things under wraps.

She promptly instructed Kale, "Tell them I will be the one choosing our partners, and we don't accept unsolicited proposals." "Understood," Kale replied, relieved his phone would get a break.

"Ms. Josefina, that's not all. There's a bunch of people looking to commission custom designs from us. It's not just my phone. Everyone is getting bombarded with calls."

Josefina pinched the bridge of her nose, "I'll handle it."

As she ended the call and turned around, she saw Oliver approaching. He walked straight up to Josefina and presented her with a bouquet of flowers. "Congratulations on winning the contest, Miss Anya."

Josefina knew he was deliberately saying that. "What brings you here?" she asked, setting the bouquet aside.

Oliver flashed a charming grin. "I'm here to celebrate your victory. Am I not welcome?" He moved closer, his gaze filled with affection.

Josefina took a step back. "What are you doing? There are other people around, you know."

Oliver's eyes twinkled with a doting smile. "Alright, we'll have a proper conversation when we're alone."

Before Josefina could reply, her phone rang again. She glanced at the caller ID and stepped aside to answer. "Ms. Josefina, we've got a situation."Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.