Adriana woke up with a surge of confidence she hadn't felt in weeks, if not months. She moved to her closet with purpose, skipping past the usual tops until her eyes landed on something bold: a fitted, red V-neck that clung just enough to remind her of her curves. It wasn't showy, just sharp. She slipped it on with a pair of her favourite jeans and, as she turned to the mirror, she smiled. It had been a while since Adriana had felt this positive about herself. God, is this what Cara felt like everyday?

Stepping into the kitchen, she found Cara leaning against the counter with her morning coffee, scrolling through her phone. When Cara looked up, her eyebrows shot up.

"Well, look at you!" Cara grinned. "That's not your usual 'I'm blending in with the walls' look."

Adriana smirked. "It's a big day. Figured I should dress like it."

Cara gave an approving nod. "You look like you're about to conquer the world. Just remember: world takeover is a team sport, and if you leave me behind, I'll murder you."

Adriana gave a small grin, but inside, Cara's words landed like a little boost. She felt like she was ready to take on anything. She grabbed her bag, still feeling the buzz of Cara's words as she stepped into her Uber. Today was going to be one of those defining days. Will had asked her to come in after reviewing her proposal, and she was certain it was because he'd seen how good it was. She had spent hours on it, crafting something was solid and brilliant.

The Uber ride passed smoothly, the sun streaming through the window as she replayed Will's email in her mind. It was a simple email asking to meet again to discuss the proposal, but each time she thought about it, a rush of excitement followed. Maybe he thought she was beyond brilliant and talented. Maybe he'd want to work together more in the future. What ifhefelt amazed byher? She shook her head, smiling to herself. Okay, probably not, but she enjoyed the fantasy either way.

When she arrived at the institution, she felt light on her feet. She smiled at the few people she passed by in the halls as she made her way to Will's office, her heart racing in anticipation. She knocked lightly on the door, before stepping inside.

Will turned and looked up from a document he was holding, his expression unreadable, though there was a subtle crease between his brows. "Adriana," he said, his voice neutral "Come in."

She took a seat, unable to keep the excitement out of her voice. "I'm really looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the proposal," she said brightly.

Will's gaze dropped to the papers in his hand, and the crease between his brows deepened. There was no sign of the enthusiasm she had imagined.

"I've gone through your draft," he began, his voice steady and precise. "And, Adriana… I'm not sure what you were trying to accomplish with it, but it doesn't work."

Her brows furrowed slightly. "What do you mean? I thought the concept of being imprisoned—"

Will cut her off sharply, as if she'd touched a nerve. "Whatever concept you were aiming for didn't come through. What I saw felt unfocused, disjointed, and quite frankly, a little juvenile."

Adriana blinked, completely thrown. She had worked so hard, poured so much heart into that proposal, and he was calling it… juvenile? Her smile faltered.

Will's tone softened slightly as he leaned back in his chair, disappointment etched in his expression. "Adriana, this is MIT. We don't have time for haphazard ideas with poor execution. You're here because I believed you could bring something valuable to the table. But what you gave me… it felt careless."

Her stomach dropped. She had walked in here expecting praise, expecting to show Will that she was more than capable of handling this project. But now, everything felt like it was crashing down around her.

"I… I didn't mean for it to come across that way," she stammered, her voice small. "I really thought it was strong."

Will glanced away briefly before meeting her gaze again. "If you believe that certain… tactics will elevate your work and help you climb to the top, you're wrong. This project demands focus and integrity, and MIT isn't the place for shortcuts or distractions."

The words hit her like a slap to the face. Certain tactics? Adriana's mind immediately flashed back to the rumours, the whispers that had followed her after her last relationship. She had worked so hard to prove herself, to show that she was serious about her work, but somehow, the past never seemed to let go. Will's words were like a searing hot knife, twisting into her soul.

Her breath caught in her throat. "That's not what I was doing," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

But Will wasn't yielding. If anything, his expression grew more impassive, as though she had already failed some invisible test. "MIT is well known for high standards, and if you can't meet that standard, then this isn't the place for you. I can give you 48 hours to revise and resubmit your proposal if you choose, but I'll need it by then. The project can't afford to be held up."

Her chest tightened. She had walked in here feeling like she was on top of the world, but now… now it felt like she was falling. She had been so sure that she had done something great, but Will's words made it clear: she had failed.

"I'll… I'll think about it," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Will nodded, glancing at his watch. The conversation was over. And so, it seemed, was this opportunity.

Adriana left the office in a daze, her mind spinning. She got into the waiting Uber, but the world outside was nothing more than a blur. She stared blankly out the window, her chest tight, her stomach in knots. She swallowed hard, using all of her effort to not cry in the backseat of a stranger's car.

The devastation was overwhelming. Every bit of confidence she had managed to build up was gone, replaced by shame, confusion, and numbness. The Uber finally pulled up to her place and Adriana wordlessly exited the car before walking vacantly up the driveway toward the door.

As she stepped inside the house, everything inside her broke at once. She slowly put her bag down and leaned against the wall, resting her head against it as her body shook with quiet sobs she could no longer contain. The weight of everything was crushing, and she felt like she couldn't breathe.

Minutes passed in a blur until Cara found her in the hallway. Without saying a word, Cara gently pulled her away from the wall and wrapped her in a tight embrace, holding her close as Adriana fell apart.