Anna's POV

Today was the day. We have the meeting with shareholders. We have been preparing for this meeting for so long and hard.

I wish they will get convinced because we have worked very hard and so many people depend on this.

We reached the office by 7 in the morning and the meeting will start at 10 o'clock.

"We have three hours to do nothing but to wait." Kate complained.

"But at least we will not be late for the meeting." I replied with a breath of relief.

"Are you serious, Anastasia? We ate here three hours prior. We would be preparing for the meeting at home right now." Kate said.

"We can do that here too. What more we need to prepare?" I asked.

"No way. Your pacing around me is already nerve-wracking. I would make a mess if I even thought about the meeting right now." Kate said frustrated.

"Okay, okay... Calm down. We will not talk about meeting. Let's talk about college. What are you planning to do?" I asked.

"I was thinking to do fashion designing privately like you three are doing. That way I can help you with your projects. Anyway, I am your designer, so I want to start working with you." She said.

"Oh. That's great."  I replied.

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We were talking about all the stuff about the future.
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"Good morning everyone, as you all know we are here to rebrand our company, The Fashionista.

We have been reaching on the latest fashion and our old launches. We get so much inspiration and motivation to do even better.

I and my team, we all were working hard for weeks to plan this all. Hope you will like the presentation. The further presentation will lead Ms. Kate William." I step down from the podium and she came up with her project file.

"Thanks, Anastasia. Hello everyone, I am Kate William. So let's get started.

What is the first thing that comes to your when you think of the word fashion? For me, it is red carpet, galas, runways. Peter Do, Wardrobe.NYC, Khaite. These are the brands we think of but does everyone plan to go and buy from them? The answer is, no. Why? Simple, because they are expensive and they have nothing new for common personals.

We researched the type of products this company had made. There was a time when this company was in trend.
The company has always been using the best quality of fabric but we have been launching out-of-trend dresses. The cost is very high too.

So we collaborate old principles of providing the best quality with new trends.

All major brands have tried to reach the New York streets but they failed. The prices are so high for a college boy or a schoolgirl to be able to purchase it for day-to-day living.

We want that our brand can reach to the man who is going to the office, to a woman attending a big charity event. A boy who loves football, to the girl who worries more about her studies.

Everyone deserves to look beautiful and to show our company's spirit we will launch our company as a new with a runway show. We will make normal school, college and working people our models.

No matter what shape, size, color, and gender they are, they will represent our company and our spirit.

We have ideas about how we take our brand to the streets and in everyone's wardrobe.

My friend Zack, here will be our promotional model. And after that, we will personally select the models.

The theme of this runway will be 'Spring on the street'. The other details are in the files.

That's all for today's presentation." Kate finished the presentation.

I crossed my fingers and was waiting for their review over this.

I was gawking at every shareholder present in the room. It was Xavier, who squeezed my hand under the table to stop me openly staring at them.

"This is risky. Everyone plans to start with the same ideas but none of them could cover the whole city.

But still, I like the idea. Because the plans and price they are offering are more plausible." The oldest shareholder, I always forget his name, said.

"I like it too." This time it was Xavier's dad.

Everyone agreed but then the old man said. "But I need a more detailed plan on this runway you are planning to do. We are going to invest in it so I want to be sure. I hope you girls are ready for the challenge."

They agreed!!! THEY AGREED WITH THE PROPOSAL.

I looked at Xavier unbelievingly. He gave me big smile. David nudged me to answer the question they asked.

"Yes, sir. We have already planned a lot of things. We are sure that we will be ready with a full plan and details within a month." I said.

"And what about the company staff and structure. You are going to be the CEO but you are too young and have no experience in business at all." A lady asked.

"I am not planning to take the position of CEO just yet. I had already talked with the company planning and heads of the administration department. We have decided to make the oldest employee of the company be the next CEO. He is the most trusted member of the company." I answered.

"Very nice, it's a wise decision." Everyone agreed with the decision.

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All four of us were sitting in a cafe.

"Thank God. At last, it is all over." Kate sighed in relief

"It's not over darling, it has just started. Now is the maid challenge. They would have given you a chance anyhow because they were with the company for so long. But now you have to prove that you have credibility." David said.

"Yeah, now we have to do double hard work to fully utilize this opportunity. We can't take a risk. This will be my chance to show them that I can take over the company." I said.

"Well, I don't know about other things but at least now we can party and celebrate Anna's birthday which is pending for so long." It was Xavier who was thinking of parting at this moment.

But when I think about it, it is true. I still have my 18th birthday to celebrate.

Well, let's party then.

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I woke up at 5 in the morning. It was still dark out there. I went downstairs to have a glass of water but what I saw was that my whole front hall was a big mess.

When did the earthquake come and why didn't notice anything?

"What the hell? Why are you up at 5 in the morning?" Kate said frustrated.

"She ruined our plan and you both made me do this from last night." It was David who complained.

"What you guys are doing? Why are you destroying my house?" I asked them.

"It was your late birthday surprise and it is called decorating not destroying. You have no sense of art." Kate said.

It made me so happy to see them here. They wanted to surprise me but I really ruined it for them.

Just then I heard my front door opening.

"Guys I bought what you asked for. It was so hard... What the f*ck is she  doing here?" Xavier asked shocked.

"She got up soon." Kate said.

David checked his watch. "A little too soon." He said.

Xavier took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

I feel very bad for them. But I don't know why I found that so funny that I started laughing.

They looked at me in unbelievment.
But soon after Kate started laughing too and so did the boys.

It was so damn funny. 🤣🤣🤣

We calm down after a very long laugh.

"Oh, God! My guts are hurting." Kate was breathing heavily.

Xavier came up to me and picked me up in his arms. He took me downstairs.

He sat me on the couch and stood in front of me with the other two.

They are my friends. I am very lucky to have found them.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANNA.

Three of them screamed.
And this is how I celebrated my 18th birthday.
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********************

Hello, dearies.

This was the last chapter. I know that no one wanted this story to end.

But every good thing has to end at some point. So here is this.

They all lived happily ever after.