Miss Josefina: Nobody's Princess

The words that spilled from Josefina's lips sent a shockwave through the entire room. Erica's eyes were wide with disbelief as she stared at Josefina, her gaze filled with skepticism.

Lauren's voice dripped with sarcasm as she laughed at Josefina, "You're the designer Anya? Why don't you take a good look in the mirror, sweetheart? There's not a single thing about you that even comes close to Anya. That's the funniest joke I've heard all year."

Ruby, too, wore a mocking smile, her voice laced with disdain, "Josefina, do you really think we're going to buy this act of yours? Is there anyone here who can vouch that you're Anya? Aren't you scared of being sued for impersonation?"

Billy chimed in, "Josefina, this isn't the place for your jokes. Your little no-name company suddenly hits the big time, sure must have had a little help from a 'mysterious benefactor,' huh? But let me tell you, this is not the kind of competition you can bluff your way through."

Alex was fuming, stepping forward to declare, "All this talk about us, where's your proof? Without evidence, stop spewing nonsense and wasting everyone's time with your baseless accusations."

He continued, "You accuse me of buying designs? Whose designs did I buy? And when you made such claims at the competition itself, aren't you implying I'm in cahoots with the organizers? Do you think everyone here is blind to just hand me a backdoor deal? Ruby, do you ever engage your brain before you speak?"

Josefina added, "Ruby, if you can't provide evidence, you owe us an apology."

But Ruby had no evidence. The design sketches Holly had given her went unused by Alex. She just shot from the hip, not wanting to let Josefina off easy.

"Why did your unknown designs suddenly take first place?" Ruby challenged.

Josefina's smile widened, "Good question."

With a self-assured smirk, Ruby was about to gloat when Josefina turned the tables, "If I recall correctly, when the Antonio family took you back, you were living in an orphanage, scraping by. So, when exactly did you learn design? You never mentioned it before, and suddenly, in a mere two months, you've developed a prodigious talent for design?"

Ruby's smile faded.

Josefina pressed on, "I heard you've drawn up a design for Antonio Corporation that really made waves. Ruby, I have to ask, did that design really come from your own hand?"

Ruby felt her scalp tingle; pilfered goods were always hot to the touch.

She tried to defend herself, but her expression betrayed her. In a flurry of emotion, Ruby defended her position, "I never heard about you designing clothes either. It's pretty normal that you wouldn't know about my business."

From the crowd, a woman's voice rang out, "Let's have Ruby and Alex do a face-off. Let them compete and see whose design skills truly shine."

Alex raised his hand, "I agree. Let's have a public showdown, Ruby. Let everyone see who's got the real talent. Wisdom ends where gossip begins, and the audience's eyes are sharp as daggers."

Ruby, however, was terrified to compete against Alex; she feared exposing her lack of design skills.

"I refuse. Why should I compete just because you want to? Who do you think you are, matching up with me?" Ruby sneered with disdain.

The host, Layla, gripping the microphone, her voice booming across the hall, "Miss Ruby, if you're too scared to compete and yet you claim the organizers and Alex are bullying you, then tell us, what would it take for Alex to prove his innocence, or for us to see if there's any truth to your words?"

Masked Erica stepped forward, "Let me compete against him. If he beats me, I'll have Ruby apologize to you all."