Chapter 3 The Debt Mountain

Sophia's POV

The spreadsheet blurred before my eyes, a financial Everest I had no gear to scale. Every red column was another summit I couldn't climb-rent, utilities, fabric suppliers, equipment leases, and worst of all, Lily's mounting med school bills. I pushed my long black hair back and rubbed my eyes. The numbers remained: cold, red, and unforgiving against the harsh white cells marked "Report Failure."

"This cannot be right," I whispered to the empty studio.

I recalculated for the third time. Even if I drained my savings-my emergency fund since undergrad-I'd still be thousands short.

The ancient radiator hissed, releasing a weak burst of heat. Outside, New York throbbed with life, oblivious to my quiet collapse. Afternoon shadows stretched across the neighboring brick walls, creeping toward me. Soon I'd need to turn on every light I could barely afford.

I braced my hands against my throbbing temples. My design label was buried in red. Next month's tripled rent would be the final blow.

My phone buzzed on the desk, "Lily". Taking a deep breath, I picked up the phone, saying with forced cheer.

"Hey sis! How's the future Dr. Chen today?"

"Drowning in anatomy flashcards," Lily laughed. I could picture her perfectly-small like me, but with our dads round face, reading glasses perched on her nose as she sat on her bed studying in her campus apartment.

"You'll crush it, Lil. You always do."

"I wish I had your confidence." She paused, her voice lowering. "So, about that lab fee..."

My stomach twisted. "I am trying to sort out a few things. I should have it next week."

"Really? Because, if you are tight this month-"

"Don't even go there," I interrupted, my voice firm even though panic was budding in my chest. "Your job is to become the best doctor ever. My job is to make sure that you do."

"But Soph-"

"No buts. Mom and Dad wanted this for you."

The mention of our parents hung in the air between us; it had been five years since the accident that took them both, but some wounds never quite heal.

I closed my eyes and let myself be dragged back to that cold rainy night in the hospital. Mom's cold hand as she whispered.

"Take care of Lily, xiǎo hǔ." Little tiger. "Promise me."

"I promise," I had sobbed. I hadn't known then how hard it would be to keep.

"Soph? Are you still there?" Lily's voice broke through the haze of memory back to the present.

"Yes, sorry. Just thinking." I quickly changed the subject. "How is the new roommate?"

After a few minutes, she had to go. I hung up and stared at the spreadsheet, despair curling in my gut.

The studio door slammed open. I jumped.

"Girl, if you're trying to work yourself to death, at least do it with more caffeine!" Elena Rodriguez said as she walked in, dressed in one of her own designs. She placed a coffee cup on my desk.

"Triple espresso. You look worse than yesterday," she added, her dark eyes studying me critically.

I managed a weak grin. "Good to see you too, Elena."

"Was that Lily?" She nodded toward my phone and plopped down in the chair across from mine.

"Yes. She needs another three thousand for some special lab program."

Elena's perfectly shaped brows shot up. "And you said...?"

"That I would take care of it," I said, my head falling into my hands.

She sighed and leaned forward to see my computer screen. A frown crossed her forehead as she looked at the numbers.

"Sophia Chen, financial wizard, strikes again." While there was sarcasm, I could see genuine concern behind Elena's dark and round face. "We have to fix this."

"I know."

"The rent is due in thirty days, three suppliers haven't been paid this month, let's not forget Lily wants more money...we need a miracle, not a triple espresso."

I took a sip of the coffee and let the warm bitterness fill me. "What am I supposed to do Elena? Tell Lily to drop out? After all the work my parents did to get her there?"

This softened Elena, as she reached across the table and squeezed my hand. "Of course not. But you are sacrificing everything, your health, your savings, and possibly your sanity." Elena gestured around the small studio, with cutting tables, dress forms, and sketching walls along with a stack of color swatches. "And this too."

I looked around our space. It was our space, this messy little room we had created together. Small, yes, and getting increasingly cramped and grungy, but it was our true dream realized; a really working design studio, in Manhattan, making pieces that represent my Chinese heritage in modern silhouettes. The critics raved about us. The people who pay for our work were still non-existent.

"Who knows, maybe tomorrow's gala will turn it around," I said, though not not quite able to muster the belief in it anymore then I had a moment ago.

Elena's face lit up, she quickly moved her chair towards me and almost hopped in her seat with excitement. "That's what I came to talk about!" She was glowing with enthusiasm. "You know Vera Simmons is going to be there, right?"

"The editor from Style Quarterly?" My heart skipped in my chest.

"The very same. And I hear she's looking for 'undiscovered talent' for their spring feature." Elena's smile was dazzling. "This could be it, Soph. Our big break."

I wanted to believe her, but that blasted spreadsheet glowing accusingly on my screen made hope feel dangerous. "We have heard that before."

"This time is different. Half the industry will be there, including investors looking for the next big thing." She picked up a sketchbook from my desk and flipped through my recent designs. "With these? You'll blow their socks off."

The designs were good. Flowing gowns with structured elements, each telling a story. The collection was about strength in vulnerability, inspired by my mother's jade and metal butterfly pendant-now hanging around my neck.

Elena darted to the sample closet. "What are you wearing tomorrow? Please say its not the black pantsuit again."

"What's wrong with my pantsuit?"

"Besides everything?" She returned with a garment bag. "You're wearing this. The blue silk qipao with modern structuring."

She unzipped it-a sapphire blue piece with a mandarin collar, side fastenings, geometric cutouts, and an uneven hem. My favorite.

"Elena, that's for the show-".

"And now it is for you. You are the face of this brand, Sophia. You need to look like it." Her tone left no room for argument. "Plus it makes your eyes pop."

I sighed. Elena was immovable when her mind was made up.

"Okay. The blue dress."

"And I'm doing your makeup. Dramatic eyes. Got to show off those Chen genes with those gorgeous almond eyes."

For a quick second, I felt a little burst of excitement. The gala was important; the elites of New York fashion would be there along with potential investors and media. If we could get one wealthy patron interested in what we are doing....

"Look at that," Elena said softly.

"What?"

"Hope. I can see it on your face." She smiled. "Keep that feeling. Tomorrow may indeed turn everything on its head."

We spent the next few hours working on the gala: picking accessories, putting the final touches on my portfolio for possible investors, and rehearsing my elevator speech until I could have said it in my sleep.

By evening, Elena headed home. I stayed behind, too wired to leave. The spreadsheet still glowed, mocking me.

With a swift click, I closed the file. Tomorrow would be a new day. A new tiny chance to change course.

I collected my stuff, about to lock up for the night, when my phone lit up with an incoming text. Unknown number.

Curious, I tapped the notification. The blue screen lit up the dim studio.

"I've seen your work. I have an offer that could change everything for you.-XM, Montgomery Industries."