Chapter 184

Angelina wasn't so lucky on the day of the qualifiers—she drew a late slot in the lineup. A late draw meant she'd be up against the top contenders. Despite doing her homework and receiving solid advice from Isadora and Megan, Angelina found herself with butterflies in her stomach as she stepped onto the stage. She'd put in the work, but now it was game time, and the pressure was on. There were too many people, and the competition was fierce. She felt way out of her league. Some of the bigger companies even brought their own cheerleader, full-on dance teams to hype up the energy. Before she went on, Chester took her hand and squeezed it firmly. "Getting into the top 20 gets you a nomination. Just do your best." With so many companies and so many designers, getting into the top 20 felt ridiculously ambitious. But Angelina didn't let it shake her. "Leave it to me," she said with a grin. This contest wasn't just a personal battle. It was Isadora's bet, too. After Jerry refused to