(Nineteen Years Later)
After nearly hitting the car in front, Rosa quickly slammed on the brakes, then glanced over at her mother, who looked a bit shaken.
"Everything scares you, young woman."
Juliana caught her breath, "You almost killed me! You really need to improve your driving skills!"
Rosa gasped as she noticed the driver of the car she nearly hit walking towards them. "Is he coming to beat me up or what?" She gritted her teeth and jumped out of the car.
The driver was young, which she figured she could use to her advantage.
The well-dressed young man gave her a hard look.
She waved and smiled, "Hi!"
Something about him seemed familiar, but she couldn't quite place where she'd seen him before.
As she looked at his black SUV, she saw it had no scratches. "I didn't even scratch your car."
"Aren't you supposed to apologize? You were obviously speeding."
She chuckled, "And since when did speeding become a crime in Nigeria?"
"I'll forgive you because of God. I'm a Christian."
"I'm also a Christian. Nice to meet you, fellow believer," she said playfully.
Then it clicked—he was Raymond Smith, the famous actor and singer.
He looked a bit different in person, probably because the TV cameras made him seem lighter.
She grinned mischievously, "Are you sure you're not holding back your anger against me because you're scared the media might snap some pictures and ruin your reputation?"
He glared at her, "I'm a gospel actor and singer for a reason. I have strong Christian principles."
With a sarcastic clap, she said, "Wow! Let's give a round of applause to the gospel singer with amazing Christian principles!"
Frustrated, he walked back to his car and drove off, clearly irritated.
Rosa sighed in relief and got back into her car.
Juliana shook her head in disbelief, "I'm thinking of finding someone who'll buy you for thirty dollars."
Rosa teased back, "If you sell me, who'll make those fabulous hairstyles for you?"
They both burst into laughter, sharing a light-hearted moment.
Since nineteen years now, Rosa has come realize what true love felt like.
She thought back to the day, nineteen years ago, when she walked into the Andersons' house—a place where she learned how to forget pain.
***
On top of the building that housed her business, "ROSA DESIGNS," the sign stood proudly, marking seven years of hard work led by the youngest CEO in history.
In the boardroom, surrounded by board members, Rosa addressed them, "Rosa Designs is thriving in California. Our location is perfect for our growing business."
The company's accountant pointed out the competition, mentioning that Talyn Investors had a poor record of selling cheap silk.
There were concerns about market challenges if their high-quality silk source from Hong Kong were compromised.
Everyone nodded thoughtfully.
The discussion then turned to future designs.
When asked about new plans, Rosa shared, "Our next line will feature bags with fur accents."
One manager raised a concern about possibly losing vegetarian customers.
Rosa explained her strategy, "The fur-accented bags will make a strong market impact first. Later, we'll expand our line to appeal to a wider audience, aiming to build a brand as recognized as Zara."