Chapter Six

Seated in her office Maya was by her desk, with her phone in hand. She scrolled through her contacts, her mind buzzing with thoughts. "Okay, Maya, you can do this," she muttered to herself.

First on her list was Ava Che, the heiress to a real estate empire and a fellow Parsons alumna. Ava had always been passionate about fashion and had the resources to help. "Ava could be a great asset," Maya thought as she dialled Ava's number.

Next was Jackson Hart, a successful entrepreneur who had made his fortune in tech. Jackson had always been supportive of Maya's dreams during their time at Parsons. "Jackson has the business acumen we need," Maya mused, pressing the call button.

Then there was Sophia Russo, a renowned fashion influencer with millions of followers. Sophia had studied fashion marketing at Parsons and had a keen eye for trends. "Sophia could help us reach a wider audience," Maya pondered as she rang Sophia.

Lastly, she considered calling **Liam Becker**, an investment banker with a love for fashion. Liam was known for his strategic thinking and financial expertise. "Liam could provide the financial advice we need," Maya concluded, dialling his number.

As she deliberated over which number to dial first, Maya felt a mix of anxiety and excitement. She knew that these calls, coupled with her savings, could be the lifeline Lila and Sparkle Rose needed.

"Alright, let's do this," Maya said to herself, taking a deep breath as Ava Chen's number started to ring.

The phone buzzed in her ear before Ava's familiar voice came through. "Hello

"Yeah, Hello Ava, it's me, Maya," Maya said.

"Maya Lee, Is that you?" Ava asked. The sound of Ava's voice brought a smile to Maya's face. 

"Yes it's me Maya from Parson"

"Maya, it's been a while! How can I help you?" Ava's voice was warm and friendly.

Maya took a deep breath and explained the situation - the massive order from Luxe Hotel Group, the looming deadline, and the financial constraints. Although while Maya was explaining Ava listened quietly, letting Maya lay out all the details.

Once Maya finished, Ava was silent for a moment before responding. "Maya, this is really coming at a bad time for me but I'm willing to lend you $1,000 to help with your project."

Maya was shocked by Ava's generosity. "Ava, that's... that's incredibly kind of you. I can't thank you enough."

After ending the call with Ava, Maya dialled Jackson Hart's number. The phone rang twice before Jackson picked up.

"Jackson, it's Maya," she said, her voice steady.

"Maya! It's been ages. How can I assist you?" Jackson's voice was filled with genuine warmth and surprise.

Maya explained the situation - the massive order from Luxe Hotel Group, the looming deadline, and the need for efficient production. Jackson listened attentively, asking a few questions here and there.

"Maya, I'm thrilled to hear from you. And I'd be more than happy to offer my business expertise to help streamline your production process," Jackson responded enthusiastically.

"Thank you, Jackson. Your help means a lot," Maya replied, relief washing over her.

Next, she dialed Sophia Russo. Sophia picked up after the first ring. "Sophia, it's Maya," she began, explaining the situation and the need for visibility in the competitive fashion market.

"Sophia, we could really use a boost in visibility. Would you consider featuring Sparkle Rose in your upcoming blog post?" Maya asked hopefully.

"Maya, I'd love to feature Sparkle Rose. Your designs are fresh and original - they deserve to be seen," Sophia responds supportively.

Overwhelmed with gratitude, Maya thanked Sophia profusely. With Ava's financial support, Jackson's business acumen, and Sophia's influential platform, Maya felt a renewed sense of hope for Sparkle Rose.

However, when Maya dialled Liam Becker's number, she was met with his voicemail. She left a message explaining the situation and asked him to call back when he had a chance.

With Ava's financial support and the backing of her other friends, Maya added all this with the sum of $2000 which she had saved in her account, and that was all but it still wasn't enough.

*******

After pooling together the funds from Ava, her own savings of $2000, and the promises of support from Jackson and Sophia, Maya dialled Lila's number. The phone rang twice before Lila picked up.

"Hey Lila, it's Maya," she started, trying to sound upbeat.

"Hey Maya," Lila responded, her voice weary.

"I've got some news. We've managed to gather some funds. Ava lent us a grand, and I've put in my savings of two grand."

There was a pause on the other end of the line. "And?" Lila asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"And... that's it for now. Jackson's offered his business expertise and Sophia's going to feature us in her blog."

Lila was silent for a moment before letting out a sigh. "Maya, that ain't gonna cut it. We need more than that."

Maya could hear the disappointment in Lila's voice. "I know, Lila. I know," she said softly.

"I reached out to some clients too, but no dice. Nobody sent a dime," Lila added, her voice laced with frustration.

"I'm really sorry to hear that, Lila," Maya said sympathetically.

Suddenly, Maya's doorbell rang. "Hold on a sec, Lila," she said as she went to answer the door. To her surprise, it was a courier with a package for her - a box full of high-quality fabrics and accessories with a note: "A little help for your project - Ava".

Maya couldn't help but smile as she returned to the phone. "Lila, you won't believe this. Ava just sent over some high-quality materials for our project!"

Maya's smile widened as she returned to the phone. "Lila, you won't believe this. Ava just sent over some high-quality materials for our project!"

Lila's voice perked up at the news. "Really? What did she send? Can you snap a picture and send it to me?"

A few moments later, Maya sent the pictures to Lila. She waited anxiously for Lila's response, hoping that the materials would be useful for their project.

However, Lila's response wasn't what she expected. "Maya, these aren't the materials we need for the project. They're beautiful, but they're not what we need."

Maya felt a pang of disappointment. "Oh, I see," she said, trying to hide her disappointment. "Well, we'll figure something out, Lila. We always do."