Stuck In Love (COMPLETED)

Chapter 8

Sophie Esinberg's POV

Fame is as capricious as it is glamorous. I had my taste of it three years ago with my first patent, which I was too naive to co-author with my supervisor. I developed a new generation of microturbines for local energy production, capable of generating electricity at a much lower cost and with higher efficiency. My goal was simple: create technology that could significantly reduce electricity costs.

But fame's fleeting allure caught me off guard. My supervisor, seeing a lucrative opportunity, sold the patent to a major fossil fuel company. They were worried about the potential threat to their core business, so they suppressed the technology to maintain control over energy prices and market share. My brief moment in the spotlight quickly faded, leaving me disillusioned.

As the article said, I too was famous once, though not with the enduring allure of Hollywood stars or celebrated athletes. It was the kind of fame that flickers for a week or a month before fading into obscurity. I knew then that this superficial world wasn't for me; I could never be so conniving as to navigate its underhanded ways. My place was in a different world, far removed from the glittering lights and flashing cameras.

So, I moved to Africa. I wanted to do something meaningful, something that mattered to me, even if it didn't matter to the world. Many say fame and fate go hand in hand; perhaps they are right.

Now, here I was, at Les Prix d'Excellence Jeunesse, the most prestigious award across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. A seven-day extravaganza culminating in the grand Award Ceremony. I glanced at the event schedule lying in front of me:

Event Schedule:

Welcome Reception
Media Day
Charity Gala
Cultural Tour
Workshops and Panels
Nominee Luncheon
Award Ceremony

This year's charity gala had a "Masquerade Ball" theme, a sumptuous promise of grandeur and intrigue. I hadn't planned on attending it or any of the other events before the Award Ceremony. Daniel, Justin, and I had carefully mapped out our days, planning to immerse ourselves in the vibrant chaos of the local market and to traverse the storied streets of the city. We had saved the Eiffel Tower for our grand finale—if victory eluded me, it would stand as my consolation prize, the breathtaking spectacle of its lights fading into the night, shared with my two best friends. If triumph graced us, the Eiffel Tower would simply be the cherry on top of our celebratory cake.

But winning or not, I couldn't let my project suffer because of past mistakes. The stakes were too high for hesitation or half-measures. This was my one chance to save it all, and I couldn't afford to lose. I had to seize this opportunity, whatever it took. Right or dirty, I didn't care anymore.

My phone buzzed on the bed, jolting me from my reverie. Reaching out, I saw Daniel's name flashing on the screen, a comforting constant in my life.

"Morning, Kim," his voice greeted me, a husky murmur still heavy with the remnants of sleep. I could almost see him, his hair tousled and his eyes still blinking away the haze of dawn, reaching for his phone as soon as he stirred.

"Good morning, Danny," I replied, my voice a touch softer, as a small smile curved my lips. The warmth in his tone was a reminder of the steadfast friendship that had seen me through countless trials.

"How are you feeling? Are... are you okay?" His concern was palpable, each word carefully chosen, as if he were holding his breath for my response.

"I'm fine," I assured him, though his concern always managed to tug at the corners of my heart. "I've told you this twenty times already."

"Just checking up on you," he said, a casual nonchalance masking the deeper worry beneath his words.

"Like you've been doing since yesterday—" I started, but he cut me off.