Chapter 25: From CEO to Janitor
While Natalie shone under the spotlight of Paris Fashion Week, a prison transfer brought Ethan Carter to a community service labor facility in the outskirts of the capital.
His task for the day was cleaning the street outside the venue where Paris Fashion Week was being broadcast on giant outdoor screens.
Ethan wore an orange high-visibility vest, holding a long wooden broom and a dustpan.
He paused his sweeping, lifting his head to look up at the colossal digital billboard above the intersection.
On the screen, Natalie was accepting the International Designer of the Century trophy from the French Minister of Culture. Her grace, her radiance, and her speech were being broadcast live to over two billion viewers worldwide.
“I dedicate this award,” Natalie’s voice echoed across the square from the speakers, “to everyone who has ever been underrated, silenced, or betrayed. Never let anyone dictate your worth.”
Ethan stood frozen in the middle of the street, tears streaming down his dirt-streaked face.
A sudden gust of wind blew a pile of leaves across his boots.
“Hey! Prisoner 4092!” a guard yelled from the sidewalk. “Stop slacking off and keep sweeping!”
Ethan swallowed hard, wiping his eyes with his rough sleeve. He bent his back, gripped his broom, and resumed sweeping the dirty pavement.
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