The Invincible Arthur Gardner novel Chapter 61

"Sylvia!" The man in his 50s exclaimed in the morning, his disappointment palpable.

"We've put in so much effort to support you - from helping you to get accepted into a prestigious university to you receiving your doctorate at 22. But why do you insist on this foolish endeavor of yours, one that will only leave you lagging behind and has no future!" he asked, his voice laced with disappointment.

Sylvia Morin, a young prodigy, had achieved something remarkable for her age: the title of Master of Science in Architecture and Management at just 22 years old. This was an accomplishment that few could ever hope to achieve.

That morning, Sylvia reluctantly ate her breakfast as her parents continued to lecture her and attempt to direct her to do as they wished.

"You got a terrible score on your graduation because your final project was nonsensical. And now you're leaving your job and attempting to start your own business? How are we supposed to pay off the debt I owe if you keep making these kinds of foolish decisions?"

Sylvia's father kept on complaining without allowing Sylvia a chance to respond.

Sylvia took a deep breath, quickly swallowing her giant piece of toast and chugging down the mineral water. She then stood up, grabbing the bag that was resting on the seat next to her.

"Thanks for the breakfast, Mom," she said, rushing out of the house without a care for her parents' nagging. "Bye Mom, Dad!" she called out as she left.

Sylvia's father slammed his hand on the dinner table, his face a mask of anger.

"We could soon be living on the streets," he growled, "or I might have to sell all my organs just to pay off the debt we owe, and it might not even be enough to cover it!" he exclaimed in despair.

Her mother gently patted her husband's back. "Let's give Sylvia a chance," she said soothingly.

"She's been studying all this time, and has done everything we've asked of her. I think this is her way of expressing her dissatisfaction. Surely she deserves a year to do what she wants?"

Sylvia's father sighed, still not convinced. "But why now?" he muttered.

Sylvia had been sitting that morning in her small, open office in the office complex in downtown Southlake. She used to arrive very early and leave late, doing all that to make the crazy dream she had dreamed of for a long time a reality.

Sylvia had ventured out on her own, leaving a big company with a high salary to open her own architecture business. With just three employees, she was struggling to make ends meet by taking on small clients, using the income to pay their salaries, and saving for her dream project.

Sylvia sat at her desk, her brown hair cascading down her back, a pair of glasses perched on her smooth and pretty face. She was wearing a white executive suit with a gray skirt, her expression serious as she looked at her laptop.

"What?!" she exclaimed.

"They broke the contract?" She was clearly taken aback, her face suddenly shifting from shock to irritation.

Sylvia slammed her hand on the table, and her chair moved back a bit as she threw her body backward. "Absolutely annoying!" she growled.

Sylvia put her face in her palms, supported by her elbows on the table.

"No..." she muttered, devastated. It seemed as if every misfortune was conspiring against her as if no one - not even her fate - supported her plans.

"This is so frustrating!" she exclaimed.

And the last woman, "Me too, today will be my last day working here."

Sylvia took a deep breath, her hand trembling as she signed the resignation letters of the three employees.

After a few minutes, she was left alone in her office. Sylvia pounded the table and threw herself back into the chair, the squeak of the legs against the floor echoing in the room. "I hate it!" she swore.

"Go! Everyone, leave me alone!" she then shouted loudly, her voice reverberating in the empty space.

"I'll do it all by myself!" she shouted in frustration, her voice steadily rising. She closed her eyes, taking a moment to regain her composure.

After some time, she opened them again and began to search the internet for information on the upcoming session of the annual entrepreneur competition - Business Takeover - held in a few days.

She had signed up to be one of the participants, eagerly looking forward to pitching her business model.

"I knew my idea was big and I just needed to find the right person to turn it into a reality," she said confidently, her excitement palpable.

Sylvia was hopeful that her business model would attract investors and, with the financial means to bring it to fruition, she would finally be able to make her dream a reality.

She didn't care if she only had the smallest stake in the project. She was willing to do whatever it took to get it off the ground as long as it was viable.

"Come on, Sylvia! You're strong, you're great, you can do this!" She stood up, her enthusiasm rekindled.