Chapter 155: Rachel's Proposal

Rachel Moreno visited Sunroom Studio the following week carrying a thick portfolio.

She worked for an architectural firm specializing in mixed-income housing developments. One of their upcoming projects included two hundred compact rental apartments near a major transit corridor.

"We can build the units," Rachel explained. "But the developer keeps treating small apartments like miniature luxury apartments. That doesn't work."

Freya immediately understood.

Small spaces needed different priorities: storage, flexible furniture, durable materials, and layouts designed around actual daily routines.

Rachel wanted Sunroom to develop interior prototypes for three unit types.

The contract would be far larger than anything Sunroom had handled.

Helen was excited and horrified.

"We don't have enough staff."

"We can hire contractors," Freya said.

"We don't have enough experience."

"We have you."

Helen stared at her.

Freya grinned.

They accepted the opportunity only after negotiating a staged contract. Sunroom would design one prototype first. If the developer approved it, the remaining work would follow.

Freya became obsessed.

She studied renter surveys, maintenance complaints, furniture dimensions, storage patterns, and household routines.

Louis watched rolls of plans gradually invade the townhouse office.

"Should I prepare for the tea cabinets again?"

"You're very brave for a man sleeping in this house."

The first prototype was a one-bedroom apartment under six hundred square feet.

Freya designed a movable partition between the living area and work nook, built-in storage around otherwise wasted corners, and a dining surface that folded into a wall unit without looking cheap.

Rachel loved it.

The developer did not.

He wanted marble counters, decorative wall panels, and oversized lighting because those photographed better in advertisements.

Freya refused.

"Then why hire us?"

The meeting became tense.

The developer argued that renters wanted luxury.

Freya replied that renters wanted somewhere to put a vacuum cleaner.

Rachel nearly laughed.

Freya continued. "If you want a showroom that looks expensive for fifteen minutes, hire someone else. If you want apartments people renew leases in, let us design for people."

The room went silent.

Helen kicked her lightly beneath the table.

Freya ignored her.

Two days later, the developer approved the prototype with only minor changes.

"How?" Helen asked.

Rachel smiled. "Because his operations team agreed with Freya."

Sunroom received the full contract.

Freya celebrated by buying everyone lunch.

No champagne.

No luxury gifts.

Just noodles, dumplings, and a cake Mia brought from the bakery downstairs.

When Freya told Louis about the confrontation, he looked amused.

"You threatened to fire your client."

"I offered him freedom of choice."

"That's not how Helen described it."

"Why are my employees reporting to you?"

"They like me."

Freya narrowed her eyes.

Louis kissed her forehead before she could continue.

Sunroom had begun as a way to reconnect with an abandoned skill.

Now it had its first serious chance to become something real.

Freya could almost imagine the original woman's younger self looking at the plans and approving.

The prototype process also reminded Freya that good design required listening more than performing. She could argue fiercely for an idea, but if residents consistently disliked it, pride could not become the reason to keep it. That lesson sounded suspiciously applicable to writing too.

Freya made a note of the development and returned to the practical work in front of her. She had learned that a complicated life became manageable only when she separated what she knew, what she suspected, and what she could actually do next. Louis respected that habit, even when his instinct was to solve everything immediately. For now, they chose the next useful step and left the unanswered part where it belonged.

Freya made a note of the development and returned to the practical work in front of her. She had learned that a complicated life became manageable only when she separated what she knew, what she suspected, and what she could actually do next. Louis respected that habit, even when his instinct was to solve everything immediately. For now, they chose the next useful step and left the unanswered part where it belonged.