Chapter 454 My Mr. Harriman
When Jessica walked in, the staff quickly came up to greet her with big smiles.
Jessica was a regular at this fancy dress design center. She first found out about it through Lynn, the shop owner's sister. Over the past couple of years, most of the outfits Jessica needed for events and occasions, aside from those provided by brands, were picked from here.
After the warm welcome, Jessica gave a quick rundown of the event and the style she was aiming for. The designer, who knew Jessica well, held her hand and showed her some of the latest designs, asking if any caught her eye. They could tweak the current designs to fit Jessica's taste.
Jessica picked out two outfits to try on, and the designer needed to make some simple waist adjustments based on her preferences, which would take about half an hour.
Jessica headed to the VIP room to wait and immediately spotted a familiar face.
"Ms. Jenner, long time no see." Deborah, who seemed to have just changed her dress and still had her hairstyle intact, was lounging on the sofa. She glanced at Jessica and greeted her right away.
After the promotion period for "Charles II," Deborah hadn't been doing great in the industry over the past two years. She occasionally landed lead roles in small productions. Although the response was so-so, it was still better than many new artists.
But the contrast between her current status and the heady days of "Charles II" was stark, especially compared to Jessica, who, despite being only the fourth female lead at the time, was now a major star.
"Ms. Whitney." Jessica wasn't surprised to see her here.
In this bustling city of Xyleria, one of the most prosperous cities in the country and a semi-celebrity hub, many stars liked to settle down here. With numerous film studios nearby, many celebrities often stayed here. These haute couture design shops on the commercial street frequently had celebrity visitors. Jessica had run into many familiar and unfamiliar faces over the past two years.
After the polite greetings, Deborah smiled and looked Jessica up and down. Seeing that she seemed to have just arrived, she raised an eyebrow and asked, "Got a big event coming up? Or jetting off to a fashion show?"
Jessica ignored her and sat down opposite Deborah. Just then, a staff member brought in a fancy fruit salad and placed it on the coffee table. Jessica picked up a silver fork and ate a small piece of fruit.
Deborah looked Jessica up and down, not noticing any significant changes since she became Mrs. Harriman.
She still had the same habit of going makeup-free off-camera, mostly wearing casual clothes without specifically donning haute couture or the latest designs. If it weren't for her excellent figure, which made her stand out in a crowd, Jessica's private attire would really be no different from an ordinary person's.
Deborah, without hesitation, picked up a piece of fruit with her fork and said with a smile, "Ms. Jenner, you're really in the spotlight now. You've been winning all sorts of awards in the film industry over the past two years, and your business deals are off the charts. Many veterans who've been in the industry for one or two decades can't keep up with your money-making machine."
Jessica, seeing her also eating, calmly put down her small silver fork and said, "Ms. Whitney, you've been the leading lady. Not many can boast that kind of consistency. I mostly play supporting roles. How could I compare?"
Deborah's expression remained unchanged, but inside, she was cursing Jessica.
Jessica was throwing shade, hinting that Deborah would take any lead role, no matter how bad the production or how cheap the producers were.
On the flip side, Jessica, despite her rising fame over the past two years, only joined big-name productions. From the investors to the crew, everything was top-notch. She didn't care about being the lead; she just wanted good scripts. But even if she wasn't the lead, she always ended up being the biggest draw and got the most praise for her acting. Her achievements were always the standout.
Deborah glanced out the lounge's floor-to-ceiling window and spotted a white Bentley in the parking lot. She immediately recognized it as Jessica's new car, rumored to be a gift from Gabriel.
She picked up another piece of fruit and said, "I heard you and Mr. Harriman are quite the lovebirds. He sure spoils you. That Bentley, which hit the Xyleria auction half a month ago due to a company collaboration with Bentley, was part of a charity auction. Even though it's a global limited edition, its price wouldn't exceed ten million dollars. Yet, your husband, Mr. Harriman, raised the price by more than five times, paying seventy million dollars for it. That's quite generous."
"He didn't tell me the price," Jessica replied smoothly. "Seventy million does sound surprising."
Seeing the almost jealous and sarcastic smile on Deborah's face, Jessica added with a faint smile, "But since it was a charity auction, so it's understandable. Gabriel is passionate about giving back."
Deborah's smile faded, and for a few seconds, she couldn't keep it up.
Jessica then gave Deborah a regretful smile and said, "By the way, is it true you're also into charity, Ms. Whitney? How many charity auctions have you attended? Do you know where the money goes? There are many wealthy people in this country, but there are also many children who still can't afford to eat or wear. As high-spending individuals, we shouldn't focus on the original price of an item but rather on the ultimate purpose of the funds. Oh, and the Brighton explosion incident last time caused numerous casualties. Many in the industry donated for the reconstruction. How much did you donate, Ms. Whitney? I didn't see your name on the list."
Deborah's smile instantly froze.
The fruit salad in front of her suddenly seemed tasteless. She looked up and saw that Jessica had already put down her small silver fork, clearly not intending to share the salad with her. So, she paused with her fork and then smiled, picking up a piece of cucumber and casually playing with it. She said, "As a small-time celebrity without background or financial support, I have to donate within my means. I can't be as generous as you, Ms. Jenner, who can easily donate thousands of dollars in the name of her studio, with a husband who is also very focused on charity."
She paused and then smiled again, saying, "So why doesn't Mr. Harriman insist you stay home and enjoy the good life instead of working so hard?"
Jessica chuckled lightly. "Thanks for your concern, Ms. Whitney. My husband treats me very well. His kindness isn't just about financial support but also respect and compromise in all aspects. He respects my career choices and doesn't see me as someone who only relies on him. I happen to be passionate about acting and want to delve into it. Everyone needs to find something that reflects their value in life. Everyone has their strengths. I can't compare to your talent for… indulgence."
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