Chapter 50 Evening Gown
"If you neglect your duties, you'll have to face the consequences!"
That was Haley's little assistant, Mae, talking down to everyone as if she was above them.
Naturally, things had escalated to this point. Nobody dared to offend her. Even the store manager had to respond with utmost respect, "Of course, we'll make sure that the dress Ms. Haley needs is done with the utmost care."
"Tomorrow is the Brown Group's most prestigious charity auction gala, and Ms. Haley needs to wear it. It has to be ready before then!" the little assistant added.
The store manager was clearly troubled; she knew this dress had been altered many times, and it came back with complaints every time.
In all her years in the career, she had never worked so diligently and carefully.
After so many alterations, she thought it would be satisfactory, but surprisingly, they brought it back for more changes.
The store manager explained, "The dress was sent over several days ago, and now you come to us at the last minute. The alterations are hand-stitched, and I fear we may not have enough time."
But Mae was not interested in excuses. She said coldly, "Then you need to stop all other work and focus solely on Ms. Haley's dress. Don't be sloppy; this event is very important to Ms. Haley, and if you can't finish the job and cause her delay, who knows if your shop can continue operating!"
Ever since Haley made an appearance in front of the media, her little assistant felt secure in the future Mrs. President Oscar position and wasn't very polite in her speech.
The store manager looked very troubled, knowing that if they put all effort into this single gown's embroidery, other pre-ordered evening gowns would be delayed.
This would mean offending other customers.
In this business, reputation was everything, and the store manager found herself stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Seeing that the store manager didn't reply, the assistant placed a bag on the counter with an air of finality, "Is this too hard for you? You better understand the situation—offend other customers or offend the future Mrs. President Oscar and suffer even more."
In this city, the Brown family might seem sparsely connected, keeping a low profile in their dealings, never ostentatious on the exterior.
The Kye family had deep roots and with Oscar controlling the economic lifeline, even the department store belonged to them. Crossing them meant trouble, and any store that did would surely not survive.
The store manager could only offer a forced smile and said, "Alright, I get it. I'll give it a try!"
The young assistant sneered, "It's not about trying. It's a must! Remember, you can offend anyone, but not Miss Haley. Even if Eileen, the hottest A-list female celebrity around, shows up, she has to step aside for our Miss Haley!"
Eileen, referred to by the assistant, was the leading star of the hour. Every show she graced was not just a hit but also launched the careers of newcomers, especially the male actors who worked alongside her. Eileen was highly sought after in the entertainment industry. Although she couldn't match the status of veteran actors, she held a significant place among the younger generation. Eileen often ordered gowns from this store, yet now Haley was stealing her thunder.
The pressure put on the store manager was immense, as he was breaking out in a cold sweat and quickly nodded in agreement, "Okay, I understand."
Those witnessing the scene, particularly Janetta, felt their earlier composure slip away, replaced by seething anger, "They've got nerve, acting all high and mighty before anything's even confirmed, making threats, as if eager to broadcast their power. This storied store we're in is now at risk of being shut down because of their arrogance!"
Pearl glanced at the young assistant and had a sudden revelation, adding, "After Haley's interview this time, the buzz has been huge. She's all over the trending searches. She's quite the marketing genius—a singer who's either sick or struggling, always in the headlines. Plus, with her interest in acting, this news might be her big break to get film directors and producers to cast her. Her status will be on a different level if she transitions successfully."
Janetta was stunned to hear this and turned to Pearl, "So, you're saying this scoop about her romance with Oscar is just paving the way for herself. That's clever!"
"If you had a solid backer like Oscar, completely supportive, wouldn't you leverage that?" Pearl posed a very realistic question. Who would pass up such an opportunity? That would be missing the boat.
Janetta was livid, "How could she have it all so easy!"
They moved forward into the store.
"Oh my, Miss Janetta, welcome," greeted the store manager, his gaunt face a clear indication of his worry. Despite his troubles, he managed a smile and ardently welcomed them, "You're here."
The store manager was acquainted with Janetta.
The store manager was a renowned designer and could be considered a peer of Janetta. Her creations had graced many famous fashion weeks. She was well-known in the fashion industry, and numerous celebrities loved to wear her designs on the red carpet.
"We're here to pick out dresses. I'll choose one. Pearl will choose one. They need to look great and feel luxurious, and they should be one-of-a-kind. Especially important is the one for her," said Janetta.
The store manager replied with a smile, "Then you've come to the right place. Our boutique offers exclusive couture, and we have new items that models haven't yet touched. They're not public knowledge. For your sakes, I'm willing to let you have the first pick!"
This piqued Janetta's interest, "Really? Let's go take a look then."
"Right this way," the store manager said.
Janetta nudged Pearl, "Hurry up, this time we're picking for you, and it has to be the right one!"
The store manager led them to another area. The space was larger, though there were fewer dresses, all of which were covered with white cloth.
"We've arrived," the manager announced and had someone unveil the white cloths. More than a dozen gowns were revealed, all from her latest collection. The array of dresses was dazzling.
As a professional, Janetta was quite impressed, "Wow, these dresses are gorgeous."
"Take your time looking," the manager offered.
Pearl examined the designs, which were full of unique thought and innovation rather than following trends; they felt fresh and distinctly styled.
She held up a pale yellow long dress against herself and asked Janetta, "Doesn't this suit me well?"
Janetta responded, "You look good in anything, and this gown suits your gentle, graceful demeanor."
Pearl put the dress back.
Janetta was confused, "What's wrong? You don't like it? It seems so fitting for you."
Pearl's gaze wandered until she spotted a dress set apart on the rack—a red evening dress. The gown had a long train, and the fabric was adorned with embroidered roses. At first glance, it looked opulent, but upon closer inspection, the embroidery wasn't overly complicated.
"This one," she declared.
Janetta had thought Pearl would choose a lighter color that aligned more with her usual taste. The sudden change took her by surprise, "Pearl, you usually don't go for such bold colors."
If one were to make a comparison, Pearl was more like the greenery that frames the flowers—essential but always in the backdrop.
"The CEO needs to shake things up a bit. I really like it," said Pearl with a smile.
Janetta studied Pearl closely, having never seen her in such attire. She was intrigued, "Alright, go try it on. Your skin is fair; it will suit you well."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
