Chapter 52 Tensions in the Makeup Room
The commotion was loud enough for everyone to hear.
Eileen smirked, sipping her lemon water, seemingly very pleased with the outcome inside.
She didn't mix with Haley, only knowing that she had been vying for her resources lately, which had made an impression.
Cutthroat competition in the entertainment industry was nothing new.
Even for Haley, getting a couture dress required jumping ahead of her in line, which was a bit much.
She hadn't succeeded and managed to save face for herself as well.
The store manager inside the room wasn't hopeful about today's outcome. Even if they managed to get it right, the likelihood was that it wouldn't satisfy Haley, who would then lash out, so the manager was resigned to the facts, "We have already done our best..."
"Your best? I see everyone else dressed perfectly. Only our Ms. Haley's isn't ready. You're doing this on purpose!"
"You're accusing me wrongly."
When Haley heard them arguing, she stepped out with a friendly and pleasant demeanor and asked, "What's happened here? Why all the fuss?"
Her junior assistant explained, "Ms. Haley, your dress isn't ready yet, and you have to wear it shortly. With so many people around, it will be a joke at your expense if you can't wear this dress. How will you face that?"
Haley looked at the junior assistant and then at the store manager with a calm tone, "I thought it was something serious. Mae, don't be so hard on her. Let's just wear the backup. If there's a joke to be made, and the media goes wild with it, it's not only us who'll be affected. Why get so upset?"
She didn't voice any blame, but her words conveyed a deeper meaning, and the store manager could hear it clearly.
If her appearance was compromised, she feared it could also offend Oscar.
Janetta said, "Pearl, do you think they're going too far? They act like they own the place."
Haley was the master of passive-aggression, always with a smile that hid a knife.
But the store manager was definitely not going to have an easy time.
Especially since she had been asked to rush a job overnight, she looked at Janetta and asked, "It was you who stirred things up with the boss, wasn't it?"
Janetta pursed her lips, "That's because she's too high-profile."
The assistant didn't believe her and pressed further, "You can only fool the naive with those words. Last night, you definitely rushed a job for someone else. Who was it? Who dares to get in Ms. Haley's way?"
The store manager remained silent.
Haley stood by, not saying anything, but she was listening.
Her gaze shifted toward Eileen with hesitation.
If you're only a simple singer, that path is too narrow in the entertainment industry.
Moreover, Haley had health issues, so she needed to pivot her career.
Eileen was currently the biggest obstacle.
They were bound to become fierce competitors.
Haley did not take Eileen too seriously. Aside from acting, Eileen's family background was pretty ordinary, having climbed up from minor roles.
So, Haley wasn't scared of her.
But that didn't mean Eileen couldn't trip her up behind her back.
Haley's lips curled gently, and she asked softly, "I know Ms. Eileen loves your store and has a good relationship with you. It's normal for you to rush work for her overnight. I won't hold it against you."
Eileen's assistant, hearing this, could not stand the backhanded comment and shot back coldly, "Stop with the sarcasm. Our Zi Qi has always kept a low profile, unlike some people who have to show off their status! You come in here throwing your weight around, making sure we all know how hot a commodity you are and that you've got people backing you!"
Eileen didn't stop her assistant from speaking, but after the outburst, she said calmly, "Shut it. This is a public place. It's rude!"
Following Eileen's command, her assistant stepped back.
The store manager didn't want to drag anyone else down, "Not at all, Miss Zi Qi's gown has been ready for a while. Ms. Haley, it's my fault. I'll refund your deposit in full."
With so many people watching, it was like a slap in the face.
And this was supposed to be Haley's moment to shine.
Haley suppressed her resentment and looked coldly at the store manager, "Then who's going to compensate for my loss?"
The store manager caught Haley's venomous glance and immediately regretted her mistake, sensing trouble.
Haley's assistant had sniffed out some information and whispered to her, "Ms. Haley, I heard it was Pearl. She was the one meddling!"
Her gaze involuntarily shifted to Pearl, who was chatting with Janetta, comparing a dress in her hands. This irked Haley deep down, so she strode over, "Pearl, so it's you. You knew I was going to attend the celebration and wanted to embarrass me?"
As she saw Pearl getting ready to put on makeup, wanting to adorn herself, Haley scoffed, "What's the deal? Trying to show me up or hoping Oscar gives you an extra glance?"
Pearl, seated in a chair, was getting her hair done by Janetta's makeup artist, and from the reflection in the mirror, she could see the haughty look on Haley's face.
It was only in her presence that she would show her fierce side.
Pearl did not look up at her, her tone cool and distant, "You flatter yourself. I dress up to please myself."
"Speaking so nobly, why then disrupt when I am getting my dress altered?" Haley retorted, "You're just upset because you overheard Mae and Ms. Yvonne discussing the alterations for my dress, and you schemed behind my back! You even want to outdo me at tonight's dinner with your little games."
Janetta couldn't keep quiet any longer, "Haley, don't be so full of yourself, paranoid much?"
Haley turned to Janetta, "I was speaking to Pearl. You have no right to butt in."
Janetta, furious, shot back, "You really have some nerve. Who do you think you are, nothing but a mistress…"
With a resounding smack, Haley slapped Janetta, feigning victimhood, "You... I will not allow you to insult me!"
Janetta was stunned by the slap and then saw Haley's eyes brim with tears, acting as if she was the one being bullied.
Disgusting!
"I'll tear you apart, you pretender!" Janetta lashed out, attempting to hit her.
Haley's assistant wasn't one to be trifled with and grabbed hold of Janetta, rendering her immobile.
Soon, Janetta's entourage got entangled in a scuffle with them.
The scene descended into chaos, especially when Janetta took a hit; it broke her heart, and she yelled, “Everybody stop it!”
She turned to Haley, her voice fierce, "Haley, don't get too caught up in your role. You aren’t Ms. Brown yet, but you're already acting so high and mighty! Do you think I'm dead? If you keep this up, I’ll spill all your dirty secrets! No matter how Oscar protects you, he can’t shut everyone up!”
Haley just wanted Pearl to see that even though she was Oscar's wife, she couldn't outclass her.
To outsiders, being seen as Oscar's future bride was enough!
But she knew when to draw the line, "Everybody stops it. No matter how classless others may be, we shouldn't stoop to their level. We still have to save some face for the Brown family!"
"Alright, Ms. Haley, let's not stoop to her level. A mere secretary really thinks she's hot stuff," the young assistant sneered mockingly. "Ms. Haley isn't one to hold a grudge, but if she did, then you'd be fired by President Oscar so fast you wouldn't even know how to behave."
Her arrogant manner was notorious; everyone knew she was slated to be President Oscar's wife.
Her boldness meant that everyone else deferred to her if only to stay on Oscar's good side.
At the moment, no one dared say much.
Janetta truly couldn't imagine Haley being so brazen. It seemed she knew no bounds.
Meanwhile, Haley basked in the admiration, neither denying it nor refusing it, curling her lips into a satisfied smirk.
She had accrued enough respect.
Even Eileen could only watch, holding back her anger, silent.
Pearl's colleague whispered to her, "Pearl, just pretend you didn't hear anything; it's the only way to have peace in the future. Today, no one can afford to offend her!"
Pearl looked at the bright red handprint on Janetta's face, her eyes cooling down. As they strutted around, smug and pompous, she walked over and promptly slapped Haley.
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