After hesitating for a short while, I nodded and gave in to her request.
Her colleagues heaved a sigh of relief because they managed to resolve the emergency. Stacey dragged me away and said, “Thank you so much!”
She showed me the way to the dressing room, asserting over and over again, “You have no idea how grateful I am, Sienna! I was afraid you would turn me down because Mr. Featherstone might not want you to show up in the limelight. My last option was to get down on my knees to acquire your consent.”
I thought she was exaggerating things and assured her once more, “It’s not that big of a deal. There’s no need for that.”
“You have no idea how impactful this seemingly trivial favor of yours is going to help me!”
After we got into the dressing room, the stylists and makeup artists had everything ready. As soon as Stacey delivered the instructions, she returned to the studio for the setup.
When I took a seat in front of the dressing table, the makeup artist couldn’t help but exclaim, “Ms. Stanhope, you really do resemble Nancy!”
I responded with a faint smile and brushed her off.
Someone interrupted and said, “Their facial features are the only things that are the same, but Ms. Stanhope’s ones are way more natural. I can’t help but wonder if Nancy is trying to mimic someone.”
The makeup artist started dolling me up. They started gossiping in front of me without holding back because they thought I was just another substitute for the role.
“Do you think she’s trying to mimic Rylee? After all, Mr. Featherstone has been protecting Rylee all this while.”
“I think you’re right! Rumor has it that Ms. Lorraine was Mr. Featherstone’s mistress. Over the years, he had been keeping her in his villa, afraid of exposing her to excessive risk.”
“Are you serious?”
“Do you remember the time I was dispatched to doll her up for the auction? Oh, God! If you tell me Nancy is Ms. Lorraine’s twin, I won’t doubt it at all!”
While the duo was engaged in a hectic discussion, I thought Anthony must have been keeping Rylee away from the public as part of his duties.
The duo continued gossiping. “I heard Mr. Featherstone would get engaged to Ms. Lorraine soon! Someone told me they had been having a great time together!”
“Really?”
“Of course! Someone uploaded photos of Mr. Featherstone and Ms. Lorraine kissing in the middle of the square and said the woman she saw resembled Nancy! However, only the woman’s back could be seen in the photos!”
I was astonished when I heard them talking about photos of Anthony kissing with another woman in the square.
Another person interrupted and said, “I don’t think that woman is Ms. Lorraine nor Nancy because it’s impossible for them to show up on the streets when they have garnered the attention of the public. On top of that, Nancy’s clothes have always been designer’s items, but the woman’s clothes are merely from a fast-fashion brand.”
Someone wanted to say something, but they were interrupted by a commotion coming from outside the dressing room.
The makeup artist gaped at me in silence after she dolled me up. “Oh, my! Ms. Stanhope, you have such flawless facial features and skin!”
All of a sudden, a bunch of people barged into the dressing room under the guidance of a middle-aged woman in her early forties.
She seemed to be frustrated and yelled, “Nancy isn’t here yet! Who gave you the permission to proceed with a substitute?”
Isabelle, the person in charge of the Publicity Department, rebuked, “Vanessa, didn’t you say Nancy has fallen ill? Since she’s not coming for the shoot, we need to get someone else to carry on with the production!”
Vanessa scowled at me and announced, “It’s true that Nancy is not feeling well, but since when has anyone mentioned anything about not coming? Do you really think this woman here is able to take over Nancy’s role? She’s nothing close to Nancy!”
As soon as Vanessa made herself clear, she beckoned the assistants behind her over and instructed, “Please go get Nancy over and get the rest of the team ready. We’re going to doll Nancy up for the shoot.”
The team of stylists and makeup artists was put in a tight spot. One of them said, “Vanessa, our supervisors have instructed us to get Ms. Stanhope ready for the shoot. I’m afraid the shoot will be delayed if we start all over from scratch.”
“Are you trying to say we’re wasting your time? Is it really that tough to get everything ready from scratch? Do you really think this substitute over here qualifies to be involved in such an exclusive promotional clip?” Vanessa looked at me with a scornful look.
Sneering, she said, “Does she really think she’s a match for Nancy in terms of look just because she resembles her? Has she no shame at all?”
The middle-aged woman started picking on me.
“Vanessa, since when have you become such a vicious woman? Who are you calling a shameless woman?” Stacey, who had rushed into the dressing room, patted me on my back and asked, “Are you okay?”
I shook my head because it wasn’t a big deal. I had long gotten used to this kind of situation since four years ago.
Vanessa sneered when Stacey showed up. “Ms. Holmes, why is the person in charge of the Marketing Department interfering with the affairs of the Publicity Department?”
“What about you, Vanessa? Who gives you the right to poke your nose into the internal affair of Featherstone Corporation? At the end of the day, I’m a staff, but what about you? According to Mr. Featherstone, you’re merely Nancy’s manager, aren’t you? In other words, you’re not really affiliated with Featherstone Corporation.”
“Y-You—” Infuriated, Vanessa started panting heavily. “Are you calling off the collaboration with Nancy? I guess this necessitates a session with Mr. Featherstone to figure out if Nancy is a member of Featherstone Corporation or not!”
She seemed to have misperceived Stacey’s words. Nonetheless, Stacey couldn’t be bothered by Vanessa anymore. She instructed the photographers, “Since everything’s ready, I want everyone to start with the shoot! Please ensure that there isn’t any non-relevant personnel in the studio!”
Vanessa had never gone through such humiliation. When she was about to lose her cool, Nancy showed up and entered the dressing room.
She had put on a white tulle dress with her long hair cascading down her shoulders. Her already miniature face seemed even more delicate.
It was the third time we encountered one another. Upon a simple glance, she was startled by my presence.
Vanessa got ahead of Nancy and instructed, “Nancy, since you’re here, let’s get you ready for the shoot!”
Nancy ignored Vanessa’s instruction and looked me in the eyes, asking in a callous tone, “Ms. Stanhope?”
I nodded and replied with a faint smile, “Hello, Nancy.”
She sized me up and had her eyes glued to my face. Frowning, she raised her volume and asked, “Since when have you been chosen to take over my role?”
Stacey rebutted, “Ms. Goldstein, didn’t you say that you couldn’t make it because you’re sick?”
“So what about it? Are you trying to tell me you can always get another person from the streets to replace me?” Nancy countered.
Vanessa played along with Nancy and grumbled, “Do you really think a random woman can take over Nancy’s role? She merely resembles Nancy, but she’s nothing close! She should know her place and get lost already!”
“If you can’t mind your words, please get out of the studio at once!” Stacey couldn’t suppress her wrath anymore. “I’m sorry, but we’re not looking for a nitpicking model to represent the company! We’re searching for an ambassador who can carry herself in an elegant and humble manner!”
“Who are you calling a nitpicking model?” Vanessa had enough of beating around the bush. She yelled at Stacey, “You’re merely a manager from the Marketing Department! Do you really think you’re able to make the call? If Nancy wants you to get lost, do you think you’re able to keep your job?”
Stacey almost burst into laughter. “Ha! Since when has Nancy become the person in charge of Featherstone Corporation? Why have I not been made aware of the change?”
“Isn’t it obvious? Nancy has been by Mr. Featherstone’s side over the years! How dare you get so full of yourself in front of us?” Vanessa insinuated the sort of relationship Nancy had with Anthony was beyond their expectation.
Although the onlookers weren’t particularly fond of Nancy, they dared not pick on her after Vanessa indicated the former was related to Anthony.
Stacey, being the strong and stubborn woman that she was, had no intention to give up just yet. She found Vanessa’s words hilarious and scowled at Nancy. “Vanessa is not aware of the relationship you have with Mr. Featherstone, but what about you, Ms. Goldstein?”
“Y-You—”
Stacey sneered and announced, “Haven’t you undergone plastic surgery based on another woman’s look? I’m sure Mr. Featherstone has gotten sick of you after spending his time with a doppelganger over the years! Besides, I doubt you even know who you are anymore after mimicking a person so hard over the years.”
Stacey’s remark was a vital blow for a celebrity in showbiz. On top of that, she exposed the fact that Nancy had undergone plastic surgery in front of others.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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