Chapter 58
"Alright, come with me." Zory led Yvonne to a lounge on the second floor, motioning for her to lie down.
"Ms. Smith, close your eyes. I'll let you know when I'm done. Honestly, it'll be unsettling if you just lay there with your eyes open."
Yvonne, not thinking much of it, obediently closed her eyes, prepared to enjoy Zoey's service.
Taking the opportunity, Zoey deliberately gave her an exaggerated smoky eye look that clashed completely with her sweet and delicate features. Yvonne's appearance leaned toward the innocent and pure type; she had a pretty average bone structure that made her face look fuller on camera. Though she might look beautiful in real life, she was unremarkable in the entertainment industry, teeming with stunning faces.
Zoey couldn't understand whether Wilson had lost his mind or was under some kind of spell to abandon Daphne for such a mediocre woman.
With mischief in mind, Zory highlighted all of Yvonne's flaws with the makeup. Combined with the harsh, unflattering lighting in the lounge, the result was downright ghastly.
After snapping a few candid, unedited photos of Yvonne with her phone, Zoey finally woke her up.
"What the hell, Zoey? What on earth did you do to my face? Are you deliberately trying to humiliate me?" Yvonne shrieked, seeing her reflection.
"Ms. Smith, I was aiming for a different look, something to break out of your original style. Who knew you'd be so difficult to work with?" Zoey spread her hands in a mocking gesture.
"What do you mean by that? Are you calling me ugly? You're blaming me for your incompetence, aren't you?!"
"Not at all, Ms. Smith. Please calm down. This is just a trial look. We can always try another style until you're satisfied. You can find someone else if it's still not to your liking."
"Absolutely not! How dare you think you can trick me into replacing you? Just do what I ask, and it's on you if you mess up again. Don't blame me if you want to ruin your own reputation!" Yvonne shot back, refusing to back down.
Suppressing her irritation, Zoey set to work on a new look.
"Zoey, can't you be more gentle? Do you even know what you're doing? You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
While styling her hair, Zoey took this opportunity to settle a personal score by deliberately pulling Yvonne's hair.
When Yvonne erupted in anger, Zoey calmly apologized, "Sorry, Ms. Smith, my bad. Your hair was tangled here, and I tried to untangle it. We can skip this altogether if it's too painful."
The following day, the drama continued during the wardrobe fitting.
"Zory, what's with these hideous outfits? Are you trying to embarrass me on purpose?"
"Ms. Smith, these are designer pieces known for their strong creative vision. I thought your temperament would elevate them, but it seems I overestimated you."
Over the next few days, Yvonne repeatedly nitpicked and made unreasonable demands. Zoey always countered with sharp and unrelenting comebacks. The two clashed like roosters in a constant sparring match.
Eventually, Yvonne made one last demand regarding her outfit after finalizing her makeup and hairstyle.
"I want to wear haute couture for this event. Look, my fans even posted several options in your studio's comment section. Any of these will do."
"Ms. Smith, putting aside personal matters, I've tried to secure some pieces for you. However, the brands refused as soon as they heard it was for you. High fashion brands consider the celebrity's status when lending haute couture." Zoey feigned regret, but her tone was dripping with sarcasm.
"Zory, stop pretending! The contract explicitly states that you must provide clothing per the artist's request. I'm telling you now that I want haute couture. I expect to see a gown by Thursday, and I don't care how you get it. Prepare to pay the breach penalty and shut down your studio if you fail." With that final ultimatum, Yvonne stormed off.