Lucy pulled over at Xia's apartment and turned to Natalie. ''We are here. Is this where you stay?''
''No, this is where my best friend stays. I promised to pass by after my interview. Thank you for bringing me here, Lucy.''
''It was nice meeting you and I hope that we get picked and become co-workers.''
''I hope so too.''
''Natalie, you see, when people try to harm others by drying their dirty laundry outside for the world to see; usually it's not about what the victim did or didn't do. It has more to do with the mental state of the people doing the harm. Is just like a power struggle with their own emotions and self-esteem. I don't know what you're going through but, gain strength from the stones thrown and use those stones to build a beautiful mansion for yourself.''
''Thank you, Lucy!''
''Hopefully, we will meet again when we get accepted into Janice.''
''Sure!'' Natalie Jun said and undid her seatbelt before getting down from the car. She waved at Lucy as she drove away before turning.
Xia looked at Natalie from her back terrace and asked. "Oh, is that a smile I see on your face?''
Natalie looked up and saw Xia. "Yes, that is a smile you see!''
''Whoa. You should see yourself, Nat!"
Natalie went over to the door and entered into the apartment. ''Why? Is it strange to see me smiling?''
Xia shook her head, ''No. You look so pretty when you smile. I almost forgot how that looked like. The Natalie whose smile was always bright like the sun. Who was that?''
''A friend I made at the interview. She is a nice and kind person.'' Natalie sat on the couch.
''I see. I'm happy that you're finally getting into the world again. You must be hungry? I'm almost done with dinner!''
''I'm indeed hungry!''
....
BLACK HORSE HOTEL.
Shooting site for 'lwanbil'
Mimi's makeup/dressing room.
Mimi was inside her dressing room touching up her makeup when her phone buzzed and she stretched her hand to pick making the makeup artiste to step back as she answered the call.
''Dindin, I'm in the middle of something...'' Mimi said and prepared to end the call but suddenly smirked and her mood lifted up after hearing something from Dindin. ''Really? Okay, send me those pictures. I will contact Janice Wu myself. Don't worry, the job is yours!'' Mimi hung up and her phone buzzed continuously as messages flooded the screen. She quickly opened tapped on to the pictures that Dindin had sent to her. These were pictures of Natalie at the Janice Group during their interview, Mimi smiled shrewdly and murmurs to herself, ''My precious elder sister wants to get into the world again? Too bad, sister, I will never allow that to happen. Not when your suffering gives me so much pleasure.''
Mimi looked into her phone and found a number. She made a call and spoke the moment it connected. ''I will send you some pictures, soon. I want you to write a nice article on it.''
When she hung up, she noticed the makeup artiste looking at her and she asked rudely. ''What are you looking at? Will you hurry up? Taking so much time, are you a toad?''
The makeup artiste looked away and started with the makeup again. Mimi looked at her and asked. ''Whose makeup are you doing next?''
''Miss Alice Jun!''
''I see, then no need to rush!'' Mimi smirked and called her assistant over. ''Ailee, come over here!''
''Yes, Miss Song!'' Ailee hurried over to her side.
''How much time till the next shoot?'' Mimi asked with ill intentions
''15 minutes, Miss!''
Mimi looked into the mirror and pouted her lips as she chuckled. ''Oops, there is little time left already, that means Alice won't be able to do her makeup then?''
Alice's makeup/dressing room.
Alice turned around the room in her customed made outfit for the scene and asked Niania. ''How do I look in this dress?''
This was one of the special customs that her mystery sponsor had personally sent to the set for her to wear for her filming. All her outfits for the filming and even outside filming were provided by this mysterious JKS whom she didn't know anything about, yet.
Niania gave Alice a thumbs up saying. "Perfect as always. Alice, the makeup artiste is still at Mimi's room, at this rate, you won't be able to get your makeup done before you are called for the shoot.'' Niania said worriedly.
Alice chuckled, ''I know and I also know she will intentionally delay the poor girl in order to mess with me. But, she is so done for. Even without makeup, I still look beautiful. My face is all I need to make money.''
Alice stared at herself in the mirror and smiled. "I am indeed perfect!"
Niania shook her head. ''You really praise yourself so much, Alice?''
Her boss was full of so much self-love for herself, she thought.
Alice sat in front of the mirror and said to Niania, ''if I don't praise myself, who will? In this world, most people don't even love themselves, Niania, let me tell you. You must love yourself before anyone can love you. This, I learnt from my sister. Come, do my makeup.''
Niania frowned and pointed at herself, ''me?''
''Of course you, silly. I see you play with makeup on your doll all the time.'' Alice said. They are always together most of the time and she had noticed Niania always dressing up her doll, using her to enhance her makeup skills.
Niania shook her head. She was afraid she would ruin Alice's beautiful face skin. ''But that is a doll not a human being. I can never try to even play with your face when you pay me so much.''
''Your dream is to be a makeup artiste. I see the way you collect makeup kits and watch makeup videos. You even carry your makeup everywhere we go. Aren't you looking for an opportunity to try your hands on making up? This is a lifetime opportunity I am offering you and you don't want to take it?''
''I have only been learning and practicing on my doll, I haven't done makeup for anyone before. Alice, aren't you afraid that I will do a bad job and then you will be laughed by everyone here?''
''Then do a good job. What is the worst that could happen, Niania?''
''You getting mocked, laughed at and getting your pictures uploaded on the internet for the world to see and when that happens, your image will be ruined and the company might not have a use for you. We will both be jobless.'' Niania stuttered.
''Sssh, come over and do it right now. Remember, this face is in your hands. If you mess up, I will put you into an alien ship and throw you into space where you will see no one again.''
Niania nodded her head as her hands quivered. ''Then, I will try and make you the most beautiful woman for tonight's shoot...''
Alice smiled and said to her. ''Actually, you don't have to try so hard. Why? Because I'm already beautiful.''
Niania shook her head and murmured, "narcissist'' making Alice to laugh.
Niania brought her Alice's personal makeup suitcase where everything she needed was already in it. She brought out the things she needed and started the makeup.
Ten minutes later.
Niania finished the final touches on Alice's face and said to Alice whose eyes were closed.
''You can open your eyes now!''
Alice took a deep breath and said to Niania, ''I just took a gamble on you. Niania, if you make me look like a pig, I'm suing you for damages!''
''Open your eyes first and then you can sue me later!'' Her voice sounded confident.
Alice opened her eyes and looked at her flawless face that had blended in with the makeup so well and screamed. ''Niania, f*ck me!!''
''What? You don't like it?'' Niania frowned her face.
Alice shook her head saying, ''Niania, you are a genius. Look at me. This is so beautiful. My face is glowing!''
''Really? You like it?''
''Yes. Listen, you're officially my new makeup artiste. My assistant and makeup artiste. Your salary will be doubled.'' Alice Jun said lifting her two fingers in the air.
Niania laughed. ''Alice, you are not messing with me, right?''
''You are the last person I will mess with my darling Niania. Yes, I am serious and with this makeup, Mimi is going to die of anger. Let's pack up and go out.''
Niania pushed Alice back on the seat as the latter stood up.
''You sit back; I will do the packing up. We wouldn't want to mess with the makeup or dress.''
''Of course!'' Alice smiled and sat down. She took her phone from the table and started to take a few pictures. ''I should send some pictures to my sister. She is going to totally love your work, Niania.''