''I'm happy to hear that and guess what? If you hate her, then, I hate her too. She tried to hurt you.'' Lucy giggled.
Natalie exhaled deeply. ''That's the power of money.'' She stated with a smile.
''Natalie, get the file ready and come down with me. Lucy, how are you?'' Jason walked out of his office and said to Natalie.
''I'm fine, Jason!'' Lucy replied and turned.
Jason nodded his head and got into the elevator and Natalie stood up to arrange the profiles in the file.
''When we first got here, I thought he was being arrogant; who knew that's his usual self?'' Lucy commented.
''Let's go, Lucy!'' Natalie said, hurrying towards the elevator.
''Okay. I'm so happy for you, you get to be in the same room and space with all the stars.''
.....
Meanwhile at the reception of the company, Amy met with Eunice Gardener as they arrived at the company. Amy wore a professional smile as she greeted them. ''Hello Eunice, hello Miss Song!''
''Amy dear, it has been a while, how are you?'' Eunice asked and hugged Amy.
''I'm fine and you look amazing as always, Eunice.'' Amy complimented Eunice.
''You know Mimi Song, right?'' Eunice turned and touched Mimi's shoulder.
''Yes, who doesn't know Mimi Song? She is so popular. Welcome to Janice, Miss Song!''
''Thank you and please call me Mimi.'' Mimi responded with a beautiful smile.
''Yes, sure. Let's go that way.'' Amy said and turned with them towards the private elevator.
''Mimi is the daughter of Solace Arnold Song. She is my friend from way back. Mimi takes after her mom, a lot, right?''
''I feel flattered by your praises, aunt Eunice.'' Mimi said shyly and Amy was tempted to roll her eyes.
''Jason and William are already inside. Let's go.'' Amy said taking the lead.
Mimi kept her hold on Eunice's hand as they walked inside while her assistant trailed behind them.
Natalie and Lucy stood at the second floor watching them. Natalie had an unreadable expression on her face as she watched the bane of her existence.
Shortly Alice entered dressed in a light blue dresse that seemed to match Janice's colours with Niania at her left hand side. She immediately looked up the second floor when she entered the lobby. When she saw Natalie, she raised her hand excitedly like a kid to call her and Natalie shook her head.
Alice quickly understood and retracted her hand. The workers stood at other sides watching her and murmuring. Alice smiled brightly and waved at them making the workers happy.
...
VP ELEVATOR.
The elevator opened and Eunice entered with Mimi, Ailee and Amy. Just as the door was about to close, Niania ran and stopped it saying..
''Sorry, someone is coming!'' Niania stepped aside and Alice appeared in front of them. Mimi glared at her and looked away immediately, pretending to not notice her.
''Alice Jun?'' Amy asked in a surprised tone and Alice chuckled looking at her old school mate.
''In the flesh, sorry to keep you waiting.'' Alice said as she entered into the elevator.
Eunice looked at Alice with contempt. Even though it was their first time meeting, she had heard a lot about Alice from Mimi.
''Miss Jun, didn't you read the plate in front of the elevator? This is the president's elevator. Is a private elevator. Not everyone can use it.'' Eunice said and glared at Alice.
Alice smiled and apologizes. ''My apologies, I didn't check since I saw Amy and Mimi getting into the elevator. I assumed is the right one.''
''Why did you assume? I take that as arrogance.'' Eunice said and Alice turned angrily to speak and Amy subtly held her hand and stopped her.
''Miss Jun is new here, Eunice. I told her to take this elevator when she arrives.'' Amy defended Alice after stopping her from challenging Eunice.
Eunice wasn't pleased the least with Amy defending Alice, so she said to her, ''this is a private elevator, Amy, you shouldn't allow just any wannabe to get use it.''
Alice gave a sarcastic chuckle and Eunice removed her spectacles to look at her and asked, ''did you just chuckle?''
Amy knowing Alice very well turned and looked at Alice with a pleading gaze and Alice calmed down, but that didn't stop her from replying Eunice with a sarcastic comeback.
''Yes, I did, but that was because someone just sent something funny to me.'' Alice showed the phone in her hand to Eunice, ''I was laughing because I'm chatting with someone. You didn't think I was laughing at you, right?''
''Alice, how can you act so smug in front of a senior? Aunt Eunice is our senior in the industry. You should apologise for acting like that.'' Mimi decided to come to the defence of Eunice, but it was to fuel Eunice's hatred for Alice at the same time.
Alice looked at Amy and bowed slightly and apologised. ''I'm sorry, senior. I didn't know that by not doing anything, I ended up offending you.''
Eunice put her shades back satisfactorily and muttered, ''what do you expect from someone who grew up in the orphanage?''
Alice clutched her fists tightly and fought the urge to speak back .
She did stay in the orphanage before but it was just a year before Natalie came for her.
.....
WAITING ROOM.
The elevator stopped when they got to the waiting room. Alice and Niania waited till Eunice and Mimi got out with Ailee.
As they stepped out, Alice saw Natalie and Lucy in front of the elevator to receive them.
Mimi turned and looked at Natalie for a moment and went away with Eunice.
Alice gave Natalie a nonchalant glance and shifted her gaze to Amy. ''Amy, where is the washroom?''
''I will go with you!'' Amy said and they walked away together.
Niania was the last to get out of the elevator. She looked around and made sure Mimi was gone before saying to Natalie.
''Big sis, Alice was bullied inside the elevator.''
Natalie squeezed the file in her hands tightly.
''Natalie, are you alright?'' Lucy asked and Natalie shook her head.
''What era is this? That people still bully others because of their connection?'' Natalie mumbled and walked away and Lucy followed.
At the ladies' washroom,
Alice splashed water on her face and snatched the tissue from Amy's hand to clean her face.
''I'm sorry. I didn't know Eunice was going to be that harsh.'' Amy said after a while.
''This is all your fault. Why did you stop me? She was clearly targeting me. I regret for not speaking my mind, it wouldn't have hurt so much if I gave her what she deserved.'' Alice said, regretting her silence.
''I know, that's why I had to stop you from making things worse. Eunice coming here with Mimi means one thing. She wants the contract for Mimi. She is one of the judges. If I allowed you to act rashly, you would find yourself in trouble when you enter the interview room.'' Amy explained.
''I didn't come here to be bullied. I didn't even do anything wrong. She just targeted me because of that green tea bitch.''
''I'm sorry. And thank you for keeping it down for me.'' Amy patter Alice gently.
''I only did it because you're my friend. Don't expect me to keep calm when we encounter something similar again. I would rather lose with my dignity intact than make them look down on me.''
''I know. You don't have to worry. The other two judges are good people, Jason and William are fair people.''
''Arrogant pants Jason is among the judges? Then, Is officially over for me.'' Alice sighed as she took her purse from Niania.
''Arrogant pants Jason? Do you know Jason?'' Amy asked and Alice nodded her head and pouted her lips.
''Yes, and I also know I've lost even before the fight has begun.''
Niania looked at Alice face and suggested, ''Alice, let me redo your makeup.''
''Yes. Niania, make me prettier than all the other artistes present. If I'm going to lose then I will lose while been pretty.'' Alice said and Amy chuckled.
''That is the Alice I know. Then, I will leave you to it.'' Amy patted at Alice's shoulder and went out.
Dindin rushed to Mimi as the latter and Eunice entered the waiting room where three other actresses were already seated.
''Mimi, whoa. You look beautiful as usual.'' Dindin said as she looked at Mimi.
Mimi smiled and felt satisfied to be acknowledged. She replied gracefully, ''thank you, Dindin. Aunt Eunice, this is my friend Dindin, she works here.''
Eunice smiled and shook Dindin's hand as she said. ''Dindin, I will remember you.''
Mimi's face changed as soon as she saw Natalie going into the interview room and Eunice noticed it and asked, ''is she someone you know?''
Mimi sighed as her face suddenly turned gloomy, ''yes, she is my sister. The one who left the house and made my parents worried.''
Eunice watched Natalie as she entered with Amy and closed the door behind her. She turned to Mimi and asked, ''Natalie? The same girl who has made Solace's life miserable?''
''Yes, but aunt don't say that. No matter what, she is still my sister.'' Mimi said and Eunice became even more angry.
''Does she work here?''
''Yes. We started working together last month.'' This time, Dindin answered.
Eunice snorted, ''has Janice dropped their standards? How could William allow such a person with questionable character work here? I will have a talk with William later. People like her will only tarnish the image of Janice.''