Tabitha's POV
I had no idea what Derek was planning, just sitting here quietly, letting everyone slather my face with all sorts of makeup.
Derek stood not far away, watching me intently.
Every now and then, the stylists would compliment me. "Oh my! Ma'am, your skin is so delicate. You must have been well taken care of by Alpha Derek, right?"
Another stylist added, "Not just her skin is perfect, okay? Just look at her face. Can you find any flaws in her features? I gotta tell you, Ma'am, I've done makeup for many celebrities. And none of them are as pretty as you, not even those who have done plastic surgery."
Their praise made me blush a bit, and I asked tentatively, "So, do you know why am I dressed up like this?"
A makeup artist looked surprised by my question. "Alpha Derek didn't tell you? Then we probably shouldn't spill the beans, or it'll ruin his surprise."
Then, they fell silent and focused on dressing me up. I didn't press further.
Suddenly, a piercing sound came from outside the room. "I flew all the way here just to let Lori style my hair. Now you tell me she's unavailable? What the hell? Do you know who I am?"
"Miss Gutierrez, I'm sorry, but Lori has already been booked. How about I get you another stylist? Our employees are all top-notch."
"I only want Lori. Alright, stop your crap. You just want money, don't you? I'll double the pay!" she insisted.
"Miss, it's not about the money."
"Shut up. Didn't you hear me? I want Lori. Get her out, now!"
I could tell the girl who came had a hot temper. After a few seconds, she actually barged in here.
"Who the hell is hogging Lori?" she snapped as she pushed the stylist away.
Hearing the noise, I frowned and turned my head.
It was a girl around my age, only with a different dressing style.
On such a snowy day, she actually wore thigh-high boots with bare legs!
Although it was warm indoors, but still, I knitted my brows.
When she locked eyes with me, her face darkened. "Damn it! It's you again? Why are you everywhere?"
I couldn't remember her at all. Confusion washed over me as I pointed at myself. "Are you talking to me? Do we know each other?"
The girl crossed her arms and sized me up, snorting, "Well, I gotta say, you've really changed a lot. You used to be fierce when you were pregnant. What's happened in the past few months? Why are you acting like a fool and pretending not to recognize me? Is this another one of your tricks to impress my cousin?"
"Cousin?" I was even more puzzled.
Hesitant, I asked, "Who's your cousin? Derek?"
Rolling her eyes upward, she spat, "Is this how you usually seduce him? I'm telling you, it's not gonna work. He's totally out of your league. You're not a patch on Kelsey."
"Shut up, Ivonne!" Derek strode over, stopping this farce. He was in a different outfit, so I guessed he had been to the fitting room just now.
When Ivonne saw Derek approaching, a hint of nervousness appeared on her arrogant face.
She then swallowed hard and stammered in a whisper, "D-Derek, fancy seeing you here!"
"Get out," Derek roared before she could say anything more.
Ivonne stuck out her tongue and ran away without looking back.
"Derek, she's your cousin?" I asked him.
"Yep." He nodded.
"Then why haven't I heard you mention her before?" I didn't get it.
"I rarely keep in touch with her," he replied.
Recalling Ivonne's remarks, I wondered, "She just mentioned someone named Kelsey. Who's that?"
"Just a nobody."