Jade was jolted awake by a sharp, incessant knocking at her door. Her heart leapt into her throat, and for a moment, she was disoriented. She blinked at the faint light filtering through her curtains. What time is it?
“Jade!” A voice called from the other side of the door, startling her further. “Are you up?!”
Her blood turned to ice. That voice wasn’t Mia. It wasn’t Claire either. It was a woman, professional-sounding, and slightly impatient.
“Makeup artist! I’m here to get you ready!”
Jade shot upright, her head spinning as panic slammed into her chest. “Oh my god!” she croaked, grabbing her phone from the nightstand. Her eyes widened in horror. It was already 6:00 a.m.
The driver picks me up at 6:30.
“Shit, shit, shit!” Jade scrambled out of bed, tripping over her blanket and nearly faceplanting on the floor.
The knocking persisted. “Jade? You’re late!”
“I’m coming!” Jade shouted, her voice frantic as she flung open the door.
The woman standing there was impeccably put together—polished, poised, and wearing a sleek black jumpsuit with a makeup case slung over her shoulder. Her sharp gaze swept over Jade’s disheveled appearance, taking in the messy bedhead, the wrinkled pajamas, and Jade’s frantic expression.
“Oh dear,” the makeup artist said, clearly unimpressed. “We’ve got our work cut out for us.”
“I’m so sorry!” Jade stammered, running a hand through her tangled blonde hair. “I—I overslept. I don’t even know—”
“Save it,” the woman said, brushing past her and stepping into the apartment. “Sit down. Now.”
Jade stumbled after her, wide-eyed as the woman dropped her makeup case onto the tiny table in the middle of the room and began unpacking brushes, palettes, and bottles. “We don’t have time for excuses. I’ll work fast, but you need to sit still and trust me. This is why they sent me.”
Jade practically fell into a chair, her heart hammering. “I—I’m so late, aren’t I?”
“Twenty-five minutes until your driver arrives,” the makeup artist said briskly, already dabbing primer onto Jade’s face. “If you’re not out that door on time, Milan’s not going to be happy.”
Jade flinched at the mention of Milan’s name. “Oh no,” she mumbled, guilt mixing with her panic.
“Less talking, more sitting still,” the woman snapped, her focus razor-sharp as she worked.
Jade clenched her fists in her lap, forcing herself to sit still as foundation was smoothed onto her face, her brows were shaped, and her lashes coated with mascara. The makeup artist moved with the speed and precision of someone who’d done this a thousand times.
“What’s your name?” Jade asked meekly, trying to distract herself.
“Marina,” the woman replied curtly, not missing a beat. “And don’t worry, Jade. I’ll make you look presentable.”
“Presentable?” Jade nearly squeaked.
Marina shot her a look, one perfectly arched brow lifting. “It’s not my job to sugarcoat things. Now, hold still while I fix your hair. You’ve got exactly five minutes to get dressed after this.”
Jade obeyed, silently praying Marina was some sort of magician because she needed all the help she could get.
By the time Marina declared her work done, Jade barely recognized herself in the mirror. Her hair was styled into sleek waves that framed her face perfectly, and her makeup was polished and subtle, giving her a fresh, professional glow.
Jade blinked, stunned. “Wow…”
Marina smirked, zipping her makeup case shut. “You’re welcome. Now move it, Jade. Get dressed now.”
Jade practically ran into her tiny bedroom, ripping the garment bag off the hook. Inside was her new uniform: a tailored navy-blue dress with gold accents that screamed elegance and luxury. She wriggled into it as fast as she could, tugging the zipper up before slipping on the matching heels.
“Two minutes!” Marina called from the other room.
Jade grabbed her bag, double-checking that she had everything she needed: phone, ID, passport and her notebook. Oh god, oh god, oh god. She glanced at the time again. 6:28.
Her pulse was pounding as she rushed back into the living room. Marina stood by the door, looking completely unfazed. “Your driver just pulled up. Don’t trip in those heels.”
Jade’s breath caught as she looked out the window. A sleek black sedan was parked on the curb, the driver already stepping out to open the door for her.
“This is happening,” Jade whispered.
“Yes, it is,” Marina replied, smirking as she pushed the door open for her. “Go. Good luck impressing the big bosses.”
“Thanks!” Jade yelped, practically sprinting out the door. She stumbled once in her heels but managed to regain her balance before completely faceplanting. Please let that be the worst of it, she begged internally.
The crisp morning air hit her like a shock as she hurried down the steps. The driver, an older gentleman in a black suit, nodded respectfully as he held the door open for her.
“Ms. Nguyen,” he said smoothly. “You’re right on time.”
“Barely,” Jade muttered under her breath, sliding into the backseat.
The door shut behind her, sealing her inside the quiet, luxurious interior of the car. Jade leaned back against the leather seats, clutching her bag tightly as her heart continued to race.
“Next stop: the airport,” the driver announced, pulling the car smoothly away from the curb.