However, before any of them could actually say anything, Mrs. Lola approached them.
Beauty nervously wondered what could be her reason for coming to speak with her.
"Ms. Beauty, I am impressed by your designs, really. I would love to work with you again... after this tour. What do you say?"
"Thank you so much," Beauty managed, feeling a mix of pride and nerves. "I appreciate the offer and will do my best."
"I'm sure you will," Lola said with a smile, then she nodded at Jessie in acknowledgment. Jessie smiled back awkwardly.
As the two watched her walk away, Beauty drew a deep breath.
"She does like you... a lot of pressure, huh?" Jessie whispered, starting a conversation.
Beauty's breath caught in her throat as she looked at her friend and nodded slowly.
Jessie chuckled and gave her a thumbs-up.
"Good job. Looks like you've got a fan in Mrs. Cruz. You shouldn't be distracted at this time, okay? We all make mistakes... you have to be strong and focused more this time. Don't let the likes of Kathy see you breaking again."
Beauty sighed again and nodded.
"Thanks, Jessie."
There was a brief silence before Jessie spoke again, this time softly.
"Bruno still loves you, even if he denies it... so I will leave him to you. If you care... do something about it. If you want to move on... great. We will always be friends no matter what," she said and stood up from her chair.
Beauty couldn't meet her gaze, trying not to break down.
"Come on, let's get going," Jessie said with a playful eye roll.
Beauty stood and hugged her tightly.
"There, there... mama's got you. Aren't you a strong, independent woman anymore... crybaby?"
Beauty spanked her butt, and the two laughed.
---
Hours later.
The F&F team arrived at the location for the photoshoot. The woods were stunning; the trees towered around them like ancient guardians.
The moment they reached the clearing, the models whispered excitedly in astonishment. It was an enchanting place with beautiful nature that you could get lost in, with beautiful waterfalls.
The director of photography was quick to spot the perfect shot and suggested they take some pictures there.
The models, excluding Kathy and Jessi, were styled and attended to by the makeup artists, who began to work their magic.
The top two models, Kathy and Jessi, as usual, would be given exclusive treatment from the company.
Beauty was preparing a special outfit for her model. She had chosen her friend Jessie.
Sadly, she couldn't focus. Her thoughts kept drifting back to Bruno and what Jess had said to her back there in the conference room.
Bruno and Ferdinand were like supervisors, monitoring the works. And since they arrived at the place, Bruno had completely acted like a stranger towards her.
She kept stealing glances at him, but....
"Hey... honey. It will be okay..."
Jessie interrupted her thoughts after noticing her eyes wandering towards Bruno's direction for some time now.
Beauty blinked then apologized for being carried away as she continued fixing the dress on Jessie for her photoshoot.
Other stylists helped her, and the makeup artists joined in.
---
An hour later.
Everything was going well. The models were almost done shooting.
Beauty was smiling proudly at Jessie, rocking her design, posing for the cameras, when suddenly a high-pitched scream pierced the air, sharp and full of panic.
It was Mrs. Lola's voice.
"I can't find my baby!" Lola's voice trembled with fear.
Beauty froze in place. The others were caught off guard.
"A baby... in here?" Jessie asked, her voice thick with disbelief, with even a little panic in her tone.
The rest of the crew paused their work and turned toward Lola with concern. Their faces were full of confusion.
Beauty's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't understood that there was a baby in the woods with them, and Mrs. Lola looked really broken.
Bruno walked over to Mrs. Lola, concerned.
"What's the matter?"
"He's a sweet baby, please, help me find him."
Lola's voice cracked, her hands trembling as she clutched her chest.
Beauty's stomach twisted into knots. No one had ever seen this baby of hers. No one had even heard about him. It didn't make sense, and it made everyone uneasy.
"Her pet is a chicken. She came to the woods with him, now he is nowhere to be found," one of Lola's team finally explained.
Everyone stood speechless.
Kathy had her jaw on the floor, offended. Bruno looked sincerely confused. Beauty didn't know whether to cry with Lola or laugh.
And there was Jessi, fighting hard not to burst into laughter.