The next morning, Cierra took a taxi to the studio she had visited the day before. As soon as she stepped through the door, she couldn't help but yawn.
"Cierra! Come over here!"
Cierra looked up and saw a lively and energetic Darnell standing at the entrance, waving enthusiastically at her. There was no sign of his drunken state from yesterday.
So she quickened her pace toward him. "Were you alright after you went back yesterday?"
"Not really, Zander exhausted me," Darnell's fair face instantly flushed red. However, since Cierra had no understanding of adult matters, she naturally couldn't pick up on the hidden meaning.
"Mr. Logan sent a message yesterday asking me to report early this morning," Cierra yawned again, embarrassed, and glanced at her phone. It wasn't even 8 a.m. yet. "Do you all start work this early?"
"Of course, don't you know how much time it takes to get a complete look ready?" Darnell pulled Cierra inside while considerately reminding her, "Did you bring the black and white outfit we bought yesterday?"
"I brought everything, even the sneakers you mentioned."
Cierra didn't quite understand the aesthetic of Darnell and his peers, who were half in the entertainment industry. She had no courage to wear the outfit he had paired for her. But they were professionals, and since she wasn't familiar with it, she trusted the experts wouldn't go wrong. And if they did, at least someone else would take the blame.
When they entered the empty dressing room, Cierra was a bit surprised. "Are we the only ones here this early? No one else has arrived yet?"
"The studio usually gets busy after noon, and filming until two or three in the morning is normal," Darnell shrugged, looking accustomed to it. "You followed my advice and did your base makeup before coming, right? Good, your skin is great. I'll start with your styling now."
Though Darnell looked easygoing, his professionalism was top-notch. Since the clothes Cierra was going to wear had front buttons, she didn't need to change before makeup. So, he began his masterpiece of styling professionally.
"Darnell, this is my first time wearing false eyelashes." Cierra leaned closer to the dressing mirror, trying to see more clearly.
"Don't move!" Darnell tapped her head lightly, signaling her to stay still.
"You have a great base. You actually don't need heavy makeup to look outstanding, but stage makeup is different from everyday life. Not everyone's features can withstand the lighting. Even top beauties need contouring and highlighting to make their delicate features fully show up on camera," Darnell explained while adjusting the last piece of false eyelash.
"Come on, blink your eyes."
Cierra blinked as instructed and found the beautiful woman in the mirror looked quite dreamy. Her eyelashes resembled two little fans, making her especially charming. She was stunned by her image in the mirror.
"You're stunning. No wonder Basil said he wants to sign you as an artist later." Darnell clicked his tongue in satisfaction, obviously proud of his makeup skills.
"What? Sign me as an artist?" How come no one told her this? Cierra shook her head and shouted, feeling dumbfounded.
Why did she feel like she was being sold?
"Don't move, your eyeliner is smudging," Darnell held Cierra's rebellious head steady, his hands never stopping. "Oh? Basil didn't tell you? Then how did you meet Basil?"
"No one told me!" Cierra held her breath, not daring to move. She felt Darnell pulling her eyelid down and scraping something, resembling torture from ancient books.
She didn't answer Darnell's question about how she met Basil, as it involved professional ethics, and she had to handle it with the highest standards.
"Aren't I telling you now?"
"......" Really? Is this something you just need to tell someone?
"Basil plans to establish an agency. In the future, for his productions, he can use his own artists. Whether it's for increasing exposure or saving costs, it's a win-win situation."
"You're so close with Mr. Logan?" With her eyelid being tugged, Cierra could only ask Darnell with an awkward pose, using the remaining corner of her eye.
"How could I not be? I have shares in this agency. In the future, I'll be your boss. Say 'hello, boss,' let me hear it."
"......"
Cierra quickly concluded in her heart that she had boarded a pirate ship by mistake.
Finally, after finishing her makeup and hair, and changing into the outfit Darnell had picked, Cierra looked at herself in the full-length mirror and was momentarily stunned.
The woman in the mirror was graceful and elegant, exuding an indescribable charm. She was on a completely different level from her original self.
"Darnell, you're a makeup genius!" she sincerely praised.
"Of course—I have to take good care of you, my money tree. You're my first employee, so you hold special significance. Alright, let's go!"
Darnell proudly motioned her to follow him. They weaved through the studio, with people who knew Darnell greeting him along the way. Many noticed the beautiful stranger following him and inquired, but he brushed them off, citing business confidentiality.
Finally, they arrived at the VIP room. Darnell didn't even knock before walking in. "Basil, I've brought the person. See if she's suitable."
