Bianca picked out a little black dress with dark stripes on the skirt. Her hair was still in a braid, giving her a youthful look.
The man also chose simple Mary Jane shoes to go with her outfit. She looked elegant and classy, catching people’s attention without being too flashy.
“How much is all of this?” Bianca asked, feeling worried.
“Don’t worry. Things here aren’t too pricey,” Dave reassured her, giving a meaningful look to the man behind her.
The man quickly smiled and cleared his throat. “Yes, yes. Don’t worry, miss. Our shop offers great clothes at affordable prices. Your whole outfit will be around a thousand dollars.”
“Really? Thank goodness!” Bianca said, relieved. “I was afraid it would be really expensive.”
Little did she know, the long-haired man was a famous stylist who dressed celebrities worldwide. Despite being highly sought after, he had to come up with a believable lie on the spot, following Dave’s instructions.
“You look great,” Dave said with a nod of approval. Then, he and Bianca left, taking a taxi straight to the party.
He dropped Bianca off at the hotel entrance. When she disappeared behind the grand doorway, Dave got out of the taxi and slipped into the banquet through a side entrance.
As soon as Jessica saw Bianca, she waved excitedly.
“Bianca!” she called out. “Come over here!”
Bianca smiled and quickly walked over to her.
While Ashley was busy trying to impress a producer, she saw someone in black walk past her. She turned around and saw it was Bianca. Even the producer she was talking to couldn’t stop looking at Bianca.
Ashley felt jealous and frustrated. She had dressed up nicely and was finally getting noticed by the producer. But Bianca was just wearing a simple black dress, and yet the producer couldn’t look away from her. It didn’t seem fair to Ashley!
When Bianca approached, Jessica checked her out and smiled in approval. “You look great. Your outfit doesn’t steal the spotlight, but it’s still impressive. I was worried you might overdress before you arrived.”
That’s when Bianca realized why Dave had insisted on changing her dress. She blushed, feeling silly for not being more careful. The entertainment industry was tricky; one wrong move could ruin her career.
If it weren’t for Dave’s help, she might have offended someone important tonight.
Jessica gave Bianca a supportive pat on the shoulder and got straight to the point. “Everyone here tonight is a top figure in the entertainment industry. If you can make connections with them, it’ll really boost your career. Don’t miss this chance, okay?”
Afterward, Jessica helped Bianca network with the guests, introducing her to several directors and producers she knew. Bianca interacted confidently and calmly, showing her professionalism.
However, the most influential figures were already surrounded by others, so Jessica and Bianca couldn’t get close to them.
It was no secret that these kinds of parties were just avenues for people to network. Whether or not one could win the favor of the big shots depended on their own abilities and the latter’s moods.
After mingling for a bit, Jessica led Bianca away from the crowd. Nodding towards a group of people ahead, she said, “I’ve introduced you to everyone I know. Now, it’s up to you. See that woman in the beautiful dress over there? That’s Paige Lopez, Director Lopez’s wife.”
Bianca’s eyes widened. “You mean Vincent Lopez? The famous director who set the country’s box office record and still holds it?”
Jessica grinned. “Yep.”
“Oh, wow!” Bianca exclaimed in astonishment.
“Getting a role in one of his movies is every actor’s dream. But here’s the thing: he doesn’t care about an actor’s fame. If he thinks someone fits a role, they’re set. Even our biggest stars rarely get cast in his movies. If we can connect with him, it could skyrocket our artists’ careers and give us better resources. Every actor wants to be in his films, and every agent wants their actor to be picked.”
Jessica looked hopeful yet regretful. She had tried many times to build a relationship with Director Vincent Lopez, but it hadn’t worked out.
“Bianca, in this industry, winning his favor could make you a top agent, even without a strong background. But it’s tough,” Jessica sighed. Seeing Bianca’s determined gaze, she added, “I couldn’t do it, but maybe you can. The question is: are you brave enough to try?”
Bianca nodded firmly, her confidence shining through.
She walked towards Paige Lopez, Director Lopez’s wife, with determination in her steps.
Instead of immediately approaching Paige, Bianca stood back and observed her from a distance. Paige seemed elegant and mature while chatting with others. But Bianca noticed some peculiarities: Paige occasionally scratched her nose with her right index finger and sniffled now and then. Her nose and cheeks were slightly red, and she refused offers of wine. Bianca also saw her glance at the buffet table as if searching for something.
Finally, Bianca decided on a plan. She stopped a waiter and asked, “Can I have a glass of honey water, please?”
The waiter nodded. “Sure, just give me a moment.”
Bianca took her phone out of her bag and placed an online order. Ten minutes later, her package arrived, and she approached Paige confidently, holding a glass of honey water.
As Paige was politely excusing herself from the other guests, Bianca offered her the glass of honey water. “Mrs. Lopez, would you like some honey water? It’ll help sober you up.”
Paige was taken aback. When she looked down, she saw a pair of clean, fair hands offering her a glass. When she glanced up, she saw a girl in a simple yet elegant black dress smiling sweetly at her.
“Thank you,” Paige said, taking the glass and feeling her slightly warm, red face. Chuckling, she admitted, “I’m a bit tipsy.”
With a knowing smile, Bianca took a small pill bottle from her bag and handed it to Paige. “I think you might need this.”
Paige’s eyes widened as she took the bottle. She was even more surprised when she saw what it contained. “How did you know?”
“I also have allergic rhinitis. I noticed you scratching your nose, so I thought you might be allergic to something here.”
“Yes! I don’t know what’s going on, but since I got here, my nose won’t stop itching!” Paige abandoned her usual elegance and spoke to Bianca as if they were old friends. “If my husband could’ve come himself, I wouldn’t have stayed so long.” As she talked, she absentmindedly scratched her slightly red nose again.
“I always carry antihistamines with me for my own allergies. You can take one. It’s non-drowsy.”