Leanna

[Theme]

"L-Leanna . . . , are you sure about this? Even just looking at the store, I know I can't afford it here with my budget."

My eyebrow rose. "How much is your budget?"

"H-half a million? Including jewelry, bag, and shoes."

"You do realize that half a million will just land you a pair of earrings, right?"

Zoe flashed a shy smile. "Can we go to a bargain store instead?"

I crossed my arms and tilted my hips to the side. "We can if you want to be the center of gossip. Don't underestimate the elites. They know quality when they see one."

Zoe stood there, staring at the designer studio with a gaping mouth and stupid expression on her face.

I pulled her hand to shake her out of it. "Don't worry. My uncle knows the designer here. He'll give you a discount."

I didn't entirely lie to her. Z O'nier is the Jansen's family personal stylist and fashion designer. But telling her about the discount was a joke. Everyone knew that the bizarre, eccentric guy only designed pre-ordered clothes. Many lined and reserved even up to years to get this man to design for them.

Fortunately, Zoe didn't know that.

This Z O'nier was strange, just like Eva Hart, he wouldn't design you anything if he deemed you not worthy of wearing his fashion statement clothes even if you were a high profiled person.

But of course, Uncle Luke was an entirely different matter altogether. The old man already paid for Zoe's dress, bag, shoes, jewelry, and all others. The only missing piece was her measurements to get the whole thing done.

And that's what we are here.

We traveled to New York from New Haven just to get her measurements. This was so ridiculous now that I thought about it.

We entered the studio, and Z O'nier's personal assistant greeted us in all smiles and courteousness.

"Hello, my name is Ana, you must be Miss Lee and Miss Collin?" she said, and we nod as we greet her back.

She flashed a dazzling smile and gestured with her hand. "This way please."

As soon as we sat on the couch, Ana's lips curved down a little. "I'm sorry, Mr. Z is running a little late. May I offer you anything to eat or drink while you wait?"

I smiled at her. "Tea for me, please."

I looked at Zoe, but the girl was busy gaping at the sophisticated modern lobby.

I turned to Ana. "Make it two."

Ana nodded and motioned for the staff to get us tea and snacks. Then she beamed. "If you need anything else, please don't hesitate to call me. Please make yourself comfortable."

I nodded at her, and like a model on the red carpet, she went inside a room.

I ignored the curious stares of the two people seated at a distance from us. I presumed they were also clients. Of course, who wouldn't be curious to know who we were that the great Z O'nier would personally meet?

Z O'nier would rarely meet his clients. At most, it would be his staff who would take measurements and his personal assistant to accommodate the clients' needs and requirements.

"What's the motif of the debut again?" I asked.

Zoe jumped when I patted her shoulder.

"Fairy in the tropics," she said.

Pft!

I coughed a laugh.

----

[Narrow Roads]

I almost laughed out loud, but I held my hand against my mouth to contain my laughter.

Zoe frowned, looking at me with disgust. "I know, right?! I have goosebumps just saying the words. And what makes it worse, it's a whole day affair!"

After I regained my bearing, I looked at her funny. "Wow! So it's like a beach theme then? Make sense since it's summer."

"Yeah, the whole morning and afternoon are the fun times on the beach. The party proper will start at seven in the evening," Zoe said in a bored tone as she leaned and crossed her arms.

"So besides the dress, you have to buy a swimsuit?" My eyelid twitched.

"I guess," she snorted.

I gasped and frowned. "You should have said these kinds of things earlier!"

Zoe flinched at my voice and stared at me, confused. "It's just a swimsuit, what's the big deal?"

"Are you kidding me?!" I said, suppressing my voice. "Compared to a dress that you're just going to wear in the evening, you'll wear a swimsuit the entire daylight!"

Zoe's face went pale when she realized that it was not about the dress, but mostly about the swimsuit.

"I-I didn't think about that. D-do you think the designer here also designed swimsuits?"

"I can't say for sure. Z O'nier never once designed a swimsuit."

She closed her eyes, and after a moment, she slumped on the couch without a care in the world.

"Heh! I still have a month until her debut."

"Yeah, but designing and making it doesn't take overnight, you know."

"Ahhh . . . !" Zoe ruffled her hair. "If worse comes to worst, I'll just buy from a famous swimwear shop!"

I was going to retort when a pair of stunning mother and daughter entered the studio together with an eye-catching young man.

Enemies do cross paths on narrow roads.

Sophia and Emma Collin were surprised to see us while Nicholas was caught off guard. Then his face turned dark as he stared at us with malicious intent.

"Zoe, what are you doing here?" Emma was the one who recovered first. She asked in a gentle voice in contrast with the loathing on her face.

Ah . . . I guess the 'apple didn't fall far off from the tree' is accurate.

"I'm here to have my dress made," Zoe replied without sparing them a glance.

The corner of Emma's lips twitched as she maintained her smile. "Zoe dear, I thought we already agreed that you'd wear one of Sophia's dress. When your father knows that you have a dress made here, he will be furious at you for using the money supposed to be for your sister's important day. Let your sister debut first, and we can have a dress made for you when it's your turn."

Sophia's face changed from one of an innocent angel to a caring understanding sister. "Mother, it's alright. Sister is just jealous because you and father are paying too much attention to me. Please also buy a dress for Zoe. I don't mind. I'll just wear my old dresses."

"Sophie, what are you saying?!" Emma countered, "It's the most important day of your life. You are too nice to your sister, that's why she can rebel like this."

With just a short minute act, they made Zoe look like an inconsiderate daughter who acted like an immature brat just to get what she wanted.

Wow, it's like watching a movie.. It's not like they don't have the money to spend on two dresses.