“Hi Ava.” The three shook hands socially.
Ava suddenly enthusiastically extended an invitation: “Let’s go onto the red carpet together!” Harper incredibly astutely noticed her best friend Chloe beside her take a slight, unclear step back, her body language refusing very obviously.
Chloe was inherently a person with a low-profile lifestyle.
Born with a silver spoon in her mouth, she had absolutely no interest in the noisy attention of the mass media.
This was also the reason she extremely rarely submitted portfolios to participate in international design competitions.
If she accidentally won a design award, she would have to reluctantly cooperate with the organizers to expose her face continuously in the press.
“This…
I am afraid it is not very appropriate, Ava.” Harper tactfully spoke up to decline: “With so many paparazzi like this, and with your current box-office queen fame, it will definitely make the cover of Page Six tomorrow morning.
Dragging along two troublesome outsiders like us, who in the press would bother to report the news…” “Oh my, it is fine, I do not care about these gossip matters!” Ava proactively took a long stride forward, one hand hooking onto one person’s arm, half-pulling and half-dragging incredibly intimately, not giving the two female directors a chance to refuse further.
Was it a joke?
These two were the founders of the GY brand, and GY was the sole strategic partner of the diamond sponsor JJ in the North American market this time.
If she could hook arms and lead them onto the red carpet together, the media would immediately spread the news that she was not merely GY’s face but also had an extremely tight personal relationship with the upper class.
If she could build an image of such good personal relationships, perhaps the two of them could use their influence to recommend her to become JJ’s ambassador!
The public’s reaction was not important; what she needed right now was just discussion volume.
Having a controversial topic meant having exposure.
Let’s see that rival An Huệ wearing some ridiculous sheer nude outfit…
Humph, tomorrow morning’s magazine cover, she would definitely snatch the whole spotlight!
Thinking of that prospect, the smile on Ava’s plump red lips became even more radiant.
The three hadn’t even strode to the main gate Backdrop area, and the continuous flashing Flashlights had already made Chloe feel blinded, unable to open her eyes.
She had to reluctantly force herself to hang a perfect social smile on her face.
She absolutely did not want to open her phone to scroll through social media tomorrow morning and see glaringly unflattering photos of herself squinting with a weird shape.
Truly worthy of the actress who just won a Golden Globe, the media heat was still very terrifying.
In their ears, besides the continuous clicking of camera shutters, there were also the sounds of paparazzi noisily shouting and asking questions.
“Ms.
Sterling, may I ask what your assessment is of JJ’s collection this season?” “Ms.
Sterling, may I ask who the two beautiful ladies walking beside you are…?” “Ms.
Sterling, did your speech at the awards ceremony last week carry a sarcastic implication toward a few colleagues?” “Ms.
Sterling, as far as we know, the lady with the short bob hair beside you is the founder and Director of the GY jewelry brand.
May I ask if your personal relationship is truly that good…?” …
A short stretch of red carpet passed, and Chloe’s ears were ringing, unable to remember clearly how many nonsensical clickbait questions she had heard.
As for Ava, the girl merely maintained a radiant smile and posed incredibly professionally, absolutely not opening her mouth to answer even a single word.
When the three struggled to escape the media encirclement and entered the lobby of the exhibition center, they all let out a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
Stepping into the JJ brand’s performance Setup area, the show seating chart was also divided incredibly classily and clearly: The board of directors and investors sat in one area; critics and Vogue editors-in-chief in one area; and celebrities and VIP guests in a separate area.
Ava still flirtatiously acted coquettishly, lingering reluctantly around the two.
Chloe silently thought sarcastically, people struggling in this showbiz world truly had EQ, one more cunning than the other.
Looking at the acting skills of this box-office queen, she almost completely believed the buzzing rumors on the internet about Ava having a diva complex were entirely fabricated lies.
Despite lingering, Ava ultimately had to head back to the celebrity area position to continue using fake smiles to fight a psychological battle for attention with a bunch of rival celebrities.
Chloe let out an exhausted sigh, then along with Harper found their designated seats and sat down.
“Why haven’t I seen the shadow of the male actor Brad Pitt all this time?” Harper mumbled with a face full of depressed disappointment, her sharp eyes darting around, scanning everywhere like a radar in the performance area.
“Please sit still in one place.” Chloe pressed down hard on Harper’s shoulder, who was fidgeting restlessly as if growing lice under her bottom: “Not spotting him now is no problem.
Having taken the trouble to come all the way here, later after the show there is still JJ’s After-party wine reception.
In that crowded place, you will definitely catch him.” Harper nodded, feeling the analysis was also reasonable; the music of the performance was also about to start playing.
She had to put aside her infatuation, embracing the professional attitude of a Director to enjoy this entire important show.
…
“Truly the renowned JJ brand!” At this moment, the show had just ended.
Chloe and Harper had stepped out of the Runway floor area, leisurely walking along the escalator of the Javits Center exhibition center moving up to the second-floor lobby.
In the large hall right in the middle of the second floor was the place holding the After-party wine reception that the JJ fashion house designed to treat guests.
This extravagant party was also considered a token of gratitude, congratulating the brand’s participation event in Fashion Week this time for having brilliant success and media explosion!
Just pushing the door and stepping into the splendid banquet hall, an admiring whistle rang out from the side.
Chloe and Harper both turned their heads to look, both smiling radiantly in response.
They only saw the romantic Hector holding an expensive Champagne glass, leisurely walking over: “My eye for people is indeed never wrong.” Taking two Champagne glasses from the tray of a professional waiter passing by, lightly clinking glasses with Hector once, Chloe smiled elegantly: “The show was incredibly successful; JJ’s new season collection is truly a masterpiece, beautiful beyond description.” “Wow, having the honor to receive praise from two female Directors with high aesthetic taste is truly something worth throwing a party to celebrate!” Hector took a sip of Champagne, conveniently shooting a meaningful flirtatious wink at Chloe: “This success must also send deep thanks to the perfect combination from GY’s Fine Jewelry.
That splendor truly added a lot of highlights to the performance Looks this time.” “Oh my god!
It’s male actor Brad Pitt!!!” Harper suddenly let out an ear-piercing scream like a fanatic fan, her cheeks flushed with excitement, clearly unable to control her boy-crazy fit.
She tossed a perfunctory apology to Hector: “Excuse me!” Then lifted her dress and ran, disappearing without a trace into the crowd.
Hector turned his head to look after that hot, rushing figure, then raised an eyebrow and asked with interest: “That man is a very famous star in America, right?
If I remember correctly, it seems I have watched a few blockbuster movies where he played the lead role.” Chloe smiled and nodded in confirmation: “Incredibly famous, at that.” “But changing back to the main topic, Miss Noreen.” Hector, seeing Chloe look at him slightly doubtfully, boldly raised his finger to lightly tap on the massive, blinding diamond on the ring finger of the right hand she was using to hold the Champagne glass, dropping a flirtatious remark: “Your mysterious husband is truly an incredibly, incredibly lucky gentleman.” “…” Chloe was a bit distracted, and also wanted to laugh bitterly and sarcastically.
This kind of damn luck, deep down in his heart he did not desire to cherish it.
Hector seemed to not pay too much attention to Chloe’s fleeting awkward expression, continuing to press forward and ask: “I have been on a business trip in New York for quite a long time now and have never had the honor to meet your husband.
Since everyone has happily considered each other friends, why didn’t you invite him to attend the party tonight?” Chloe’s expression was slightly flustered and tangled: “He…
he is a finance guy who is quite busy with work; furthermore, his nature is also not very interested in noisy party events in the fashion industry.” “Oh…” Hector nodded slightly, pretending to understand the situation, after which he elegantly placed the wine glass down on the luxurious cocktail table nearby.
With an incredibly polite demeanor, he bowed slightly and extended his right hand: “Then, the beautiful, moving Miss Noreen does not have a male companion tonight; may I have the honor to invite you for a dance?” Chloe, seeing that cheesy romance, burst out laughing, showing helplessness and waving her hand: “Hector, you joke truly interestingly.
This is just a simple social wine reception, who dances here…” The words of refusal hadn’t even finished the sentence, and she started, feeling her slender waist being tightly embraced by an incredibly firm, strong arm from behind.
The cold gray suit fabric brushed against the bare skin of her back; the unexpected contact made the back of her neck immediately break out in goosebumps.
Chloe turned her head back in astonishment, immediately catching sight of a handsome, angular face right up close.
His jawline was tense, his sharp gaze glaring at the other party; clearly, he looked to be jealous and not very happy.
“Julian?
Why did you come here at this hour?” She never in a million years expected to bump into Julian Quinn in such a frivolous place.
Julian did not bother to answer his wife, his gray, eagle-like eyes just staring straight, threatening Hector.
Hector, being stared at by that hostile gaze of unclear meaning until he got goosebumps, cleared his throat and turned to ask Chloe: “Noreen, this gentleman is…?” Seeing this man behave and embrace Chloe intimately and possessively like that, and Chloe’s attitude not resisting or refusing at all, a mature man like him could also roughly guess the identity of that person.
Chloe clumsily snapped back to reality, clearing her throat with a bit of guilt to introduce: “Let me introduce to you, this is my legal husband, Julian.” “Ah!
So you are the husband of Miss Noreen!” Hector revealed an expression of sudden realization, extending his right hand in standard social courtesy: “Very honored.
I am the Director in charge of creative direction for the JJ brand this time, call me Hector.” “Hello, I am the CEO of the Quinn Group.” Julian apathetically shook Hector’s hand perfunctorily, his deep voice introducing himself briefly and full of authority like that.
“The Quinn Group…?” Hector’s blue eyes flashed with a hint of suspicion.
If it wasn’t for his wife Chloe bringing him along, with the tightened security system here, how could an outsider guest easily enter this VIP wine reception?
A Quinn Group or whatever, living in France he had truly never heard of the reputation.
Julian wrapped his arm around her waist, feeling the wonderful soft touch under his palm; his large hand deliberately caressed twice full of possessiveness.
After that, he astutely discovered the soft body under his hand was stiffening awkwardly due to embarrassment.
The man’s terrible mood instantly became subtle, visibly improving.
The flare of anger just now upon seeing this French guy Hector and his gorgeous little wife standing laughing, talking happily, and flirting with each other was also swallowed raw down into his stomach.
He lazily narrowed his sharp black eyes: “Mentioning the name Quinn Group, perhaps you are not very clear about the financial sector; then I wonder if you have ever heard the name of the luxury brand TAM?” The TAM brand?
“Could it be…
you mean the legendary TAM brand specializing in producing high-end leather goods?” Hector’s blue eyes widened in astonishment.
This sensational brand in the international fashion circle was also a figure belonging to the ranks of heavyweight tycoons.
Their JJ brand had had a few collaborative campaigns launching limited handbags with TAM many times.
After all, insiders understood the matters of insiders.
In the industry of producing luxury leather goods and super-premium segment handbags, the TAM brand was naturally revered as the big boss.
“If you have heard the name…” Julian arrogantly smirked: “Then allow me to reintroduce myself once more.
I am the big boss of the person in charge of the TAM brand who was dispatched to attend this Fashion Week.” In short, translated into the language of power: I have more than enough VIP qualifications to attend this wine reception.
“But wait, TAM is a long-standing Italian brand…” Hector turned to look at Chloe for help with a puzzled expression.