CHAPTER 31

"MARIANNA, BE CAREFUL OF WHAT YOU SAY...." Liliana warned. She literally pointed at her sister with the brush she was carrying and then went back to finishing my face.

"Am serious sis, remember the gig I got with Renée Palmerston? She actually had a friend over and they spent their entire time gossiping about Jeannine....and that's when I got the chance to hear that...."

There was more to Jeannine that I knew. She really wasn't who she seemed to be.

"...and you know....that movie she's suddenly starring in, Chasing Red, she never auditioned for it. She just got the lead role as Veronica and is acting alongside Brian Morley who's cast as rich playboy Cameron...."Marianna added.

"That's true..." Lana chipped in and we both got startled. We sort of forgot she was here.

"How do you know that...?" I asked.

"Jeannine and I are from the same company. She's well known than I am and even has a better relationship with the CEO. She's most promoted at our company and we are only given offers when she turns them down...."

"So that's why she was acting cheeky and bossy with you. I was beginning to wonder why you were patient with her...." I furrowed my eyebrows with an irreverent look. Jeannine was just too much.

"...and this time around, we were all eagerly waiting and hoping that she would turn it down but without even auditioning, she got the post...." Lana proved it and we all lay silent for a moment before gasping in shock. We tried not to imagine the worst but it was inevitable.

"Part of the saloon is also funded by the same person who's as a solid wall behind her...." Liliana let out a sigh and I knew these people were badly treated by Jeannine.

That must be why she confidently said they were eating off of her money. As though it was even hers.

Being in this salon was really a breath of fresh air for me. I got a make over and also a pile of new stories up my sleeves.

I wasn't proud of my encounter with Jeannine but if people like Natalia existed, I would always stand up to their missions and make them impossible.

"Now...some setting spray...." Liliana turned to the table and picked just the bottle. She shook it first and then lightly sprayed my face.

"Hand me the bottle please...." Mariana asked and she got it from Liliana. She prayed Lana's face and I was excited to hear they were done.

It had been two hours since the fight with Jeannine and having the look on my face

It was such a great day and I already had a good feeling about these two weeks.

I got up to admire myself in the mirror and wow, these girls knew just how to make every dream a reality.

The make up primer, foundation and face powder all sat well on my skin and it looked like mine.

I loved that it wasn't obviously on the light that I was wearing make up...

"Gosh you made me look beautiful...."

"I remember you saying four times prettier...." She joked and we all burst out laughing. That was some intense moment back there.

I couldn't stop looking at my face. My eyes still starred into the mirror and all I could see was a confident little girl who found her feet after the terrible departure of her mother.

"Miss Eleanor...." I think it was Lana's voice. I liked away from the mirror and made her face my back for moment so I'd get a chance to conceal my tears.

When I turned to look at her, she had her eyes closed and was holding her hands against her belly like a princess.

"Wow....." I started holding her hands in mine, driving her to open her eyes.

"You're beautiful Lana....very beautiful...." I complimented. She looked stunning and you'd hardly recognise her.

"Thanks ma'am...." She smiled and exposed her white teeth.

"You're very welcome...." I smiled back.

I know I hardly knew her but I was suddenly interested in her. She was kind, gentle and had quiet a demeanor.

She was a perfect fit for the model. I was super excited to model for MAC cosmetics but I realised I had to help a sister.

Without watching any movies she had taken some times in, I still knew she had quiet the talent.

"By the way, have you acted in anything to this point? I might want to watch it sometime...." I asked hoping I wasn't getting in too deep.

"Wall of Fame....it's a movie about ballet....I was one of the dancers....."

"oh..so you know ballet...?"

"A bit...."

"Nice...very impressive....I'll be sure to give it some time. .... Now let's take pictures...." I cut the chase and got to the important part.

Liliana and her sister were the ones that took the pictures using my phone. We took quiet a number and I decided to upload one on Instagram.

"What's your Instagram user name?" I asked Lana.

"@Angelana..."

I tagged her in my story and captioned it follow her. She was first to like my post and couldn't stop thanking me every second.

It ended with us exchanging numbers and before I left, Liliana handed me the make up she used to give to Ciara. I received it, thanked her and her sister, then walked out with Lana.

"If you ever need my help...don't hesitate to call me...okay?"

"Thank you very much....for what you've done for me today....I am so very grateful....if there was something I could do I would....." She folded her hands as she talked to me and I questioned this odd behaviour.

"But please miss...do stay away from her. She's wicked. Not evil but wicked. I've been with her and I know her....be careful....please....." She begged almost crying. "Like you said, go big or go home.....am sure she'll think of a very big comeback and I can only pray that you'll get out of it...."

"Dont worry...there's absolutely nothing she can do to me...nothing.....and even if she thinks of anything, I'll be ready for it or else my name isn't Eleanor...." I joked and managed to make her curl her lips into a smile but it didn't last long.

She was so worried and I guess I had to act with caution when around Jeannine.

We went out of the building and to the carpark. Aaron was still here and I noticed Adam had arrived too with our luggage. I walked toward him and the look on his face after he saw me was unexplainable.

"Is that you??? Eleanor....??"

"One and only....." I replied and gave him a hug. He hugged me back and I realised I missed his warmth. I couldn't wait for us to be alone....

"This is Lana a friend I met...." I introduced her and she was exactly happy to meet my artist boyfriend.

This girl was just a bundle of joy.

"How will you get home?" I asked.

"umm...I came here with Jeannine over the company's car and I can't see it anywhere so I'll call my agent...." she explained and I felt like a big sister who had to take responsibility.

"Aaron....can you give this woman a lift???" I asked although I knew he wouldn't refuse.

"Thank you...." I waved and turned to Lana. "Get in...tell him where you're going and he'll drop you...."

I smiled and she smiled back before giving me another bear hug. I've never received so many hugs from a stranger in a row. But I guess she wasn't a stranger anymore.

"Many many blessings on you Eleanor...I'll always support you and help you in ways that I can...."

".....and that begins with you keeping this look for twenty four hours. We have to test how long it can be on someone's face and I might remove mine before the time limit....."

"No worries...I'll keep track and will let you know after....." she promised and got into the car. I walked over to the driver's seat to get my phone from Aaron. We agree to talk later about what we had talked about earlier.

I stood with Adam, side by side as Aaron and Lana drove away.

I was so happy for her. She hardly knew that by keeping the look for twenty four hours straight she was sighing up as the next MAC Cosmetics model.

I was so proud.

Suddenly my memories flashed back to the scenario between me and Jeannine, and the smile on my face faded.