Chapter 7 Rosie Asked Me to Find You
After picking out a dress for Amelia, Jenny and Rachel were led away by Nia to meet the two top makeup artists.
Another staff member approached Amelia, apologetically saying, “Miss Martinez, our regular stylists are all busy with other clients. The earliest you can get in is about two and a half hours from now. Is that okay?”
“No problem, I’ll wait,” Amelia shrugged casually and found a seat on a nearby couch. She picked up a magazine from the table and started flipping through it.
The first page featured an exclusive interview with Mr. Bennett.
Mr. Bennett rarely appeared in public, but after being caught on camera while styling a celebrity, his striking looks overshadowed the star, and he gained unexpected popularity online, even rivaling some idols.
He seldom gave interviews, making this one of the few he had ever done.
In the interview, the reporter asked Mr. Bennett, now twenty-five, if he had any plans to date. Mr. Bennett straightforwardly replied that he already had someone he liked.
The reporter, surprised, asked who the lucky girl was. Mr. Bennett’s response was that meeting her was his luck.
“She is the flame that dispels my cold and darkness, the guiding light in my confusion, the most unique and dazzling rose that grows from the soil.”
To be precise, it wasn’t just a shallow liking; he admired her, revered her, and had a one-sided and secret crush on her.
The report broke many hearts among his fans at the time.
Amelia closed the magazine.
About two hours later, Amelia was still on the couch, while Jenny and Rachel had finished their styling.
Jenny looked regal, and Rachel had fully embraced the aristocratic young lady look.
Her thick, brown curly hair cascaded over her rounded shoulders, adorned with a flower-shaped headband studded with sparkling rhinestones.
Her skin was flawless, and she wore a white bubble dress with a flared hem. Her blush was a perfect pink, giving her a sweet and noble appearance.
“Oh, Amelia,” Rachel feigned surprise upon seeing Amelia on the couch, “You haven’t gotten in yet? It’s been over two hours!”
“Yeah,” Amelia’s expression remained unchanged as she gently smiled at Rachel, “The staff said I need to wait a bit longer.”
“Well then, Amelia, you should keep waiting here. After all, you can’t rush these things.”
“The banquet is in two hours. Mom and I are going to get our nails done,” Rachel said. “You can take a cab to the venue later. You should be fine on your own, right?”
“No problem,” Amelia’s smile didn’t waver, “Don’t worry, I can manage to get a cab even though there aren’t any in the countryside.”
Rachel, satisfied, left with Jenny.
Who knows when Amelia will get her turn— with that ugly, outdated dress and a rushed makeup job, she’s bound to be laughed at when she shows up tonight.
After watching them leave, Amelia picked up a pen and paper meant for guests to leave feedback and quickly wrote a note. Then she called over a staff member named Zola.
“Excuse me, can you help me with something?” Zola looked like she had just graduated college and seemed a bit flustered being called over.
“I was wondering if Mr. Bennett is here today?” Amelia asked.
“Mr. Bennett comes to the studio every day. He stays in his office until late at night,” Zola replied.
“Could you give him something for me?” Amelia handed over the folded note.
“I’m sorry, but we have a strict policy. Without Mr. Bennett’s permission, no one can disturb him in his office,” Zola said, shaking her head.
“I’m a friend of Mr. Bennett,” Amelia said. “Trust me, if you give this to him, he won’t see it as a disturbance.”
“This…”
Zola hesitated, looking at Amelia—she seemed too young to be friends with Mr. Bennett. Could she be one of his obsessed fans trying to slip him her contact info?
But everyone who comes to Crystal for styling is either wealthy or influential. Amelia might look ordinary, but she could indeed have a connection with Mr. Bennett.
“Just hand him this note,” Amelia added, “I’ll remember your kindness.”
Zola thought for a moment, then took the note with a determined nod. “Please wait here.”
The worst that could happen is getting scolded for bothering Mr. Bennett, but earning a favor from someone like Amelia could lead to unexpected rewards.
Zola took the note and headed to the studio’s inner area, her hands trembling as she knocked on the office door. A cold voice from inside responded, “Come in.”
“Hello, Mr. Bennett.” Zola took a deep breath and nervously began.
Mr. Bennett looked up, his face expressionless and cold. “What is it?”
“There’s a guest outside who says she’s a friend of yours. She asked me to give you this note.” Zola said, stepping forward to place the note on the desk.
Zola had secretly read the note earlier to be safe. It wasn’t contact info or a prank, just a line from an English poem.
“In me the tiger sniffs the rose.”
Zola, having studied literature in college, recognized it as a famous line from Siegfried Sassoon’s poem “In Me, Past, Present, Future.”
She thought Mr. Bennett might genuinely know Amelia but didn’t expect his reaction. He frowned at the note, then suddenly widened his eyes in shock, standing up abruptly.
“Who gave you this note? Where is she now?” Mr. Bennett took a deep breath to stay calm, but his hand holding the note was visibly trembling.
“A guest outside, she’s waiting in the lounge by the clothing area,” Zola stammered, startled by Mr. Bennett’s reaction.
“Bring her to me. No, I’ll go find her myself.” Mr. Bennett didn’t wait for Zola to finish and left his desk, leaving Zola bewildered.
[Lounge]
Amelia sat on the couch, watching the clock on the wall tick away.
The next moment, a trembling voice came from behind her, “Rosie, you…”
Turning around, Amelia met the eyes of the slender, strikingly handsome Mr. Bennett.
Seeing Amelia wasn’t who he thought—Rosie Simmons—Mr. Bennett’s excitement faded instantly.
“Who are you? Why did you write this poem and have it delivered to me?” Mr. Bennett asked, taking a deep breath.
“Hello, Mr. Bennett. My name is Amelia,” Amelia said with a gentle smile. “Miss Simmons sent me to find you.”