Chapter 8 The Wine Glasses Were Shocked
Ellison's head snapped up, his voice trembling. "You know Rosie? Why'd she send you to find me?"
"I used to live in the countryside," Amelia explained. "Rosie came to our village last year and stayed in a cabin up on the mountain for a while."
"For a while?" Ellison held his breath and quickly asked, "Where is she now?"
"Rosie left and didn't leave any contact info." As soon as Amelia said this, the light in Ellison's eyes dimmed.
"She took everything with her, even dismantled the cabin. She said she didn't like staying in one place for too long."
Ellison pressed his lips together slightly.
That sounded exactly like Rosie. She always yearned for freedom and hated being tied down, making it nearly impossible for anyone to keep up with her.
"You said she asked you to find me. Is there something you need?" Ellison finally took a good look at the plainly dressed but uniquely poised Amelia.
"Before she left, Rosie told me that if I ever needed help in River City, I should go to a place called Crystal and find a man named Ellison."
Amelia continued, "Rosie said that if I wrote a certain poem on a note and gave it to Ellison, he would help me."
"In me the tiger sniffs the rose."
This was a poem Rosie had recited to him during his most confused times, and he later had it tattooed on his right shoulder.
The content of the note didn't matter. What mattered was that as long as it was something she wanted, he would never refuse.
Ellison straightened up. "If Rosie sent you to find me, it means she cares about you. Just tell me what you need, and I'll help. I only ask one thing of you."
Amelia blinked. "What is it?"
Ellison pulled out a business card from his pocket and handed it to her. "If she ever contacts you, please give me her number. Whatever you want in return, I'll make sure you get it."
Amelia hesitated, then took the card. When she looked up again, her eyes were clear. "Got it, Ellison."
Ellison's affection remained pure, but Rosie was already gone.
Doing this was meaningless.
Amelia told Ellison she was from the Martinez family and needed to attend the Williams family's charity gala tonight. She wasn't sure how to dress or do her makeup appropriately.
"Don't worry, leave it to me," Ellison replied.
When the other stylists and employees at Crystal saw Ellison bring a girl in a worn-out T-shirt and jeans into his private styling room, they were speechless with shock.
"What's going on? Wasn't that lady waiting for a regular stylist? How did Mr. Bennett end up attending to her?"
"Yeah, she seems to be from the Martinez family. I heard she calls Mrs. Martinez 'mother,' but Mrs. Martinez barely acknowledges her, clearly giving her the cold shoulder."
"Right, Mrs. Martinez and Ms. Martinez finished their styling and left her here. I thought she'd have to attend the gala in that shabby pink dress."
"Looks can be deceiving. Who knew that plain-looking lady has a connection with Mr. Bennett? A top celebrity once offered a million dollars for Mr. Bennett's red carpet styling advice, and he still refused."
The gossiping employees glanced enviously at the closed door of the styling room.
The Williams Mansion.
The Williams family was hosting their charity gala in the outdoor courtyard of The Williams Mansion.
The event officially started at 7:30 PM, but guests began arriving at 7:00 PM.
The expansive green lawn and large swimming pool, illuminated by expensive, dazzling crystal chandeliers, dispelled the night. Uniformed, bow-tied waiters weaved through the crowd with trays.
Men in suits and women in evening gowns wore polite smiles, clinking glasses on the cobblestone paths, appearing to enjoy themselves.
Near the classical European-style fountain, a group of young noblewomen, each meticulously dressed and exuding elegance, gathered and drew attention.
"Rachel, your makeup and outfit look stunning today! That dress is from SUNSHINE's latest haute couture collection, right? It looks amazing."
"Yes," Rachel responded gracefully. "And today's makeup was done by Jasmyn from Crystal, so it suits me perfectly."
"Jasmyn? She's the top stylist at Crystal, second only to Mr. Bennett. I heard she's really hard to book!"
"Not too bad, but she is selective about her clients." Rachel blinked, her expression modest but unable to hide her pride.
"Talented people are like that. Take Mr. Bennett, for example. You can't even hire him with money. Who knows what kind of client could catch his eye."
"Speaking of which, Rachel, didn't your country-raised sister come to River City yesterday?" asked Kelly Gonzalez. "I heard the Williams family invited her to tonight's gala too. Where is she?"
At the mention of Amelia, Rachel's expression stiffened, but she quickly smiled gently. "My mom took her to Crystal today as well, so she might still be getting ready."
"She went to Crystal too? Ms. Jenkins is so kind and attentive, treating even an illegitimate daughter so well."
Kelly scoffed. "But of course, if that rube showed up to this event unprepared, it would embarrass the Martinez family."
Grace Faye chimed in, "Rachel, you're really unlucky. For years, you were the only girl in the Martinez family, adored by your five brothers. Then this rube suddenly appears and becomes your sister."
"The most unbelievable part is that this illegitimate daughter even has an engagement with Quentin?" Grace sneered. "I don't know what Mr. Williams was thinking. How could someone like her compare to you? If Quentin really gives you up to marry her, it would be a joke to everyone."
"I would never give up Rachel!" came an angry male voice from behind them.
"Quentin?"
Rachel turned around in surprise to see Quentin, tall and handsome in his suit, walking toward her.
"That Amelia is nothing, a country-raised illegitimate daughter. Does she even know her place? She thinks she can match me and join the Williams family?"
Quentin snorted, putting an arm around Rachel's shoulders. "Rachel, don't worry. As soon as the auction ends, I'll talk to my grandfather and cancel the engagement. I won't marry anyone but you!"
Quentin's impression of country people was stuck in the image of rural women from old TV shows, with rough, weathered faces and a timid demeanor.
Although he hadn't met Amelia, he imagined her as small and scrawny, with dark, coarse skin, high cheekbones, and a shy manner of speaking.
She might even have an accent, speaking in a thick, rural dialect, and possibly carrying a foul odor that would make anyone nauseous.
Before Quentin could finish his mental picture, Kelly pointed to the entrance. "Rachel, isn't that Kevin? He brought a date tonight?"
Kevin was here?
He had said he was too busy with work to attend the gala.
Rachel looked up in pleasant surprise, only to see Kevin stepping out of a Mercedes and extending his hand into the car.
A black velvet-gloved hand gently placed itself in his, and then Amelia gracefully stepped out of the car.
For some reason, the previously noisy courtyard suddenly fell silent, and many people turned to look, drawn by curiosity or confusion.
When Rachel saw Amelia stepping out of the car, her eyes widened, and she nearly dropped her wine glass.