Alder Locke pushed open the door to a room as they walked past after exiting the elevator, said to the two women inside, "She’s all yours," and then pushed Titus Zane inside.
"Aunt..." Titus Zane turned around, but Alder Locke had already closed the door.
"Miss, please follow us." The two women, one on each side, stood beside Titus Zane and gestured politely for her to follow.
"Who are you?" Titus Zane frowned, the cotton coat draped over her arm.
One of the women smiled slightly, "We are professional makeup artists, miss. Please rest assured, we will definitely bring out your most beautiful side."
"Thank you, I don’t need makeup." Clutching the cotton coat, Titus Zane tried to turn around and leave, but the two women exchanged glances and held her back from both sides.
"Miss, please understand our difficulties. If you don’t cooperate, we won’t get paid a dime."
Titus Zane stopped in her tracks, looking at the two skeptically, "Does everyone attending the banquet need makeup?"
"Yes," said one, her expression unchanging.
"How much does it cost for one application?"
"The fee varies with the makeup style."
Titus Zane sighed helplessly, knowing how hard it is to earn money, "Fine, just give me a light makeup, keep it simple."
Deceived by her grandfather to come to Banyan City, she arrived in a rush and hadn’t brought any skincare products, attending someone else’s engagement party barefaced.
"Alright, please come this way."
Forced to sit in front of the makeup mirror, Titus Zane held the cotton coat. The two makeup artists were very professional; they had been brought in at great expense by Alder Locke as they were the preferred choice for stars.
After cleansing Titus Zane’s face thoroughly, the two divided their tasks—one did her makeup, and the other styled her hair. It helped that Titus Zane had a good foundation to work with, and Alder Locke had instructed them not to apply heavy makeup, so it took less than half an hour to finish.
"Can I leave now?" After looking at herself in the mirror, Titus Zane stood up and was just about to leave when one of them said, "Miss, please change into an evening gown in the dressing room inside."
Titus Zane thought to protest since it wasn’t her engagement, but then she considered that it must have been an important person’s event to warrant her uncle and aunt dressing up, so attending in a beige down jacket would be inappropriate.
"Fine, how much is the gown?"
"The cost depends on the rental time," lied the makeup artist who was doing her hair, following the instructions given in advance by Alder Locke.
Without suspicion, Titus Zane followed the makeup artist into the changing room, changed into the gown and the high heels. "Can I go now?"
"Miss, please."
Titus Zane smiled faintly, walking out of the room in her high heels.
She quickly walked through the short corridor to the banquet hall. She had been delayed in the makeup room for quite a while, and her aunt must be getting anxious by now.
As soon as she stepped into the banquet hall, music suddenly started playing, startling Titus Zane so much that she trembled and paused at the doorway before stepping in.
A stage was set up at the front of the banquet hall facing the main entrance, with a dozen people sitting on it, playing music.
An engagement party employing a band was not something unheard of, but—
Why was Alder Locke standing up there on the stage, and moreover, dressed differently? When they arrived, he was wearing a dark suit under the cotton jacket, but now he was in a milk-coloured tailcoat...
Titus Zane furrowed her brows and hesitated in her steps. Across from her, Alder Locke was already walking towards her, one hand behind his back and the other extended forward, his lips slightly raised in a gentlemanly demeanor.
An alarm bell went off in her mind. It turned out... her grandfather had plotted this trap for her...
She turned to leave but Alder Locke behind her had already quickened his pace.