Chapter 5

Van held the cigarette Edison had just tossed him loosely between his fingers and nodded. "You first, I'll follow."

The guest list for the banquet was strictly controlled, with only a few exceptions—those invited to be eye candy, such as a handful of celebrities, and some well-known figures from the art and fashion industries.

Unfortunately, as a mere decoration herself, Winnie didn't look particularly beautiful at this moment.

Once inside the lounge, Mia exclaimed, "Winnie! What happened to you?"

Winnie casually tossed her half-wet shawl on the sofa. "Did you find my makeup bag like I asked?"

"I did," Mia replied, eagerly showing her a champagne-colored dress. "Such a beautiful gown! It's the haute couture piece just released, right?"

Winnie replied lightly, "yeah. Don't be fooled. It was borrowed directly from the runway, not custom-made."

"What?" Mia didn't quite understand the behind-the-scenes details.

Winnie lifted her arm, unzipping the back of her black gown, which fell away like a wilting petal, revealing the soft fabric beneath. Her waist-to-hip ratio was perfect, and her back had not an ounce of extra flesh. Mia stared in amazement, both at Winnie's nonchalant attitude and her figure.

Winnie glanced over her shoulder, flashing a smile. "If it were custom-made, it would take at least a month for the first fitting. How would it show up here? Come on, help me put it back on."

The younger woman dutifully followed her instructions and took the haute couture dress off. Winnie loosely tied her wet hair into a bun and glanced around. "Is there something to dry with...?" The lounge didn't have anything convenient, but she spotted the silk shawl she had discarded earlier.

Time was limited, so she didn't bother with anything else.

The thin and soft silk shawl was picked up again, and the comforting fragrance filled her senses once more. In high society, everyone wished their business cards could leave a fragrance lasting 24 hours, but Winnie had smelled many different scents in social circles. However, this simple scent was the one that left the most lasting impression, with a powerful subtlety she hadn't encountered before.

It was something she had never smelled before.

Mia, holding the dress, watched as Winnie sat down on the sofa and casually crumpled the shawl to dry herself off.

For some inexplicable reason, as the slightly damp shawl brushed against her shoulder, a wave of calming fragrance swept over her nose. Winnie thought of the man's profile inside the Maybach.

"Whose is this?" Mia asked attentively.

"It's mine," Winnie snapped back to reality, decisively shutting down her curiosity.

The dress fit as she had predicted—not quite fitting, a bit tight. Winnie had a standard size 0 figure, but she wasn't naturally as thin as a supermodel. When she wore the dress, it emphasized her chest and hips.

"The chains on this are so sparkly," Mia remarked, reaching out to touch the delicate thin veil near the neckline. "Wow, it is sooo soft."

Winnie chuckled softly. "You like it that much? It's nothing special. When it becomes popular, you'll get so tired of it that you'll want to just throw on a T-shirt and walk the red carpet."

"Did Mr. Robinson give it to you?" Mia asked, slyly observing Winnie's expression.

Wyatt had grown tired of the ups and downs of the entertainment industry and had kept a clean image. There had long been rumors in the industry that this bachelor, the diamond king of his circle, had fallen for Winnie, and was pursuing her—though some even said it was Winnie who was trying to climb the social ladder through him. Regardless, Wyatt often "borrowed" Winnie to accompany him to events. Business dinners, charity galas, after-parties—he took her to every occasion where he could.

"It's Mr. Robinson who 'lent' it," Winnie casually corrected, as if she didn't hear the hidden meaning in Mia's words, before asking, "Where's the hairdryer?"

Mia handed her the dryer and asked, "You've made so much money. Have you ever bought high-end fashion for yourself?"

Winnie gave her a surprised, amused look before turning on the switch. "Buy it for myself? Why? Consumerism is bad. It's better to save and live off the interest."

Mia: "..."

She really said that out loud. A single high-end dress costs millions, and if she saved it in the bank, she might get a few thousand a month in interest—probably not even enough to cover her monthly property management fee.

The hairdryer blew warm air as Winnie tilted her head, using the highest setting to dry her hair. After a while, the PR staff who was responsible for their reception pushed the door open, carrying the makeup bag. "This is tough. We didn't expect to need all this."

Winnie finished drying her hair, casually tied her long, curly hair into a low ponytail, and picked up the makeup bag. "Thanks."

She turned and went into the inner room to wash her face and remove her makeup. Mia and the PR staff exchanged glances, and Mia asked, "Has the banquet started?"

"Yes," the PR staff responded. "How about you go out first? It'll be boring waiting here."

Mia had been planning to do just that. David wanted her to gain experience and improve her skills, but staying beside Winnie wouldn't help. She stood out too much, making Mia feel like a small grass—no, actually, since she was wearing a puffed skirt, she felt like a "puffed" grass.

Mia nodded. "Then can you tell Winnie that I'm going out to mingle for now?"

The PR staff smiled and nodded. "Of course, I'll let her know. Thanks!"