Christina arched a brow at Gwyneth and challenged, “You’re welcome to find another designer if you don’t trust me.”
Christina would never jeopardize her reputation by putting out a subpar design.
“Well, I’m not in a rush, and I’m sure you’ll work on the design until I’m satisfied, yes?” came Gwyneth’s
response.
She had witnessed Christina’s talent in the past, or she would not have approached the latter.
Plus, I can’t find a better designer now…
Christina replied, “Then don’t fret about it. I feel obligated to remind you, though, that the design is going to take some time.”
The process of designing a dress did not merely stop at the sketching stage. After rounds of editing and the client’s stamp of approval, there was still the final step of sewing the dress from scratch.
Back when she still worked for Radiant Corporation, Christina had always felt as though she was sacrificing quality for quantity.
Things were different now. She could nitpick at every aspect of the design until she was satisfied instead of leaving it to another department or colleague.
“I’m not in a rush.” Gwyneth surveyed the empty studio and added, “And since your studio just opened, I suppose I’m your only customer at the moment.”
Christina shot her a sheepish smile. In fact, there was still a pile of work to get through before her studio’s operations were in full swing.
Before she could utter a reply, Gwyneth smirked amusedly and offered, “If you need some extra publicity, I’m happy to shoot a couple of promotional photos for you. I’ll give you a discount.”
Delight flitted through Christina’s gaze. No wonder she’s such a popular celebrity.
Gwyneth’s shrewdness was impressive. Christina surmised that Gwyneth must have recognized her talents because of Coco’s dress and wanted to build a close working relationship with her.
Christina propped her jaw on one arm and muttered thoughtfully, “As you know, my studio just opened. There’s still a pile of expenses to get through… Coco actually offered to let me take her photos for free.”
“Coco can hardly be considered in the same tier as me, can she?”
The retort masked Gwyneth’s panic and frustration at the mere possibility of someone else swiping her accolades and popularity in the film industry.
Still, she had her pride and would not admit defeat so easily.
That’s the whole reason I’m here buttering Christina up!
“You’re absolutely right. You’re more experienced since you’ve been in the industry longer than her,” answered Christina truthfully.
The flattery worked. Gwyneth was in excellent spirits as she left the studio. She even promised, “Fine. I’ll
do my publicity shots for free if you want me on the job.”
Her expression implied that Christina had snagged herself a great deal.
Christina hurriedly saved all the information. She was grateful to Gwyneth for the celebrity’s support on
her first order.
Then, she registered her company’s official website and Twitter account.
She spent the morning glued to her computer and got the social media channels set up. It was now time to
create some content.
Words alone would struggle to capture public attention without any photos.
Christina could not use any of her past designs from when she worked at Radiant Corporation. While photos of Coco’s dress were a viable option, the material was depressingly scarce.
She decided to put out some original designs as showpieces for her new studio.
Inspiration struck her soon enough, and she began sketching furiously at her desk.
A phone call in the evening snapped her out of her work–induced trance.
Christina answered the phone absent–mindedly. A woman’s gentle voice drifted over the receiver. “Hello, is your studio hiring an assistant? I have relevant work experience.”
“Yes. Let me send you the address. Come over for an interview when you’re free.”
As she spoke, Christina looked up and appraised her messy studio. The floorboards were in need of a good scrubbing. I really need an assistant, pronto.
“I can come right now,” replied the caller.
“Great. I’ll wait for you in the office.”
Christina hung up and texted the other party her studio’s address. After putting down her phone, she promptly returned her attention to her draft sketches.
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