Chapter 58

The brown tourbillon watch did not return to its owner because Van didn't take it. "Today is an accidental meeting, not a good time to return things," he said casually, getting up from the sofa. "I have business to attend to; I should leave. The sandwiches will be here soon; have some before you go." As soon as he finished speaking, there was a knock at the door. Van said, "Just a moment." Winnie was dazed by his approaching scent for a moment. Van casually hooked his lips, raising one hand to gently press Winnie's face against his own; she could almost feel the warm breath from his nose. His shoulders were so broad. That was the only thought left in Winnie's mind. A comforting fragrance emanated from his skin near his neck, dominating her breathing. With a click, the door opened the next second; the waiter entered. Due to the angle, he could only see a woman leaning into Van's embrace as if they were kissing. Understanding the etiquette of not looking where he shouldn't, he kept his eyes straight, bowed, and placed the tea and snacks on the table before taking his tray and leaving. The door closed, and Van let go, his expression calm as if what just happened was merely an afterthought. Winnie's heart had jumped and then settled; after a while, she lifted her gaze and said, "Thank you." Before leaving, Van bid her goodbye with a casual "See you." She ate a salmon sandwich and then went downstairs, gracefully and sweetly greeting and chatting at the mundane tea party, discussing trivial updates with practiced ease. Among the attendees were veteran fashion editors from magazines and advertising directors. Holding champagne flutes, they chatted casually, naturally steering the conversation towards the upcoming fashion gala in half a month. This was the annual gala event hosted by the women's magazine Oda, where they awarded titles like "Artist of the Year" and "Star Power of the Year," awards that were essentially meaningless. These awards were just about dividing up opportunities; their significance was limited to being listed in the accomplishments by fanbases. But no matter if you were an Oscar-winning actor or a top idol group, if you were invited, you would definitely clear your schedule to attend and put in maximum effort. Because this was the night of the top-tier women's magazine, a night when global luxury brands evaluated the charisma and star power of artists. Brand endorsements were a significant portion of an artist's income, not to mention the numerous advantages that came with being favored by luxury brands, like unlocking high-end magazine covers, gaining global exposure, elevating fashion status, and making subsequent business negotiations for endorsement fees easier. Even from a purely practical perspective, artists favored by luxury brands didn't have to worry about their event outfits for the entire 365 days of the year. From high-end vintage jewelry and million-dollar couture gowns to the latest ready-to-wear, they could borrow anything from the brand. Consequently, more non-competing brands extended olive branches, hoping the artists would wear their latest seasonal pieces. Such an event was inevitably a gladiatorial arena for all artists. Winnie's access to fashion resources had significantly declined, though no one mentioned it openly. But after reviewing the styling for event after event, everyone from editors to fashion bloggers and marketing accounts in the industry knew the truth. Who was Elva? She had initially been the Global Fashion Director for Oda's Italian edition, then returned to the US to open her own studio while also retaining her position as Oda's chief styling consultant. Most of the styling for artists who appeared on Oda's cover came from her, with an extremely high standard. She could transform a shy, petty-looking actress into a glamorous beauty or revive a male star with terrible proportions. Half of the A-list artists in the entertainment industry had trusted her with their styling. Though Winnie had been a celebrated actress with a strong fanbase, she was the one who ended up more damaged when the two had fallen out. Previously, with the haute couture from Wyatt, why would he willingly risk being criticized by fans for lacking professionalism by having her wear it and making it official? The reason was precisely this. Of course, celebrity styling studios had been popping up like mushrooms after rain; there were plenty of people willing to take on Winnie's jobs, like Anne. But Elva, having been immersed in the global fashion scene for nearly forty years, had deep personal connections with many current design directors and founding designers of brands. Who got to wear a haute couture piece and who didn't, her opinion was highly regarded. By insulting Elva's younger brother on set, Winnie had offended someone who controlled the pulse of celebrity fashion. "Was Evelyn's look selection overwhelming again this time?" a fashion editor from a women's magazine had asked. No one dared to ask Winnie about this, fearing to embarrass her, so they had all tacitly ignored the issue.