Chapter 7

Rena

I scan my gaze along the entire length of the white Bardot dress that I'm supposed to wear soon, and I'm still struggling to wrap my head around the price tag. I've never worn a dress that costs more than what I earn in five days of work. Frankly, I'd rather opt for one of those budget-friendly boutiques and find a similar dress style for a fraction of the price. Even my makeup looks impeccably flawless, and considering how busy these makeup artists are, they must be making a substantial amount of money for something I theoretically could have managed myself—maybe not as skillfully, but still reasonably well.

Early this morning, Corey rushed to pick me up and brought me to this upscale studio for hair, makeup, and styling. The hairstylists decided to straighten my wavy hair, a look I was only just beginning to embrace, and turn it into an elegant bun that I'm not exactly thrilled about.

"I don't know, Corey, isn't all of