CHAPTER 5

"What a disaster," said Shantal, a famous model and celebrity, as she scrutinized each of the clothes hanging on the clothes valet.

She was chosen by Lalaine, the design department manager, to be the model for LCC's upcoming project fashion show event, to wear the highlight coat, and it appeared that she didn't like the coat she was going to wear and wanted them to change the design.

"Call the manager," she demanded.

"We know the concept better than anyone. You can trust us, Ms. Shantal," Chase said nicely.

She scrutinized him from head to toe, then returned her gaze to his eyes, as if she were also criticizing him. "Well, I don't think I can, and that is the problem. I have therapy at five. You only have until 4:30 p.m."

"Apologies, but that's realistically impossible. Ms. Lalaine is already occupied, and she's not the kind of person who can come just because we ask her."

"Is that so?" She raised her eyebrows at him. "Then I can't wear this."

The design team exchanged glances in response to what she said. This is their first encounter with such a vile celebrity, despite the fact that they have been working for a long time. Chase was still having a headache, and he was a little bit out of the mood due to his current situation, but he tried to calm himself and not argue with her. Furthermore, he cannot derail their project.

"I'm a professional myself; my value equals my taste; I can't wear just anything," she added, crossing her arms across her chest.

The young man smiled, swallowing his pride. "Why don't you try on the coat first? I'm sure you'd like it," he suggested. His team agreed by nodding their heads.

She looked at each of them. Without speaking any words, she signaled her manager to get the coat, then she walked to the dressing room.

"She's full of herself! Does she think she's a goddess? She's a pain in the ass!" Cara couldn't help but criticize the model after being mean to them and criticizing their clothing.

"Well, she's gorgeous," Ian said. Cara, Klaire, and Tanya all gave him a stern look.

"What? I'm just saying the truth. Isn't she gorgeous?"

"Gorgeous, my ass! If it wasn't really because of our project, I might have tweaked her. How dare she call our clothes a disaster? She hasn't even worn them yet."

"Calm down, Cara; she might hear you," Vincent advised.

"So what? I'm saying the truth here. Just because she doesn't like the design, she is allowed to treat them like trash!" Cara was very irritated. "Wait! What's wrong with our design? Nothing, right?"

"Absolutely! She doesn't know how much effort and time we spend on creating these clothes. She can't just say that. Her attitude is more trash." Klaire agreed.

"It's okay, guys. Let's just bear with her," Chase said, calming them down. He is also attempting to remain calm in the presence of the model.

After a while, Shantal came out of the fitting room wearing the highlight coat. She walked to the tall mirror to look at herself in the coat. She examined every part of the coat with a look of dissatisfaction on her face.

"The sleeves and hem should both end here," she said after criticizing the coat. She wanted them to change the design. "Did you take note of that?" she asked Chase after making some comments.

"Apologies, however, the classic look is LCC's main concept."

"Then put it on a mannequin. I wear what I want," she answered while still checking herself with the dress in the mirror.

"However, you can't alter anything. It ruins our design."

"Just because your business card says "designer," that doesn't make you a true designer." She looked at each of them before sticking her eyes at the young man. "Let's be honest. Who wears domestic brands? I wouldn't wear it if it weren't for the contract. It's humiliating." She rolled her eyeballs at the young man.

"What did you just say?" Cara stepped up into the conversation, which made Shantal shift her gaze to her.

"It's humiliating? What makes you special?"

"If I weren't special, would you be here doing this?"

"I beg for your pardon."

"Quit if you want, but I don't want to wear this," she said as she removed the coat and belt and tossed them on the floor.

Cara grew increasingly enraged at what she had done and couldn't stop herself from saying anything.

"We do quality control seven or eight times to make that one coat and belt. We discard dozens of yards of fabric when a pocket moves a millimeter. The coat you just threw down was made with eight hours of effort from hundreds of people!" Cara couldn't help but slightly raise her voice in annoyance.

"So? Doesn't everyone work that hard for a living?" she asked, raising her eyebrows. "Why are you whining about that to me?" She crossed her arms across her chest.

Cara scoffed and was about to say more words, but Chase cut her off..

"Cara, that's enough. Apologize to her."

"Sir Chase..." Cara's lips trembled because she was on the verge of crying. She was trying her best to hold back her tears.

"Apologize to her."

What the model said also hurts Chase's feelings, but he reminds himself to bear with it for the sake of their project. They cannot give up the model right now because the event is so close. They don't have enough time to find a replacement. Finding a famous model or celebrity is not easy and requires a lot of time.

Even though it was against Cara's will to apologize to the model, she did it anyway.

She bowed her head and said, "I'm sorry."

"Apology accepted. Say you'll change the design as well. I didn't pay one million people to follow me online. I'm not a bully or causing trouble. I'm a responsible professional doing my best," she said, looking Cara over from head to toe.

"I apologize," Chase said.

She rolled her eyes, flipping her hair back. "I have plans and can't stay any longer; send the photo once the coat has been altered; then I'll decide whether or not to wear it," she threatened.

"We won't change our design," Chase insisted.

"Then I won't wear it."

"I'll speak with our manager and have Tiffany provide the jewelry; the limited edition, of which only three were imported; can we make a deal on that?"

"There's no deal unless I get what I want. Send the photos by night, or I won't wear this," she said, pointing to the coat on the floor. Following her statement, she walked out, leaving the designers no choice.

"How dare she!" Klaire exclaimed in annoyance.

"Calm down, please," Chase said as he took the coat and belt from the floor. He returned them to the clothes valet.

"I'm sorry, sir Chase. What she said hurt my pride." Cara apologizes.

He looked at her. "It's fine. I bet she hurt all of our pride."

"What are we going to do now?" Ian asked. "She won't wear it unless we change the design."

"We still can't change the design; that isn't something we can decide on. Let's report this to Ms. Lalaine; she'll know what to do about it," he said, and they nodded in agreement.

—

@MANAGER'S OFFICE

"She wanted to change the design because otherwise she wouldn't wear it. She gave us until 4:30 to send the photo." Chase reported the earlier incident to their manager, Lalaine.

Their manager heaved a sigh at first before speaking. "Yes. I know. I talked to her."

"Shall we follow what she wants?" Klaire asked.

"No. I told her that we are not changing our designs just because she wants to. But before that, I heard that you fought with her, Cara. Is that correct?" she asked, shifting her gaze to Cara.

Cara didn't deny it at all. "Yes, Ms. Lalaine," she admitted. "I apologize. My pride was hurt, so I didn't help myself. I'm sorry, Ms." she said in apology.

"Okay. Never do it again. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Ms. Lalaine," she replied immediately. "I'll be more careful with my actions and words next time," she said sincerely.

"Okay. For this collection, we made 32 sets. A total of 64 pieces, right? Cara?"

"Yes, Ms. Lalaine. That's correct," Cara replied, firmly nodding her head.

"Right. Ian, Tanya, and you rushed all over the place for a year to find the materials. Shop managers humiliate and reprimand Chase, Klaire, and Vincent during the presentation. You guys stayed up for two months to tweak and change the details. However, even if we worked hard and did our best," she paused and looked at each of them individually. "It doesn't matter if it becomes dead stock. I know Chase didn't bow to Shantal, so she'd wear our brand." She looked at Chase. "I know you want her to wear it so hundreds and thousands can see our clothes. Your dedication and talent. If people wear our clothes and say they are nice, well-made, and pretty, that is good enough. That is our source of pride." She smiled at each of them before gazing back at Chase. "What do you think is the best option to take, Chase?"

"She wants us to alter, and we can't do that. We'll find another celebrity to replace her," Chase said, and their manager gently nodded her head to agree.

"If there's a will, there is always a way. If you can't find a door, then you build a door," she added while smiling at them, giving them motivation.

"Guys, bring your phones and follow me," he demanded of his team, and they immediately nodded their heads in response.

They exited their manager's office and went back to their office. They began contacting other celebrities in search of a model.

—

The night had come, and yet they hadn't found a new model to replace Shantal. Other celebrities on their list have full schedules, are in other countries, or cannot be contacted.

It's already 8 p.m., yet Chase is still in their office, alone. He is still trying to contact a celebrity about the fashion show since they only have two days before their company's big event will be held. Plus, their CEO will be new tomorrow. They cannot fail the project and disappoint the new boss.

"All right, last number," he said quietly as he dialed the number at the end of the list.

The phone immediately rang from the other line, but no one seemed to answer. He, on the other hand, waited. He is desperate to find another model.

"Please, please, please." He kept on whispering, hoping that the owner of the number would pick up the call. He was restless and biting his index finger's nail.

Suddenly, his back straightened when someone from the line picked up his call.

"Hello?" A man's voice answered.

He assumed that it was the model's manager.

"Yes. Hello. May I speak with Ms. Lauren Jones?" he inquired.

"Uh, by the way, who is this?"

"Ah, right. This is Chase..." He wasn't able to continue introducing himself because the line was suddenly cut off without him knowing.

"Hello? Are you still there? Sir? Hello?" He looked at the phone screen and realized that the call had ended. He tried to dial the number again, but he could no longer contact the other line.

"Oh, damn!"

—