Chapter 596
The Jones Family’s ball was being held in the grand ballroom of the resort hotel, and preparations had begun early.
By four in the afternoon, guests were already arriving one after another. Luxury cars filled the parking lot, and every attendee was dressed to impress.
Most families with unmarried daughters had brought them along. Everyone had heard the same rumor–that tonight’s ball was specifically arranged to help the Jones heir find a partner.
Who wouldn’t want to marry into one of New York’s most powerful dynasties?
Who wouldn’t want to secure an alliance with the Jones Family?
Since it was still early, Benjamin invited Sebastian to join him for a round of golf, while Caitlin took Wendy to get styled.
Even if Caitlin couldn’t personally deal with the Smith family tonight, she was determined to make Wendy the brightest star of the evening.
On the golf course, Sebastian and Benjamin had only played a few rounds when Nolan and Yates arrived.
“Sebastian!”
Yates jogged over. “Where’s Caitlin? How is she? I won’t relax until I see her!”
When Caitlin had gone missing, everyone had helped with the search. Now that she was back, Yates was desperate to see her in person.
“You’ll see her tonight,” Sebastian replied.
“She must’ve suffered so much. I’m going to make sure I comfort her properly,” Yates said with a mischievous grin.
Nolan immediately kicked him in the leg. “Would you stop running your mouth? Don’t make things worse!”
“Make things worse? When have I ever made things worse? Caitlin is my idol, my goddess. What’s wrong with caring about her?”
The two brothers bickered as usual, while Sebastian ignored them and focused on his swing.
Around five o’clock, Felix and Zeke showed up.
“They’re here,” Benjamin called out. Everyone turned to look.
“Felix!”
“Zeke!”
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“Didn’t mean to interrupt your game,” Felix said as he walked over.
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Zeke added with a half–smile, “I shamelessly tagged along. Hope you don’t mind a little extra company.”
“Of course not. The more the merrier,” Benjamin said.
Sebastian greeted them both, then said to Felix, “By the way, thank you for your help last time.”
Felix waved it off. “Don’t thank me. You were the one who brought your wife back.”
“Still, I owe you.”
The conversation naturally shifted to the events of Caitlin’s rescue, with Sebastian and Zeke recounting parts of what had happened. Everyone listening agreed it had been perilously close.
Toward the end, Zeke frowned. “By the way, that body we misidentified–did you ever figure out who it was?”
“That’s not something I can disclose,” Felix answered carefully. “What I can tell you is that it won’t be easy to find out. With only half a body and no ID, we’ve got nothing to confirm. Right now, the police are combing through missing persons reports. Unless we find the upper half and can match the face, the identity will stay a mystery.”
The men continued their game, chatting casually, while elsewhere a styling team had arrived to help Caitlin and Wendy prepare.
Leading the team was Émile, a friend of Yates and an ardent fan of Caitlin. For him, styling her was a privilege.
“What kind of look are you going for tonight?” Émile asked gently from behind Caitlin.
“I want something natural and understated. Nothing too attention–grabbing.” Caitlin smiled, then added, “But don’t start with me. Work on my friend first. I want you to make her shine–like a Cinderella about to attend the ball. You be her fairy godmother.”
“I understand completely.”
Émile moved to stand behind Wendy, studying her features. She had soft cheeks and a fuller figure. “She has a little roundness in her face, but with the right hairstyle and makeup, I can highlight her best features beautifully.”
“Don’t overdo it,” Wendy said quickly, “I’m not used to heavy makeup.”
“Trust me. I’ll handle it.”
With practiced precision, Émile began applying Wendy’s makeup. A true artist knew how to use shadows and highlights to minimize flaws and maximize natural beauty. The best looks weren’t gaudy or heavy–they were refined, subtle, and elegant.
While Émile was working, Jillian appeared, bouncing over to greet Caitlin.
“Caitlin!”
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She grinned as she ran up. “I heard you were here, so I came to check on you. How are you?”
“I’m fine.”
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When Jillian noticed who was doing their styling, her jaw dropped. “Whoa, you’ve got Émile himself? No wonder he wasn’t at his salon today!”
Caitlin smiled. “Your gown looks unique. Which designer is it?”
Jillian twirled proudly. “It’s not from any brand. I designed it myself.”
Caitlin studied the dress. It had a fusion of styles, with touches of cultural blending, and it worked surprisingly well. “It’s creative. Very fresh. I like it.”
“Really? Coming from you, that’s the best compliment I could ask for!” Jillian beamed.
“With talent like that, why didn’t you enter the design expo?”
“I wanted to, but there was a mistake during registration. I missed the deadline. So I just made this for myself.”
“Let me guess,” Caitlin said. “Zora never submitted your application.”
Jillian sighed. “Exactly. I missed out because of her.”
Caitlin nodded knowingly. “Don’t worry. True talent never stays buried. Your style leans classical, and I happen to be looking for a designer with that touch for Fragrance & Dye Studio. Would you be interested in becoming the lead designer?”
Jillian’s eyes widened. “Fragrance & Dye Studio? You mean the one in Departure City, V Country?”
“Yes.”
“Are you serious? Me? Really?” Jillian almost couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“Of course. If you’re willing, we can try. The studio was founded to honor classical traditions, so classical elements are vital in its designs. I think you’d be a perfect fit.”
“Yes! Yes, I’d love to try!”
Jillian had always dreamed of pursuing design, but setbacks and a lack of family support had nearly crushed that ambition. Now, with Caitlin’s offer, she finally saw hope.
“Good,” Caitlin said. “But I do have one condition. The question is, can you do it?”
“What condition?” Jillian asked eagerly.