Hiding in Plain Sight

"Tch, we hadn't had a real guest for so long. Who is it this time?" Gephardt heavily scratched his head in annoyance. He didn't want to look the part of a butler again.

"Master Hansel will be arriving with his great—" Cherie was not even finished before Gephardt ran off to get to his room to change. She just watched the cat disappear around the corner first. Then she turned to Keagan, who looked confused. "Master Hansel is Madam's grandfather to the outside. Master Gephardt adores him in secret, especially when he used to take care of Master Gephardt a lot in the past."

Keagan didn't know why they had to add 'to the outside,' but she understood who was coming to the house later. It was best to look the most presentable to the person who erected Golden Bloom and the Carousel Group from the ground up.

The maid walked her to the room and selected a few clothes for Keagan to pick from. Keagan didn't have her distinct style, and she treated this as clothes from a sponsor. All she did was pick a color she wanted to match her vibes with for the dinner.

Then again, she reached out and picked up the little black dress thrown into the mix. Instead of her amused gaze, she stared at it for so long that her eyes grew ice-cold. She wanted to throw it in the trash, but that piece was surely expensive. It was from that same brand and looked rather similar to what she wore that day. Memories started to surge, and Keagan felt like puking.

"Cherie…" Keagan cleared her expression and walked to Cherie with a smile. "Can I inconvenience you with a request? Can you not… ask me to wear anything black or from this brand again? I have trouble with their stances, so I am uncomfortable wearing their clothes."

"I will take note of it, Miss Allard. Please forgive me for letting you see this." Cherie took the dress, quickly folded it, and tucked it behind her arms to hide it from sight. She also bowed low as if waiting for more requests that never came.

Keagan didn't want to impose on them too much. She just picked the blue and white dress with a black cat print at the edges. A white jacket also came with it to make the thin straps modest. Since she was allowed to doll up, Keagan decided to heat her hair into curls and didn't hold back with the makeup. She wanted to look younger and very different from her everyday look.

At the very least, she didn't want to be identified by the guest as Keagan Allard, the model who drove a producer's wife to end herself.

She finished her lipstick with a loud smack. With a smile on her face, she appeared more like a niece or a little sister. She was only supposed to be five years younger than Wren, but the current image could bring it higher to ten. Even Cherie was shocked to see Keagan when she walked out of the room.

"Sorry, I want to hide in plain sight." Keagan chuckled, but her words didn't fit her smile. She wanted to hide in plain sight, yes, but she looked like she'd steal the party wherever she was bound to go. That was the curse of Keagan Allard's beautiful face.

"I will walk you to the dining hall, Miss Allard." Cherie only nodded and hoped not to be questioned. After all, the woman behind her was like a college girl who was only home for the weekend. The spring in Keagan's steps was distracting to Cherie, but she kept it in. 

It was bad to make Keagan feel bad, which would make Wren angry at whoever was responsible. Cherie had made mistakes recently. She didn't want to get punished.

When they reached the dining hall, Keagan thanked her and took a deep breath. She pushed the door open and smiled upon seeing the others at the table. She wore her battle smile that hid her pain and fears and walked in. Cherie only kept her head bowed down until the door closed.

"Ah, such a lovely girl. I didn't realize Wren's other guest is such a beauty as well." Hansel looked forward to meeting the princess, but he was shocked to find Keagan like this. He knew her name and her face just earlier, yet… who was this? This woman was not that model.

"Did you have fun today? You were prancing." Wren chuckled as she watched Keagan sit down across her. She was donned in a white sleeveless blouse with wide ruffles. Black lining defined the blouse's shape as well as the endowment of the wearer.

"Today was all right. Everything was quiet and peaceful," Keagan answered as she stared at Wren. It was not the first time she saw this madam with her hair tied in a messy bun, but she sure looked stunning every time. Even in Keagan's prime as a model, she knew she couldn't win over a beauty like this.

Wren gestured for them to start the dinner, and Gephardt was the first to eat. Keagan stayed quiet in her spot, saying her graces to herself before eating. However, she noticed how Hansel stared at her with a kind smile. He was sitting next to her, but he didn't forget to look away when he started eating.

That was also when Keagan noticed that two other people were supposed to join them. There were plates ready, but the seats were vacant. Right, she remembered hearing how Hansel arrived with his great-granddaughter and step-great-grandson. She wanted to ask about them, but she figured they were not her business right now. Fewer guests, fewer chances of her being identified.

Wren dabbed her lips with tissue first before looking at the vacant seats. She noticed how Keagan glanced at those. Then she turned to Keagan. "Keagan, I want to meet my grandfather, Hansel. He's visiting my auntie and her family in the next city, so he decided to visit me, too. Grandfather, her name is Keagan. I hope you don't mind her staying with me."

"Hmm, she looked well taken care of. How did you find yourself in Wren's care?" Hansel smiled at the blonde woman again. "My granddaughter seldom brings her friends to meet us. I'm happy to have you around just for a few minutes. Is she treating you well?"

"Oh, Madam has been the most generous!" Keagan beamed the smile and kept up with the youthful front. She even reached out for a glass of apple juice, even if she could drink sparkling wine just fine. "She gave me my own room and fed me. I really wish I could find work and repay her for her kindness. Right, how's retirement, Mr. Chastain? Have you gone outside the country to sightsee?"