Variety Show (13)

As they entered the dark room that Lia had initially emerged from, Lia flipped on the lights, walking deeper into the room.

As she followed her, Valentina couldn't help but look around curiously.

Compared to the elegance of the other rooms, this one looked like a proper workspace. It was a humongous room with the longest wall solely dedicated to different types of fabric, threads, and other materials.

Spread out in the rest of the room were several large desks with paper cutouts, fabrics, sewing machines, and other tools Valentina couldn't identify spread all over. Beside the desks were mannequins that were partially draped with clothes and whiteboards with writing and photos on them.

Lia led her to the largest table in the center of the room and pointed at the whiteboard filled with photos that Valentina had shared the day before, as well as a variety of sketches and notes.

Standing next to it was a mannequin draped in a dress that was very similar to what Valentina had shown Lia with a few changes. Rather than the silver color, the dress was a pure white that slowly bled into a deep red that was almost black, giving the flowers and leaves pinned at the bottom an almost corrupted look, as if they had been dipped in blood and ink. Despite the brightness of the white color, there was a sheen to the material that was reminiscent of metal, which still gave it the armor-like effect. 

Although the inspiration photo had no sleeves, Lia had crafted long sleeves that had a faint feather-like pattern that was only visible when the light hit it a certain way. 

"So? What do you think? I had to make the little diamond pieces one by one and test out a bunch of materials to get the consistency and shine right. I also added the detachable sleeves since I wasn't sure if you were still bruised from your fall. It's not fully complete yet, but I think it looks pretty good so far, right?" Lia gave her a smug look as if she were waiting for praise.

Looking between the beautiful dress that had come to life before her eyes and the person who made it possible, Valentina couldn't help but throw her arms around Lia and hug her, squeezing the shorter woman as tightly as she could.

"It looks amazing! How did you do this? You're amazing, Lia!" not holding back, Valentina continually praised the woman, causing her to blush before she tossed her head back confidently.

"Hehe, it's no big deal. Even though this is just a quick prototype, I'm glad you like it. As I said, I'm not done yet. I have to finish the seams, fit it properly, finish the detailing at the bottom, and maybe add some more embroidery, but this is a general idea, and I can have it done for your final fitting tomorrow before the show. If you don't like it, naturally, I can provide a different outfit."

"No, this is great! I would be honored to wear it!"

"Great! You'll have to come by tomorrow so we can test out the accessories and the works, but those are minor details. I remember you saying you had something to ask me. Well, I had something to ask you as well." Lia put down her coffee cup before hopping onto a work desk, her little feet swinging in the air.

Turning to face her, the expression on Valentina's face got serious as Lia seemed to be examining her from top to bottom. As if she had made a decision, Lia nodded her head firmly before beginning to speak.

"I told you, right? That I had something I wanted to ask you. Well, how do you feel about attending a fashion even with me as my plus one? I want you to be my muse and wear what I create. Naturally, I'll pay for everything, and you can treat it as a mini vacation; I just want you to come and wear what I style for you. What do you think?"

"Uh, sure, I don't mind, I guess. What event is it?" Valentina asked curiously.

"The Met," Lia replied with a wide smile.

"Pardon me?" Valentina blinked slowly as she looked at Lia. She thought her ears were broken and she was having an auditory hallucination.

"You heard me. The Met Gala."

"One more time, I think I misheard you."

"The Met Gala? The Met ball? Yearly fashion event. Themed. Expensive tickets, fancy couture outfits? Have you heard of it?" Lia asked while staring at her with eyes that seemed as if she were looking at a pitiful country bumpkin who hadn't seen the world. 

Valentina wanted to roll her eyes, but she could only blink in her stunned state. Of course, she had heard of it. As someone who was in fashion marketing, how could she not know of one of the top fashion events apart from the global fashion weeks that happened worldwide? She would have to live under a rock or in space to not know of the event.

"I know what the Met Gala is, Lia. Why are you inviting me of all people?" Valentina asked incredulously.

"Well, for one, Kai likes you. But most importantly, I like you." Lia said simply.

"That's it?"

"Well…I'm sure Kai has already told you this because he's a blabbermouth to the people he likes, but I'm in a legal battle with my family for the brand name Alaia. Honestly, I'm tired of fighting it, so I'm going to quit and get rid of the brand entirely so they can't have it. I've been in a creative slump for a while, and even though I have a contract to do styling at Platinum Entertainment occasionally and promote my brand with their artists, I haven't really felt motivated for a while. Things have just been running along like clockwork.

But I felt a change from the moment Kai asked me to send things to style you. Your face, which is more beautiful than all the stars in the galaxy, and your body, which reminds me of a dancer, not from this earth, have given me a spark of inspiration. I simply had to see it in person for myself and dress this otherworldly beauty in the clothes I shed blood, sweat, and tears to make." As Lia held her blushing cheeks while kicking her feet, Valentina could only stare at her blankly before taking a huge step back.

It seemed Lia's weirdo disease was back.

"Ehem ehem," Lia cleared her throat in embarrassment before continuing, "I want to start fresh as an unknown designer and prove myself again by creating something new, you know? Without the taint of my family. And besides, Kai has been helping me with the lawsuit with his own personal funds, and even though he can afford it and we're friends, I don't think it's fair to him to continue dragging it." Lia gave her a wry smile as she adjusted her glasses.

"I'm sorry about that, Lia. I wish I could be of help." Valentina couldn't help but say, unsure of how to console the woman.

"It's okay, hehe! I plan on going out with a bang and giving my family the proper middle finger! In my final year as the Alaia owner and designer, I'm going to bring out all the good stuff I've hidden, use up all my extravagant materials, and utilize my connections to attend every fashion event I've been signed up for and rub their faces in it! And I want you to join me in doing so since you're motivating me to begin creating things these days. Let's waste all the money and have a good time before giving my family an empty shell of a business. If they want to steal my hard work, they should b prepared to be screwed over in the process." Lia gave her a devilish smile, and suddenly, Valentina could see why she and Kaiser were friends.

"I don't mind coming along since it would be beneficial to me, but wouldn't it be better to take a Platinum Entertainment artist? Especially since you're contracted to them? I do plan on joining Platinum Entertainment at some point, but as of now, I am part of Black Rock Entertainment."

"No way. I don't have such a limiting contract that I would be forced to only use those who are signed to Platinum to represent my brand, regardless of how big that company is or if the CEO is my friend. After all, money is money, and there are no long-term enemies in business. Even though I usually just take the artist that Platinum recommends to my events, it's because I'm lazy, not because I have to. I can choose whoever I want, and this year, I really want to take you because your face and body are really my spec! Plus, I want to start afresh without riding on the fame of anyone else and prove that I don't need my family to be successful. What do you say?"

"Oh, I would love to if you would have me," Valentina replied with a shell-shocked expression. Honestly, this was completely out of her expectations. She felt as if she had randomly won the lottery out of nowhere. Considering the plans she had been making after her talk with the system, maybe it had decided to be helpful for once.

'Hey, System? Is this your doing?' Valentina couldn't help but double-check with the system. Had there been a secret task that she had forgotten about that gave out this reward?

[…No.]

'Wow. So then, this is thanks to Kaiser again. Yet you want me to sever ties with him? Not too bright, are you?' Valentina replied mockingly before paying attention to Lia again.

The System: [...] Why did it bother being honest? If it had lied, would it be getting mocked like this? Holding back a sigh, it decided to be quiet and bide its time.

"Excellent. The Met is in a couple of months, so we have time to discuss it later. And I'll let you know about other things as they come up so you can decide if you would like to attend. What did you want to tell me?"