Page 8 of The Bratva's Secret Twins

“Where’s Kennedy?”

“I’m here!” I waved at him.

“There you are!” He walked over to meet me. “And you’re not ready yet. Are you kidding me?” he snapped, seeing that I had no make-up on, but I knew I wasn’t the one on the receiving end of his rage. “Where the fuck is Jennifer?!”

Jennifer was the make-up artist assigned to me, and by the look of things, she was in trouble.

The other make-up artists in the room exchanged glances, and some shrugged their shoulders nonchalantly.

“My God! She’ll be the death of me,” he mumbled to himself, slapping a palm against his forehead in frustration. “You!” He pointed at another makeup artist.

“Me?” She turned to him, taking a pause from the model’s face she was painting.

“Yes, you,” he replied. “It’s Bianca, right?”

She opened her mouth to answer, but he didn’t wait for her to respond.

“Leave whatever you’re doing and attend to Kennedy right this second,” he commanded.

The model whose face was being made up looked on, her jaw dropping in shock and disbelief.

“Be quick about it; she’s up in twenty minutes!” he barked.

She left instantly and hurried over to me.

Asher turned to me. “Are you ready?”

My heart skipped a beat at his question. I wasn’t ready at all. Maybe what I needed was a pep talk.

I was about to respond when he added, “Good. That’s perfect.”

He patted my shoulder and walked away. “Make sure she looks beautiful. And somebody should tell Jennifer that she’s fired!” He raised his voice on the last statement and exited the room.

“You don’t look like you’re ready,” Bianca told me as she began to perform her magic on my face.

“Honestly, I don’t think I am,” I sighed.

“Want my advice?” she asked, her hands moving with professional speed and accuracy.

She was now brushing beneath my lips, so I couldn't answer, but my silence told her I was listening.

She continued, “You’re beautiful, and if you weren’t good enough, Asher never would have hired you. So, when you get out there, remember how gorgeous you are, bask in your beauty, and move elegantly. You’ll be golden.”

Her words were the exact pills I needed for this anxiety that was threatening to drown me.

I inhaled deeply and let the breath out slowly.

“Thank you.” I smiled at her.

“Anytime,” she replied, returning the grin.

She was right, and even the lady who had trained me rigorously for hours—almost throughout the entire day yesterday—had said I impressed her, given I had no training prior to that day.

I knew that I was good at this; I just had to overcome this anxiety and stage fright.

Sighing softly, I watched in the mirror, the sight of my own reflection gradually transforming under Bianca’s skillful hands.

“And…done,” Bianca declared when she was finished with my makeup. “Now, that’s true beauty right there.” She beamed.

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