Chapter 309: Trying on Dresses

Vanessa’s face paled at his words. Hesitantly, she asked, “Are you talking about the one on display?”

Howard confirmed, “Yes, that’s the one. Mr. Harris isn’t just an SVIP customer; he also collaborates strategically with our brand. He’s close friends with Mr. Jankson…”

Vanessa was speechless, her smile dissolving into an awkward expression.

“Are you trying on dresses as well?” Maggie asked.

“Yeah… but we haven’t picked any out yet,” Vanessa replied awkwardly.

“Take your time; we’ll go ahead,” Maggie smiled, seeing through Vanessa’s plan.

Howard led Maggie to a nearby fitting room, accompanied by two sales assistants.

Meanwhile, Howard offered, “We have professional stylists and makeup artists who can help you with your bridal look, based on the dress design. We can also take photos. Would you be interested, Ms. Adam?”

Maggie hesitated, considering the time. If she went for hair and makeup, even trying on three dresses would take until evening.

“I’ll take you to dinner later, so you don’t have to worry,” Nathael suggested. “If you still want to cook, we can do that tomorrow.”

Maggie considered this and agreed.

While Maggie enjoyed hair and makeup in a special VIP room, Nathael waited outside. Howard introduced Nathael to the bridal brands and discussed future plans for the mall. Nathael listened attentively; Howard even asked several store managers from other bridal brands to bring their flagship designs and introduce their brands. Meanwhile, Vanessa and Joseph struggled to choose dresses.

Seeing Nathael surrounded by people while they had only two sales assistants made Vanessa even more upset. After looking around, they found nothing as nice as the displayed dress.

“This dress would suit you well, Ms. Brown,” a sales assistant suggested. “It was air-shipped from Italy this morning, and there’s only one in the country.”

Vanessa examined the dress: a gown with sheer sleeves and intricate hand embroidery, a simple round neckline, and matching embroidery on the bodice and skirt. The skirt shimmered with golden threads.

“I’ll try this one, then,” Vanessa said, still unsatisfied. She glanced at Nathael and asked the sales assistant, “I know it’s not for sale, but can I try on the one on display?”

The sales assistant hesitated and apologized. “I’m sorry, Ms. Brown, but you can’t.”

Vanessa felt annoyed. “You said it was just for display, but now someone else can wear it. How could your brand do this? Isn’t it deceiving consumers?”

Joseph frowned, impatient. If Ronald hadn’t asked him to keep her in line, he wouldn’t want to be with such a rude woman. Maggie was elegant; she could save face and handle everything, unlike Vanessa.

The sales assistant added, “If you’re not satisfied, you can submit a complaint to headquarters. This decision came from Mr. Jankson himself. He’s close friends with Mr. Harris.” Vanessa couldn’t respond, knowing the truth.

Fuming, Vanessa picked a few more dresses. As the sales assistant took them to the fitting room, Vanessa complained to Joseph, “The Camerons are wealthy too. Why the different treatment?” Joseph closed his eyes, unwilling to explain.

“Because he’s Nathael,” Joseph stated coldly. He couldn’t do anything about it. Did Vanessa truly believe she could secure her safety by currying favor with the Camerons?

“I know. I just think the difference in treatment is jarring,” Vanessa said. Noticing Joseph’s mood, she softened her tone. “I was just expressing my thoughts, Joseph. Don’t take it personally. I’m grateful you’re here to help me pick a wedding dress. Let’s focus on ourselves.”

Joseph’s expression softened slightly. He said quietly, “The Harrises hold power, and Nathael is shrewd. Don’t provoke him.”

“I get it,” Vanessa replied.

Vanessa composed herself, reminding herself not to be fooled by Maggie’s tactics, and went to the fitting room. However, she hesitated. “Why does Maggie have a special room?” She had to make do behind a simple curtain. Even though the space was roomy, there were no dedicated stylists or designers.

The sales assistant hesitated. “Miss, only our SVIP customers can access the private fitting rooms.”

Vanessa looked at the sales assistant and forcefully shut the curtain, muttering, “Did Mr. Harris previously order a wedding dress? How could he be an SVIP customer of a wedding dress brand?”

The sales assistant responded curtly, “Wedding dresses are just one part of our brand. We offer many other lines, including high-end ready-to-wear, high-end custom clothing for both genders, and more.” Vanessa fell silent.

After trying on the wedding dress, she gazed at herself in the mirror, distracted. She had toiled since youth, hoping to marry into wealth and improve her life. Now, she had taken a significant step.

The exclusive fitting room was well-stocked with snacks, a modest dinner, flowers, matching jewelry, bathrobes, slippers, and more. Maggie nibbled on some food and sat at the dressing table, allowing the stylist and makeup artist to work their magic. After briefly discussing her preferences, they began. The makeup artist praised her complexion. “Ms. Adam, your skin is amazing, and you hardly need any foundation. Your makeup can be kept light, and your features are flawless. The result will be stunning!” The makeup artist, who was of mixed heritage, was enthusiastic and cheerful.

Maggie politely thanked her and gazed at her reflection, feeling preoccupied. Will Nathael remember what I look like? Will I remember? Is remembering really better than forgetting?

The formatting (chapter number, page numbers, timestamps) has been removed as it's not part of the textual content. The story is much clearer now with improved grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure.