Whitney clearly wasn't ready to back down. She sneered, "Who even knows if this girl is telling the truth?"
"For all I know, you two cooked up this lie just to scam me out of my ticket!"
Yes, that had to be it.
There was no way she was falling for Julia's trap!
Wasn't this brat supposed to be hopelessly obsessed with chasing Elvis around the globe?
Since when did she suddenly grow a brain?
"Nobody is scamming you. If you're desperate for a custom SUNNY gown, just admit it." Julia waved her off in sheer boredom.
She saw right through Whitney. All that loud talk about boycotting the brand was just hot air; she desperately wanted the clothes.
It made total sense. The prestigious annual debutante ball was right around the corner, and Whitney wanted a bespoke SUNNY gown to crush the competition.
Honestly, Julia wanted exactly the same thing.
The only difference was that Whitney wanted to flaunt her dress to attract a horde of wealthy bachelors, while Julia only had one target in mind.
She had only ever wanted one man.
Seeing the two heiresses devolve into another shouting match, Claire quietly slipped away.
She wasn't close enough to either of them to play peacekeeper.
"Claire!"
Mabel had come out specifically for the new SUNNY collection, totally shocked to run into Claire at the launch gala.
They had crossed paths a few times before and had instantly hit it off.
Mabel was thrilled to see her.
Claire smiled and greeted her warmly. "Mabel, you're here too."
Mabel nodded eagerly. "I'm obsessed with SUNNY's style. Even when they were only selling overseas, I used to hunt down their pieces."
Ever since SUNNY established a local presence at VIA Metropolis, Mabel had practically become a permanent fixture at the boutique.
She loved vintage-inspired couture and classic elegant silhouettes, and every single season, SUNNY released stunning pieces that fit her aesthetic perfectly.
Most of her social circle shared her passion for timeless fashion, and they constantly raved about the brand's impeccable craftsmanship.
"I heard there's a lottery for a custom design from the chief designer tonight. I'm praying I get picked."
It was an open secret among the elite that Sunny was also the mastermind behind the entire company.
The promise of a bespoke gown
designed personally by Sunny was a brilliant marketing hook, and the room was packed with people who had pulled every string imaginable just to secure an invitation for this exact chance.
Claire smiled and wished Mabel the best of luck.
Mabel offered Claire a seat with her, but Claire politely declined, mentioning she was waiting for a friend.
"Alright then, I won't hold you hostage."
Mabel waved and headed back to her own group.
The launch was about to begin, and the host was already stepping onto the stage.
The venue was packed to the brim, and the autumn collection instantly captivated the audience.
Standing amidst the glittering crowd, Claire listened to the wealthy quests critique and marvel at the garments practically floating down the runway.
The overwhelming consensus was pure admiration.
She smiled to herself. The gala was an absolute triumph.
Tonight alone, SUNNY's sales directors were locking down an avalanche of massive orders.
But the true highlight of the evening was the highly anticipated VIP draw.
Jenny personally took the stage to announce the winners.
Out of the three lucky slots, two went to people Claire actually knew.
The first was Mabel, and the second was Julia.
The final spot went to a stunning local actress.
The three winners practically sprinted to the registration desk, absolutely glowing with excitement.
Julia couldn't believe her luck, while Mabel looked like she had just won the lottery. The actress, who had originally come just to network and pitch herself as a potential brand ambassador, was completely floored.
She let out a piercing scream of joy, ensuring every single person in the room—and more importantly, the press-knew exactly who had won.
The flashing cameras captured her ecstatic reaction perfectly, guaranteeing her front-page coverage tomorrow.
The SUNNY gala wrapped up as a
spectacular success. By the time the morning papers hit the stands,
was clear
that the global éltewere
hopelessly addicted to the brand.
Once the new collection officially hit the racks, a massive buying frenzy was
undeniably imminent.