Adelina Lane stood facing the mirror.
She was about to do a retro photo shoot inspired by old-school Hollywood glamour, and Olivia Bennett’s makeup was absolutely on point for the theme.
Her lips were painted a bold, classic red; her brows were striking and defined; the matte foundation let a natural glow shine through. Earthy eyeshadow gave her a deep, mesmerizing look. Even though her hair wasn’t styled yet, the whole vibe was pure vintage elegance—a total knockout.
Adelina hadn’t expected Olivia to be this good. She’d honestly just used the shoot as an excuse to meet her, but now she was genuinely swept up in the whole look.
She let a sly, dazzling smile curve on her lips, one that was both charming and dignified, like an heiress from the golden age of Hollywood.
She touched her face, watching Olivia in the mirror with undisguised admiration. “Wow, I look amazing.”
“As long as you’re happy,” Olivia said, her own eyes still shining with awe.
Truth be told, Olivia had met plenty of people, but Adelina was something else—her poise, her looks, her presence… she was in a league of her own, even compared to women much younger.
After a moment soaking up the view, Olivia said, “Ready for me to do your hair?”
Adelina grinned. “Absolutely.”
Time slipped by as Olivia worked her magic. When she finished the styling and Adelina changed into her vintage dress, Olivia guided her through some poses for the photos.
But with Adelina’s natural grace, she barely needed any direction. Every move she made was effortlessly elegant.
Dozens of photos later, Olivia was just as thrilled as her subject.
She packed up her camera. “All right, you can go get changed now. I’ll help you pick your favorites in a bit.”
“Great,” Adelina replied, still glowing and clearly having the time of her life. She took one last, lingering look at herself in the mirror before finally heading into the changing room.
Olivia sat down. Helen Adams, who’d been hanging around with nothing to do, handed Olivia a mug of warm tea. “Take a breather, Olivia.”
“Thanks,” Olivia said, draining the cup in one go.
Davina burst out laughing. “Oh, give it up, Bonnie! It’s adorable.”
Helen batted her eyes, immediately siding with Davina. “Right?”
Bonnie glanced at Olivia, who just looked away, trying not to get involved.
Finally, Bonnie threw up her hands. “Fine, whatever. You guys eat—I’m gonna help the clients pick their photos.”
Olivia and Helen exchanged a look—wide eyes, grins all around.
Olivia watched Bonnie seriously chatting with the clients, then poked Helen on the forehead. “You’re impossible, you know that?”
Helen just grinned wider, rubbing the spot Olivia had tapped. She and Bonnie were close enough that Helen knew she wasn’t really mad—it was all part of their routine.
Otherwise, Helen would never dare tease her like that.

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