The doorbell echoed.

Before Eva could respond and move to open it, Gage had already walked past her and opened the door without even checking who it was. Eva wanted to shout out to him that it might be some of those sneaky reporters creeping around on the outside of her unit.

Just as she stretched out her hand to stop him, however, a woman emerged from the door with a few shopping bags dangling over her arms. She marched in confidently, smiling at the shocked Eva, and offered a bright smile and a nod.

“This is Eloise. She’s a good make-up artist.” Gage did not waste a moment, and introduced the woman to Eva. As she was trying to catch up to what was happening, the woman named Eloise was already walking up to her.

What? Who? Make-up artist?

“Hi, Miss. Nice to meet you.” The woman greeted Eva with the same bright smile.

“Eva.” Eva smiled back at Eloise reflexively, her professionalism as a top businesswoman evident in her quick reflexes. She then glanced quickly at Gage, raising a brow at him.

“She’ll dress you up, Eva.” Gage told her before he nodded at Eloise.

…

Time passed, and Eloise finally emerged from behind the closed doors. “The make-up’s done, sir. She’ll just need to put on the dress,” she reported.

Gage gave her a slight nod of acknowledgement. “Okay, you may go. Thanks for the good job.” The woman politely bowed her head at her boss before leaving the apartment, her shoes clicking crisply on the hardwood floors as she exited.

The apartment became quiet after the doors closed behind Eloise. Gage was tapping his long and elegant fingers on top of the couch as he waited for Eva to come out. Minutes ticked by, but Eva didn't emerge. Gage looked at his watch and thought that, no matter how complicated a woman’s dress was, it shouldn't take this long to get into it.

He knocked on the door. “You are taking too long, Eva,” he called out.

“Well, err…I don’t think this dress is…” Eva's voice came out a little wavery and was heavily tinged with doubts. Gage arched a perfectly-shaped brow before raising his hand.

“I’m opening the door,” he gave Eva a warning before turning the door handle.

“Wait!” Eva called out nervously.

After a few seconds, the door opened. Gage waited for a moment before he stepped inside when he did not see anyone stepping out. The instant he saw her, he stilled in his steps.

Eva turned away, as if to hide her face. He could see her ears turning red, and a smile flashed over his handsome face.

“I’ll get changed.”

“No. You want to hide, don't you?” He pulled her and stood her before the full-length mirror. “Take a look at yourself, Eva.” His voice was nearly a whisper as he leaned over from behind her.

Looking in the mirror, Eva swallowed thickly. The woman in the mirror looked…so different. She was sophisticated, alluring, and…sexy.

Her eyes stared at her own face, which looked so unfamiliar to her right now, then down at her tastefully exposed cleavage and her legs – legs that somehow looked long and enthralling. The red dress clung tightly against her as though it were a second skin. This was the first time she had ever worn something so revealing!

“This is how you hide in plain sight, Eva. Of course, this will only work because nobody has seen you like this before.” He smiled at her through his reflection in the mirror. Then, he carefully put an elegant pair of black glasses on her face. Just like that, her all-new look was complete.

He was right. Even she could barely recognize herself in this outfit! She had never put her hair down in public...only when she was in her own home did she take off those old-fashioned, thick glasses and let her hair down.

And now that she was wearing her black glasses, Eva was not seeing the proper and strictly formal businesslady anymore. She could not help but be amazed at the power of makeup and the right style of clothes on a person.

“Hold onto my arm.” Gage said as they stepped out of her apartment, and she complied with his wishes. He had told her he would send someone to pick up her luggage, so all Eva was holding onto was her luxurious and tiny clutch.

“Ready?” he asked in a low whisper, and Eva nodded decisively. This was making her a little nervous, but at the same time, an unfamiliar thrill zinged through her body. “Just walk confidently. Head up, chests forward. Treat the reporters like they’re some irrelevant bystanders, or even better, think of them as insignificant ants by the roadside.”

Eva laughed softly as she heard how he described the paparazzi.

“Let them come! I’m not scared of them. I’m just nervous that I might trip. I don’t wear high heels that often…” Eva replied as they walked down the corridor.