THE FORGOTTEN HEIRESS-Chapter 382: Shall We Get Started?

The soft sound of the doorbell startled her out of her thoughts. She hurried toward the door, half-expecting to see Steffan leaning against the doorframe with a grin. But when she opened the door, her breath caught in her throat.

Two women stood before her, each impeccably dressed in tailored suits. They carried themselves with the poised efficiency of professionals, the kind who move through life with a purpose.

Behind them was a man, tall and lean, holding what looked like a garment bag draped over one arm.

The man’s sharp features softened slightly when he saw Lauren’s surprised expression. But it was the black luxury sedan parked at the curb with its engine quietly idling, that really threw her off. She hadn’t expected any of this.

The woman on the left, a brunette with piercing blue eyes, was the first to speak. "Miss Holmes?" Her tone was polished but friendly.

When Lauren nodded, still unable to find her voice, the woman continued. "We’re here on Dr Rosse’s orders. We’ve been sent to help you get ready for the party this evening."

Lauren’s eyes darted to the garment bag as her mind raced, trying to piece together what was happening.

Steffan had mentioned her needing help, sure, but there was nothing about sending an entire team to her doorstep.

The other woman was a blonde with a warm smile. She seemed to have been studying Lauren all the while and hadn’t said anything since Lauren opened the door.

All of a sudden, her eyes widened with recognition, her warm smile growing brighter. "Wait a minute... you’re Lauren Holmes, right? The winner of the just concluded Golden Bean competition, right?"

Lauren blinked in surprise, caught off guard by the shift in energy but nodded slowly.

The woman’s excitement bubbled over as she clasped her hands together. "I knew I’d seen you somewhere! You were simply incredible! We were all rooting for you. And I get to meet you in person. Wow!" she exclaimed.

Lauren’s cheeks flushed as she offered a modest smile. "Thank you, that’s really kind of you."

The woman’s enthusiasm lingered as she added, "It’s an honor to be here helping you tonight."

Her colleagues also followed suit with unending praises about Lauren’s skills.

"Dr Rosse thought you might appreciate a little assistance, given the short notice." The blonde who had first recognized Lauren finally remembered the reason they were there.

Her gaze briefly flickered to Lauren’s bathrobe, "And we’re gonna doll you all up that you’re gonna blow everyone’s mind tonight."

The women finally introduced themselves as Celia and Kate. Celia was the stylist, and Kate the makeup artist. The man was Andre, the tailor.

Lauren felt a laugh bubble up, but it was tinged with disbelief. She didn’t know whether to be flattered, amused, or exasperated.

Steffan always had a flair for the dramatic, but this was on a whole different level.

"Steffan really didn’t mention any of this," she finally managed to say, stepping aside to let them in. She led them upstairs to her bedroom. It was spacious enough to accommodate all four of them.

Without missing a beat, they began setting up their tools and supplies as if they’d done this a hundred times before.

Andre handed the garment bag to Celia who started to open it, but not before giving Lauren a teasing smile. "Wait until you see what he picked for you," she said, her voice laced with excitement.

Lauren’s curiosity piqued as she watched Celia unzip the garment bag. The sound of the zipper sliding down seemed to stretch for miles, though it was just for a few seconds. When the bag finally opened, Lauren’s breath hitched.

Inside was a deep, rich emerald gown with a hint of shimmer that caught the light just right.

The fabric flowed like liquid silk, delicate yet luxurious, cascading down to a floor-length hem.

And the design... a fitted bodice with a sweetheart neckline that flowed into off-the-shoulder sleeves, gave it a touch of romance.

But it was the embroidery at the waist that held her attention: a delicate pattern of coffee beans intertwined with golden vines.

The detail was so subtle that one might miss it from afar, but up close, it was unmistakable.

Lauren reached out and ran her fingers over the intricate design, marveling at how thoughtfully it had been done. "This... this is beautiful," she whispered, still in awe.

No, it wasn’t just beautiful; it was meaningful, a perfect blend of elegance and symbolism that reflected her love for coffee and her victory.

She couldn’t help but smile. Though Steffan didn’t remember their past together, he still knew how to blow her mind like before.

She could hardly believe he had gone to such lengths. The man had a reputation for being meticulous and detail-oriented, but he had outdone himself this time.

But wait, she had only told him of the dinner barely two hours ago, and they’ve been arguing for the most of that time. How on earth had Steffan managed to get such a personalized touch added so quickly?

Lauren could only imagine the charm he must have used to make it happen.

"Shall we get started?" Celia’s voice broke the spell.

Lauren nodded, her mind still reeling as she settled herself on the stool beside her dressing table.

Kate set up a portable vanity by the window and started laying out her makeup brushes and palettes.

Celia moved around the stool Lauren was seated on as she assessed Lauren’s skin tone and features to decide on the best colors to complement the gown.

The trio moved swiftly, their efficiency almost making her dizzy but as they worked, their conversation flowed easily

Celia and Kate were warm, engaging in light-hearted chatter that kept her distracted from her own thoughts.

Seeing how easy going Lauren was, they asked about the competition, how she got such incredible talents at such a young age, her usual style, her preferences, and even cracked a few jokes with her.

"These are quite voluminous," Celia said as she worked on Lauren’s hair, gently coaxing it into soft waves that framed her face.

"You can say that again," Lauren agreed. She hated handling her hair herself.

It felt more like a girly bonding session than a professional service, and Lauren appreciated that a lot.

Kate added the final touches, a hint of highlighter on her cheekbones and a bold red lip that gave her an air of sophistication.

The look was complete with a delicate pair of earrings that matched the gown’s embroidery.

Meanwhile, Andre was in the background, discreetly adjusting the gown to ensure a perfect fit.

When it was time for Lauren to finally slip into the dress, he excused himself.

After helping Lauren into the dress, Andre was called back in.

When Lauren finally looked at herself in the mirror, she hardly recognized the woman staring back at her.

The fit was flawless, hugging her curves in all the right places without feeling restrictive. The color brought out the green flecks in her hazel eyes, and the shimmer added a touch of magic, catching the light as she moved.

You’re beautiful," Kate complimented with a genuine smile. "And Dr Rosse... he has good taste, but he also listens. Most guys would have gone for something flashy, but this... " she gestured to the gown, "this is elegant."