Chapter 758: Chapter 758 Honorable guest (1)

Bella found an empty dressing room at the end of the hallway. The door was slightly ajar, a thin strip of light spilling out onto the worn carpet. She pushed it open and stepped inside.

The room was small. A mirror ran along one wall, framed with bare bulbs that cast a warm, golden glow across the space. A single chair sat in front of it, the velvet cushion faded from years of use. A metal rack against the opposite wall held a few old costumes, their fabric dusty and forgotten. The floor was scuffed, and the paint on the walls was chipped.

It was not glamorous, but it was private, unlike most rooms that were full of students getting ready.

She locked the door behind her and pulled out her phone. Her fingers moved quickly across the screen, typing out a message to the makeup team Leo had arranged for her. They were already waiting outside, somewhere in the parking lot, ready to come whenever she called.

She sent the message: I am ready. Room 7, end of the hallway.

Then she waited.

Minutes later, a soft knock came at the door. Bella unlocked it and opened it wide.

Two women stood in the hallway, dressed in black, professional and efficient. Each carried a large suitcase, the kind that held more than clothes. They smiled at her, warm and friendly.

"Hi, Bella. We are here."

"Thank you for coming," Bella said, stepping aside to let them in.

They entered the small room, their suitcases bumping against the doorframe. They set them down on the floor with a soft thud and looked around, taking in the mirror, the chair, and the rack of forgotten costumes. They did not comment. They simply opened their suitcases and began setting up.

One of them turned to Bella. "What kind of makeup are you thinking? Natural? Glam? Something in between?"

Bella blinked. She had not thought about it. She did not know many things about makeup, only the basics. She had never needed more than lip balm and sunscreen.

"I... I do not know," she admitted, her cheeks flushing pink.

The woman smiled, understanding. She reached into her suitcase and pulled out a thick binder, its cover worn from use. She set it on the small table near the mirror and opened it.

Inside were photographs. Page after page of faces, each one different. Some were soft and natural, with barely there foundation and a hint of pink on the cheeks. Others were bold and dramatic, with smoky eyes and dark lips. Some were somewhere in between, with glowing skin, fluttery lashes, and just a touch of color.

"These are looks we have done before," the woman said. "Take your time. See if anything speaks to you."

Bella looked through the pages. Her eyes moved from photo to photo, taking in the different styles and different moods.

A soft, romantic look with rosy cheeks and glossy lips.

A bold, fierce look with winged eyeliner and red lips.

A glowing, ethereal look with shimmering highlighter and soft pink shadows.

Her fingers stopped on a page.

The woman in the photo had brown eyes, like hers. Her skin was glowing and radiant, like she had just stepped out of sunlight. Her lips were a soft, natural pink, and her eyes were framed with delicate lashes and a hint of shimmer. She looked beautiful, but not in an obvious way. She looked like herself, but better.

"This one," Bella said, pointing.

The woman leaned over to look. "Ah. Good choice. Soft glam. It will highlight your features without hiding them."

Bella nodded.

The other woman pulled out a rolling rack from the corner, hanging a white cloth over it to create a makeshift changing area. "Your dress is in the bag?"

"Yes," Bella said, clutching her bag tighter.

"Change first," the woman said. "Then we will do your makeup and hair. That way nothing smudges."

Bella stepped behind the cloth and unzipped her bag. The dress was there, soft and white, the flowers on the hem catching the light. She slipped off her jeans and sweater and pulled the dress over her head.

The fabric fell against her skin like water. Light, flowing, and perfect.

She stepped out from behind the cloth. The women looked up. Their eyes widened.

"Oh," one of them breathed. "That is beautiful."

Bella looked at herself in the mirror. The dress fit her perfectly, hugging her waist and flowing around her legs. The flowers on the hem seemed to dance in the light.

She smiled.

"Ready?" the woman asked.

Bella nodded and sat in the chair. The women got to work.

At the same time

Seven black cars sped through the busy university road, their engines humming in perfect sync, a low, powerful growl that turned heads. Students walking along the sidewalks stopped and stared, their conversations dying mid sentence. Drivers slowed down, curious and nervous, unsure of what was happening. The cars were expensive and beautiful, and their windows were tinted so dark that no one could see inside. They moved like a single unit, like a school of sharks gliding through water.

They passed through the university gates without stopping. The guards at the entrance recognized the plates and waved them through, their faces pale with recognition, their hands trembling slightly.

The cars pulled up in front of the auditorium, one after another, lining the curved driveway like dark pearls on a string.

The middle car stopped first.

A man in a black suit stepped out and opened the rear door. His movements were precise and rehearsed, the kind of movements that came from years of service.

An expensive shoe emerged. Polished leather, dark as ink, gleaming under the late afternoon sun. Then a long leg, then another. The fabric of tailored trousers fell perfectly, not a single wrinkle, not a single crease out of place.

Then Leo stepped out.

He was wearing a black suit, cut to perfection, hugging his broad shoulders and narrow waist like it had been sewn onto him. His white shirt was crisp, unbuttoned at the collar, showing a hint of his collarbone and the first few inches of his chest. His tie was dark silk, knotted neatly, held in place with a silver clip that caught the light.

His dark hair was styled back from his face, not a single strand out of place. His jaw looked even sharper than usual, the lines of his face more pronounced and more severe. His cheekbones caught the light, casting shadows beneath them. His lips were pressed into a neutral line, neither smiling nor frowning, giving nothing away.

But his eyes, his gray eyes, were lethal and dangerous. They swept across the crowd, taking in everything and everyone in a single glance, assessing, cataloging, and filing away.

He adjusted his sleeves, pulling the cuffs of his white shirt so they peeked out from beneath his jacket just so. The silver cufflinks caught the light, engraved with a symbol only a few would recognize.

Behind him, the other car doors opened. More men in suits emerged. They did not smile. They did not speak. They simply stood, watching everything with cold, expressionless gazes.

A group of university officials hurried toward Leo.

The dean led the way, a middle aged man with thinning hair and a wide, flattering smile. His hands were clasped in front of him, his posture slightly bent, as if he were bowing without actually bowing. Sweat glistened on his forehead, even though the evening was cool.

"Mr. Moretti!" the dean exclaimed, his voice loud and cheerful, a little too loud, a little too cheerful. "Thank you so much for coming! Your presence truly makes our college shine! We are honored, truly honored, to have you here tonight."