Chapter 776 Walk Up To The Eighteenth Floor
Chapter 776 Walk Up To The Eighteenth Floor
With a couple of equipment in her hands and a heavy camera on her back, Michelle arrived at the main entrance of the building. Very few people came in and out, but her eyes immediately honed in on one person standing in the lobby.
That person caught sight of Michelle and came over.
"Are you Michelle?" Randi asked in an unfriendly tone.
From her voice, Michelle could tell that she was Randi, her contact person. She greeted the other woman with a smile, "Yes, I am. Nice to meet you, Randi."
But compared to how she spoke on the phone, Randi seemed different in person. Michelle had a feeling that Randi didn't like her, but she didn't know why.
Randi scanned her from head to toe.
'With her short black hair and baby face, it's hard to tell that she's twenty-five years old.
Her nose and mouth are so-so, but her eyes are big. Also, her skin looks smooth and creamy like milk.
In short, there's nothing special about her.
She is neither tall nor shapely. Her figure is not as good as Valerie's, let alone her temperament.
She looks very ordinary. How could a woman like this seduce Valerie's fiance?'
After giving Michelle the once-over, Randi said vaguely, "So-so."
Now, it was obvious that she was disliked. Michelle gave Randi a strange look before peering down at herself.
'What did she mean by that? Is it that I don't look like a photographer?
Or does she think that I'm not good at what I do?'
Randi held her gaze and remarked, "Michelle, you're a photographer who's working for Caroline's studio, so I thought that you'd be very good. But I went online just now and realized that you haven't posted any photos."
When she heard that, Michelle thought that the other woman was doubting her capabilities as a photographer.
But that was hardly Randi's fault. After all, Michelle didn't have a proper portfolio yet.
She was still a newcomer in the industry. She wasn't surprised if people doubted her skill.
So she was determined to give every opportunity her best and to shoot excellent photos. She was going to exceed her customers' expectations and make a name for herself.
'Go for it!'
Michelle told herself encouragingly.
Thinking that that was the reason why Randi was being unfriendly, she just smiled politely in return.
When she smiled, it made her seem so pure. Her smile usually had a good effect on people. It made her look approachable and trustworthy.
Stunned after being graced with a smile like that, Randi frowned in confusion.
'What's the matter with her? How can she smile so freely, as if she doesn't care what other people have to say?'
Michelle asked, "Did you come down to meet me? Thank you. Now, let's go upstairs. Which floor are we going to?"
Still looking at her as if she was odd, Randi coolly replied, "The eighteenth floor."
"Okay, let's go. Where's the elevator?" Michelle looked over the other woman's shoulder and quickly found the elevator. Text © by N0ve/lDrama.Org.
"The elevator does not work," Randi lied with a straight face. "We can only get to the venue by stairs. It's right this way."
Michelle was surprised, but she still followed after her. "Why does the elevator not work?"
"I don't know," Randi answered dismissively and led her to the emergency staircase. "Remember: it's on the eighteenth floor. You can take your time while going up the stairs."
As she looked up at the many levels she would have to go through, Michelle gulped audibly and thought, 'The eighteenth floor? I have to carry my camera and equipment up to the eighteenth floor?'
Even without her gear, she couldn't walk all the way up there.
That would be too exhausting.
But she never suspected Randi at all. She snuck another glance up the concrete stairway and tried asking, "Is someone coming to fix the elevator? It will take me forever to get to the eighteenth floor. What if I just wait for the repairman?"
"I just called to ask, but I don't know when that person will come. It might take a long time so it's better to just take the stairs," Randi said a little impatiently.
"Hurry up. Valerie and her companions are waiting for you so don't waste their time."
Michelle thought that was reasonable and that the photo shoot was important so she started her arduous climb.
"Ah. I won't be going with you. I forgot that I have something else to do." Randi excused herself and walked away. But she didn't go far. She waited for some time to pass before going back to the stairwell.
Craning her neck, she snuck a glance to see that Michelle had at least made it to the second floor.
Randi hadn't expected Michelle to be so gullible. 'She's pretty stupid. How is someone like her able to seduce another woman's fiance?
Do men find that kind of stupidity charming?
No, she must be faking it. People might initially think of her as a nice girl, but she's actually a bitch.
Otherwise, why would she refer to Leon as her brother?
She just wants to seduce the guy by doing that!'
"Shame on her!" Randi muttered as she walked leisurely to the elevator. She bent down and quickly removed the two warning signs she had placed just before Michelle arrived.
It took a lot of effort to get those signs, but in the end, they were not needed.
Randi took the elevator and soon reached the eighteenth floor while Michelle continued to go up the stairs.
As she went from one floor to another, Michelle could barely keep herself upright. Her head lolled from her shoulders.
Valerie's makeup was done. She had changed into a dress and dancing shoes, but the photographer was still nowhere to be seen.
Randi whispered into her ear, "I told Michelle that the elevator did not work and that she could only take the stairs. She must still be going up the stairs, but I don't know which floor she's on right now."
Valerie looked up in surprise, but a smile started to bloom on her face. She side-eyed the woman standing next to her. She hadn't known that Randi was capable of such petty mischief.
'It will take her a long time to get to the eighteenth floor. She would be exhausted by the time she makes it here.'
Feeling much better, Valerie curled up her lips.
But as quickly as it appeared, her smile faded into a frown. She pretended to be worried and pulled Randi out into the corridor.
With no one else around to hear them, she said, "Randi, how could you...?" She looked as if she wanted to scold the girl but didn't have the heart to do so. With a sigh, she asked instead, "Did you do this for me?"
Randi scoffed, "She deserves that and more for being a home-wrecker!"
"What if she finds out that you lied to her? Aren't you afraid of getting into trouble?" Valerie asked with a tender look. "Never mind. She's already on her way. If or when she discovers what you've done, just tell her that I put you up to it."
Valerie made it seem as if she wanted to take responsibility for Randi's prank, but she knew the girl wouldn't let her do so. Randi's sense of righteousness made her too proud to let others take the fall for her actions.
If they had been in ancient times, Randi would have been a hot-headed warrior with a strong sense of justice, always ready to help the weak.
However, that kind of fighter was also easily provoked with just a few words and would turn their sword on others.
Although Valerie looked concerned, she was actually looking forward to what Randi would say next.
As expected, Randi asserted, "What I did has nothing to do with you, Valerie. Just act like you know nothing. I'll seek revenge in your stead."
"Thank you, Randi," Valerie replied. A little excitement seeped into her tone. "I really appreciate your kindness. But don't make things difficult for her when she gets here. It's not a crime to like someone."
"Yes, it's not crime to like someone, but Leon is your fiance. She should know better and keep her distance, but she hasn't done that. What a shameless hussy!" Randi huffed in discontent.
Half an hour passed but Michelle remained nowhere to be seen. The person-in-charge spoke with Randi several times, asking her to call the photographer immediately.
Randi went out and pretended to make a phone call, but she went to the emergency staircase to watch out for Michelle. When she looked down, she caught a glimpse of a fair-skinned hand gripping one of the railings.
Michelle was only two floors down.
Seeing that the photographer looked so tired, Randi clapped her hands and grinned in delight.