章 82: CHAPTER 82: Champagne And Kisses

　　The makeup artist, a woman with a dazzling smile and a name that I already struggled to recall, expertly dabbed a touch of highlighter along my cheekbones. I peered into the mirror, my reflection staring back at me with a mixture of surprise and delight. Gone was the slightly flustered woman who had entered the dressing room earlier.

　　In her place, a vision of elegance and confidence emerged, the makeup enhancing my natural features rather than masking them.

　　As the artist finished with a final flourish, my phone buzzed in my purse. Taking it out, I saw that it was a call from Via.

　　"Hey, Evie! What's up?" Via's voice crackled through the phone, a hint of impatience laced with her usual bubbly enthusiasm. "I was thinking of grabbing some dinner and maybe hitting that new karaoke bar downtown with some of our co-workers. You in?"