A few minutes later he was done...
“Okay..., just a few more touches aaaaaaaaaannnnd... Done!” James announced. Thelma was amazed by his speed, it hadn't even reached ten minutes and he was done changing her look 'he must be a hotcake in the industry' she thought. If it were to be her, the whole day would have to be used to put on some foundation and mascara.
Thelma was nervous about the event and the whole Ava thing, but she was more nervous about her new look and hesitated to look into the mirror.
"What? Don't you want to know how you look?" James asked with a slight frown.
"I do, I'm just... nervous. I don't know what to expect." She let out a nervous laugh.
"Baby girl, you look just fine."
"Really? Are you telling me to make me feel better?"
"It's your face girl, you won't know unless you look into the mirror." He said and slowly turned the chair around so she was looking into the mirror. "I know I did a good job and you are going to love your new look."
Thelma shut her eyes nervously and then slowly opened them to see her new look, but instead saw a different person staring back at her. James had a proud smirk as he watched her shocked expression. He knew she loved it and she wasn't expecting the result to be that perfect. 
Thelma could not believe the woman staring back at her. She looked so different she doubted Ella would recognize her.
“So… what do you think?” James asked.
“Exotic! I-I-I I'm speechless right now.” She exclaimed in a breathy voice.
"I knew you were going to love it." 
She smiled brightly and looked back at him. “Thank you so much, I love it.” Thelma said and he smirked.
“You are welcome. It is a great pleasure to display my talent on beautiful models. As much as I want to show you a collection of my costumes and awards, it’s time for you to get dressed.” He said and her eyes went wide.
“Are you going to dress me?” She squeaked uncomfortably.
“No, no, no, no, that will be a defilement to my eyes and my mind will go mad by the thought. I am not getting you dressed, you have personal stylists who will do that, and don't worry they are straight. I can see the nervousness in your eyes, you are thinking who could it be? Relax and take deep breaths because she is a woman, and so is her team of stylists. I understand how people like you feel towards things like getting dressed by someone you don't know.” James expressed without putting a pause in every sentence, he was like a talking machine.
“Phew! That settles it then, I have nothing to worry about."
"Definitely!"
"Thank you again for the makeover."
“You’re welcome. Here, call me anytime you need a makeover or some touchups." He handed her a colorful business card. "Wait here, she will join you in a few minutes.” James informs her and packs his makeup and decorative tools. He organized each tool into a box and left Thelma alone in the room.
It was now quiet and a little dim in the room as Thelma waited for the stylist. She moved around a bit and stopped to check her face on the dresser mirror. 'he did an amazing job' she praised James' work while carefully touching her face to admire his skillful hands. The tastefulness of the beauty on her face took her attention and she did not know when the stylist entered.
“I see you have already fallen in love with James’s work.” A woman spoke and poor Thelma nearly jolted out of her skin. 
"Jesus Christ!" Thelma exclaimed and spun around to see a woman in her mid thirty’s wearing a pair of black trousers and a maroon blouse. Thelma assumed she was the stylist James told her about. 
“I am sorry, did I scare you?”
“Yeah… a bit but I am fine now.”
“I'm sorry, I did not mean to scare you. I thought you must have seen me from the mirror.”
“It’s okay, I didn’t know someone was standing behind me, I should have been sensitive.” Thelma stood straight and waited for the woman to speak.
“You must be Thelma right?” She asked and Thelma nods. “Nice to meet you. My name is Alicia I am going to be your stylist for tonight.”
Thelma didn't expect a night event could feel so pleasant. First, a free makeover and now a free personal stylist to help her get the right dress. She felt honored to be given this rare opportunity even when it all ends today. It will be the first time in five years she had to do something different.
“Hi Alicia it is also nice to meet you.“ Thelma answered with a small voice and stayed quiet. 
"Great! It's time to get to work. I will need you to wear the first thing I pick."
Thelma watched Alicia walk through the line of cloth racks looking for the perfect outfit to match her new look and stand out from the other guests. 
"We are out of time, and the party starts soon. I apologize but you won't get the chance to pick what you want to wear or go through all the dresses I planned out for you. It means you have to wear what I pick, I hope you understand." Alicia explained and grabbed a hanger holding a deep red dress having beautiful shining designs from the shoulder down to the hips. 
"It's alright, as long as I don't look like a slut." Thelma hints her.
“Funny- here, put this on, but hurry.” She said and pulled Thelma to the dressing room and closed the curtains behind her.
Thlema was a little unsure of the dress Alicia gave her, the color did not sit well with her and the dress looked a little short but Alicia wasn't going to hear her protest.
"What if I need help?" Thelma asked.
"I will be out here."
"What if it doesn't fit?"
"It will, now got in, go get dressed." Alicia commands her.
Continued in the next chapter.