The next day was a blur as Ellie began her next project, which was another outfit for Emmy. 

She had noticed that most of Gerard's outfits had already been designed, so she focused on her gowns instead. 

When Ellie had explained it to Joel, he had understood the situation and was fine with her working on Emmy's costumes, so there she was, making what she hoped would be another masterpiece. 

She began to sew the skirt part of the outfit when she heard an insistent knock on the door. 

Confused, Ellie opened it and was met with an unfamiliar face.

It was a young woman, probably in her mid-20s, with platinum-blond hair and full, red lips. She had striking green eyes, and her body was as slender as a railroad track. 

Her features were beautiful for sure, and Ellie imagined her walking down the Hollywood Boulevard with men drooling at her feet.

"Hello," she drawled out slowly, her brows furrowed. "How may I help you?"

"Hi!" the other woman greeted in a heavy British accent. "I'm afraid we haven't met before. My name's Charlotte Banks, and I'm one of the fellow costume designers."

Ellie's eyes widened. 

She was one of the costume designers? 

She looked like she could've been a super-model on the cover of Vogue magazine, and someone who hadn't worked a day in her life.

"Oh. It's nice to meet you," Ellie said, extending her hand for Charlotte to shake, but she ignored her and pushed past without an invitation.

How rude, she thought to herself, but she kept her composure calm and watched her as she checked out the pink skirt lying on the sewing table.

"This is lovely," Charlotte stated, running her hand along it. "Who is this for?"

"Ms. Rossum," Ellie replied. "It'll be main outfit during the 'Masquerade' scene."

She glanced up at her, confused. 

"I'm sorry, but did you say this is for the 'Masquerade' scene?"

She nodded. 

"Yes. Why?"

Charlotte stood up to full height and said, "Joel already assigned me to that job, Ms. Parker. There's an outfit waiting for her that I'm going to present an hour from now."

Ellie was struck by two things: one, how did she know her name when she hadn't even introduced herself to her, and two, why had Joel given Charlotte the same job as her? 

It must've been a mix-up.

"I think there's been a misunderstanding, Ms. Banks," Ellie said as patiently as possible. "He gave me this job when I came here a few days ago."

Charlotte squinted her green eyes at her, almost as if she were looking for something that Ellie didn't have in her. 

Then, she stated quietly, "I'll have to talk to Joel about this." 

With a flip of her hair, she walked toward her, looked Ellie over from head to toe, and said, "You sure don't look like you belong here."

Her mouth dropped open. 

Was she serious? 

The disbelief on Ellie's face showed in her tone when she asked, "There's a look?"

She nodded. 

"Of course. In this business, you have to look like me in order to get what you want."

Ellie raised an eyebrow. 

"I don't think that's how it works, Ms. Banks. You have to work hard in order to reach your dreams."

"Well, you were certainly raised wrong, weren't you?" Charlotte scoffed. "I actually feel pity for you." 

She then turned on her heel and walked out, leaving her stunned, confused, and angry.

She hadn't understood why Joel had given them the same jobs for Emmy when he had specifically given it to her. 

He had said so himself.

Ellie's hands were clenched in fists so tightly that she thought she was going to cut her palms open with her nails. 

What am I supposed to do it? she thought in distress. I can't tell Joel that one of our designers is a snake. He'd never believe me.

Then, a lightbulb went off in her head. 

The room across from the sound stage.

Ellie quickly packed her materials up, stuffed the skirt safely away, then ran to her destination.