7. The New Elena

"You look like her."

"What?"

Nina blinked and instantly changed her expression. Elena could hear the mumbling even though it was soft. Her? Who is she?

"Let's eat first. You must be starving. Me too," Nina invited as she pulled Elena's arm out of the beauty parlor.

She winced at the pain in her legs as Nina walked quickly. But she wasn't going to protest. Somehow, she didn't want to make Nina who kept holding her hand angry.

They stopped at the food court and immediately ordered fast food. Nina even ordered two hamburgers and a pizza.

"Why are you eating that much?" Elena asked in surprise when their order came and the girl in front of her ate the burger with gusto.

She only ordered one burger and mineral water. Even then, she asked for more vegetables. Seeing how Nina devoured all that food with no effect on her weight made Elena envious.

She has always maintained her diet for fear of getting fat. Not for fear of looking unbeautiful, but for fear of getting diseases that are common to obese people.

She has to stay in shape so that her brain can concentrate easily to do the work that is piling up.

Remembering work makes her appetite suddenly disappear. Again, she has to be made aware of the fact that she is now unemployed. She even lives at the mercy of Jack, her bodyguard who is nowhere to be found.

"Try this. Us ladies will feel calmer if we take it out on food," Nina said as she thrust a slice of pizza at Elena.

For a moment, she just looked at the food. It was food she had never eaten before because she always ate healthy food prepared by Mia, her personal maid.

"Eating once won't make you sick. Come on, young lady. You're not in a position to choose your food right now."

Nina's words touched her heart. She was quite offended, but Nina was right. It was still fortunate that she could eat now when she didn't have a penny.

She hesitantly took a small bite of the pizza, anticipating the taste. She was afraid it would be too fatty and cause cholesterol. The first bite, she tasted a different flavor. Her eyes widened.

"See, right? You must like it too. It's a food that's loved by everyone," Nina said with a proud face as she watched Elena devour the slice of pizza.

"I didn't expect it to taste this good. No wonder Mia orders it so often," Elena said as she took the second piece.

Nina just shook her head and smiled at the behavior of the young lady before her. Elena's behavior reflected how the girl was born with a golden spoon in her mouth.

Even when enjoying a burger, Elena had to use a knife and fork, as if she was eating in a fancy restaurant where etiquette was required.

After they finished all the food, Nina dragged Elena back to the clothing stores. Several times, she chuckled when Elena chose formal, old-looking clothes.

"Nina, I'm not comfortable in these clothes," Elena whined when Nina picked out some casual-looking knee-length dresses.

"The old Elena is dead. It's time for the new Elena to dominate. You have to change if you want revenge on whoever framed you. Show that you're not as weak as you used to be."

Elena immediately shut up and stopped where she was, not caring about Nina who was still busy buying some clothes for her.

Is she really that weak? She was smart and risk-taking in the business world, but weak and foolish when it came to Lucas. She was even so naive that she was easily betrayed by her lover.

Why is she weak when it comes to love? Is it because she is too desperate, too in love with Lucas, her first love? Or was it because she was afraid that no man would want her other than Lucas?

For a long time, Elena had a crisis of confidence. She felt she wasn't very pretty and her body was thin. She was not attractive at all.

So when Lucas came to offer her love, she swallowed it whole. Feeling like she finally had a man who would accept her for who she was.

"Excuse me! Excuse me, Miss."

Elena blinked as a hand swung in front of her. She looked around and was surprised to realize that she was in front of the clothing store they had entered earlier. Since when did she get out of there?

A few mall visitors looked at her, making her heart race. Did they recognize her because of the photos? No, she was different now.

She never posted her pictures on social media, so no one knew what Elena Pierce looked like. The vulgar photos of her that are circulating look different from her current face. Maybe it was the expression on her face. Elena cursed inwardly.

"Miss, may I ask you something? Are you a model?"

Elena turned to the person who had been watching her. A man with thin sideburns and gray eyes. Probably about Jack's age. She didn't need to look up like she did when she saw Jack, because he was only a little taller than her.

"No, I'm not. I'm not a model. Why?"

"Oh, sorry. I thought you were a model. You're so well-proportioned that you're perfect for our new model. Are you interested?" The man gave his business card.

"Eh? But I..."

The man placed his business card forcibly in Elena's palm.

"Don't be afraid. I'm from a big and well-known agency. Your face can be the new icon of our agency. It looks fresh and elegant. Contact me if you're interested."

"Wait! I'm not..."

But the man had already passed and disappeared behind the crowd. She let out a long sigh. What had just happened? She turned around and gasped when she saw Nina who was smiling wryly as she looked at her.

"Now I know why Jack chose you."