“I recall including in the contract that we would be starting the Monday after it’s signed,” my eyes closed involuntarily as I realized he was right, and it was my mistake, “I would be more than happy to come back later if you aren’t ready,” he took a step forward and reduced his voice a little, “Although it would be a chore for my crew considering that they came all this way and you aren’t even prepared.”
I shot him a glare and he just responded with a very subtle shrug and a quirk of his lips.
“Please,” I turned to his crew, “Come in, you can start setting up or whatever it is that you need to do.” I gestured towards Marissa, “This is my assistant Marissa, and she will help you with whatever you need. If you have any questions or need to talk to me, then find her.”
They left to begin their setup and Marissa went with them, presumably to help with anything they might need.
I turned to leave and a girl ran up to me. I think her name is Hannah and she is a seamstress; she was hired less than a year ago. I may not know all my employees by name, but I make sure to try and know everyone who works in this building with me.
She cleared her throat and I saw her clutching a piece of paper in her hand.
“I am so sorry to bother you,” she began, “And I know you’ve gotten all the sketches you need from the artists, and I’m not an artist, but I was hoping you would look at my design. I know it will probably not be up to par but-,”
“If you know it’s not good then why are you giving it to me?” I asked and her face fell, “Listen, if you’re going to hate on your own work, then you don’t need my advice; you’ve already given yourself every reason to think your work isn’t good so no matter what I say, you will believe that. I don’t hire idiots Hannah; you need to believe that.”
“I know,” she cleared her throat, “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize to me, apologize to yourself for everything you just said. When you start believing in yourself; I will be more than happy to look at your sketch.”
I started to leave but she stepped in my way, “I sketched something that I am positive you will like; will you look at it?”
Her hands were still trembling and she looked just about ready to pass out but what matters is that she took a chance. I held out my hand and she dropped the sketch in it.
“I’ll look at it and Marissa will get back to you.”
“Thank you,” she let out a relieved sigh and ran off.
It was after she left that I felt eyes on me, I turned and saw Nathan staring at me with a blank expression but an unreadable look in his eyes. The intensity of his gaze put me on edge; I could feel his gaze on my skin and it made the hair at the back of my neck stand on edge.
“Can I help you with something?” I asked finally.
He didn’t respond immediately, only took a few steps until he was standing in front of me. Somehow I knew he was going to say something to piss me off so I refused to look away from him. I’m the one supposed to unsettle him, not the other way around.
“Are all your employees terrified of you?” I called it.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I attempted to shrug it off and walk away but his voice stopped me.
“She looked just about ready to crap her pants,” he deadpanned, “And all she wanted to do was hand you a sketch.”
“It’s not just a sketch, Mr. Cowe; this is my entire business and she knows that. Everyone is terrified to let someone else see their work and criticize it.” I looked him square in the eye, “You should know that too considering you were also rejected by a million different journalism firms before you started.”
He hummed in amusement, “You did your research.”
“Unlike some people, I took business 101.”
The corner of his lips lifted and he gave me a look that was clear ‘touché’. He opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by the click clacking of heels. Marissa walked in and immediately made her way to me.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” she looked at Nathan warily and I knew then that he unsettled her so I gestured for her to follow me.
When we were a good distance away from him, I turned to her. “You have a call with Mr. Winston in five minutes; you asked me to remind you.”
It had completely slipped my mind, had she not reminded me, I would have missed it. “Thank you,” I told her, “Please keep Mr. Cowe and his crew company until I’m done.”
_________________
The call didn’t take as long as I expected it to take. Left to Mr. Winston, I would have been talking with him for hours but I had work to do and made sure to cut the conversation as short as possible.
He wanted to let me know that he got the email, and he loved the outfits but didn’t understand the theme we were going with. I had to explain that we were going with a mix of the Renaissance fashion and the typical modern fashion. He still didn’t understand but seeing that he trusted my choices, he let it go.
