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I finished off my coffee and we both went back to our projects.
The creative zone had me humming, and I loved the feeling of the fabric between my fingers. It wasn’t until my phone buzzed that I realized how much time had passed. Oh, no! I’m ten minutes late!
I took a deep breath to calm my pulse and answered the call from Ms. Crane. “Hello. Sorry. I’m on my way.”
“Don’t rush. I’m here but speaking with a friend.” Her tone was light.
“Okay. Great. Thank you.” I hung up and packed up my bag, including the dress Tomas wanted me to alter, then stopped at the bathroom for a quick brush of my hair and to change into one of my floral-printed dresses instead of the one inspired by Kusama’s art because it was something I now had to improve for Tomas. Paul loved the dress, and in a way, it made me feel like he was here. I can do this.
Walking out into the lobby, I spotted Ms. Crane ahead. She had on a button-down shirt with a colorful Hermes silk scarf around her long neck and dark slacks. Her usual bobbed hair was pulled into a chignon, and she had a flawless elegance about her. She wasn’t just chatting with a friend in the lobby; she was chatting with Nari Min, one of the most sought-after actresses in the world after her show-stopping performance in The Offering. While we often saw celebrities at Givenchy, this one had me fan-girling inside. Xander and I watched every movie she’s made. She always played a strong-female lead, and every time I watched her, I admired the depth she brought to every character she portrayed.
Dani’s head turned my way as I slowly approached, and she gestured for me to come forward. “Nari, this is Nadia. She’s a new designer at Givenchy.”
“I’m an intern,” I added and smiled, shaking her and Dani’s hand. I didn’t want to give either one of them an inflated idea of the level I was at the fashion house.
“Interning at Givenchy is no easy feat,” Nari said, and Dani nodded in agreement.
“That’s exactly what I think, Nari. Nadia’s modest. Let me tell you what she’s too shy to say. In only her first year, she was a standout. Dior and Chanel Creative Director and Ex-Vogue Editor Naomi Elan was impressed, and she is never impressed. She and the team awarded Nadia best of year. Her gown walked at Bryant Park, and now she’s here. She was even a part of the Givenchy show in Paris.”
Nari nodded and smiled broadly. “I know, Dani.” Nari turned toward me. “I recognized you the second you walked out. I was at the Givenchy Paris show. You looked beautiful; the dress was stunning.”
“Thank you, Ms. Min. I’m so happy you liked the dress.”
“It’s Nari. You think I only liked it?” Nari laughed. “I loved the dress. I’m here to demand Hayden and Tomas show me it again.”
I gaped at their praises. Ms. Crane knew more about me than I had known. And Nari saw me there! This was too much. “Thank you, Ms. Crane, for all your kind words.”
She squeezed my shoulder. “Call me Dani.”
I trembled. “Thank you both. The dress and my coming up on stage came together as a surprise. Tomas and Hayden are definitely the top designers in the world. Their design and vision are what you saw, and I’m honored to have been given the privilege, and even more humble to be an intern at this prestigious house.”
“You can relax, Nadia.” Nari tilted her head toward Dani. “She could use an evening of yoga and meditation.”
“I will definitely recommend it,” Dani murmured.
“I’m sorry. I’m not usually like this. I’ve watched all your movies. I’m a big fan of your work,” I gushed and could have kicked myself.
“I’d like to see more of your work. Maybe I can have your card?” Nari asked.
My shock struck as a pounding pulse, and I almost dropped my bag. I found a card and held it out, my hand shaking. She put it in her purse, then clasped my hands. “You are lovely. I’m happy to meet you, and I hope to see you again.” She made eye contact with me, and her steadiness and warmth calmed me.
I beamed at her. “Thank you, Nari,. I’m happy to meet you, too.”
Tomas arrived and greeted Dani and Nari. “You’ve met our Nadia.”
“Yes, and I’ve told her I must see the dress.” Tomas gave me a, ‘see, we were right’ look. “Nice to see you again, Dani. You keep giving public speeches at awards; you must come back here.”
“Of course,” Dani said. Tomas kissed her cheek, then linked arms with Nari, and they walked off towards his office.
“Thank you so much for that,” I told her.
She smiled broadly. “You’re welcome. Nari deserves her hard work paying off. I’m so happy for her.” She motioned toward the door. “Ready?”
I wasn’t sure how ready I would be for this conversation. So far, Dani had surprised me with her kindness. Meeting Nari was an honor I’d never forget. However, this was about her son, and she hadn’t mentioned to Nari that I was with him. She also knew every dark secret in my family. But that burst of confidence given to me by Dani and Nari wasn’t by chance. I held my head high as I followed Dani out the door.
Dani had her own car. It was an electric Audi that was parked in a space six blocks away. We settled in the seats, and she pulled off the curb, and almost instantly fell into conversation about Paris.
“I believe I first came here when I was…three.” Dani let out a laugh. “Now, that was a long time ago, but I love it here. It’s a home away from home.”
