Chapter 1 IMPATIENT AND UNRULY CUSTOMERS
(Alden)
I flinched backwards as the sound of my resumé landing smack on the ground echoed in the otherwise silent office.
“Go someplace else kid, high fashion houses like this do not need low budget work like yours” The receptionist said while filing her nails, already dismissing me before I even got a chance to show her some of my designs.
" Pardon me ma'am, but if you could just take a look at my designs. You'd be pretty impressed” I muttered, trying to sound alot more confident than I felt.
" Do you want me to call security? I said. Get. Your. Low class budget work out of here! Now leave !!”
" But—"
“SECURITY!!" She screamed.
I didn't bother waiting to see what kind of large goons showed up to throw me out of the building. I packed up my design sketches and picked my resume from the ground.
" Thank you for your time ma'am”
" OUT!”
I hastened my steps simultaneously as two large men in black started walking towards me, they followed me till I was out the building then they slammed the door behind me.
I took in a breath, my entire body shaking with the weight of yet another rejection.
I was running out of fashion houses to apply for. And worst of all? I was running out of ways to live my dream.
" Alden, for Christ sake get a mop and clean up this place. Customers arrive in any minute.”
" Yes sir” I pulled the bucket of water and soap with my right hand and carried the mop with my left.
This had to be the fourth time I was mopping this area today but this job was the closest I was going to get to ever being around clothes or fashion, while being able to afford simple basic things—scratch that. Very few basic things.
I scrubbed the spotless ground with the mop, trying to take my mind of the interview I went for earlier.
That was supposed to my big break! Well every week I find an opening in the fashion business and every week I get rejected because I was of a lower class.
God! I was at least three months behind on rent and I was practically living from hand to mouth. I needed a fucking change.
“Alden, we have a customer. Hurry up over there and get that disgusting bucket and yourself out of sight.”
I nodded once again, finished the mopping and hauled the mop and the bucket to the back room.
" INCOMPETENT!! Why is everybody in this fucking store incompetent” a female voice tore through the room.
Male and female staff ran about at the sound of her voice, moving several pieces of clothing everywhere and about.
What was going on?
I worked in Levin. One of the best boutiques to walk into if you're looking for high class luxury fashion. They have clothes from huge brands all around the world.
It was my dream to design for them and maybe have my name on a shelf someday with a whole line of outfits but I could only land a job as a cleaner.
A very low respected cleaner, with a slightly less unfortunate salary, that barely made ends meet.
" How can this be all you have in store?? Are you on the way to bankruptcy?” The voice screamed again.
I hid behind a wall to get a better look at exactly what's going on.
It was very unusual for customers to cause such a ruckus. Especially mid-day like this.
Who was she?
I tried to take a peek, but flinched back immediately when my boss Zayn passed by in a blur. When I was sure he was gone, I took another peek.
My mouth practically hit the ground.
Veronica Solace!
As in the supermodel, And brand representative of Solace Empire? The biggest fashion house in almost 20 states?
What was THE Veronica doing here? I was such a huge fan. I could barely contain my excitement but I had to stay hidden.
My mind kept wondering why she would be here in this store, when her brother owned a very successful fashion company?
Surely she could get any high class luxury fashion item she wanted! Why come here?
I thought to myself.
“NO, NO, NO. THIS IS ALL WRONG." Her voice tore through the already tensed air again, making the employees flinch backwards with fear.
What the hell was going on over there?
" Madam, I assure you we are doing our best. I am very sorry what we have currently doesn't fit your tastes, maybe if—”
Zayn tried to calm her down but she barked again, interrupting him.
“I don't have time for this! Doesn't one person here know what they're doing? I was told this was the best boutique in the state, yet you don't live up to your name? You're a fraud! All of you are frauds!! And I'm not afraid to sue!”
Veronica spat out angrily while turning all the dresses the other employees handed to her.
Zayn looked like he could barely breathe and even from here I could see the invisible wave of panic wash all over him. And Zayn wasn't the type to panic, he was calm and composed and he knew his stuff and took pride in that.
But now he looked no different from me when I'm late on bills.
“No no ma'am, please you don't have to sue. We'll figure something out! You don't have to result to such far-fetched deeds” he spoke up, pleading with her.
She let out a huff and stormed towards another rack of clothing, very close to where I was hiding.
Damn it.
“You there!" Her voice called out.
Fuck, she saw me. Maybe she was referring to some other employee around me, maybe she hadn't seen me.
I thought to myself trying to convince myself of the otherwise obvious fact.
“Are you deaf? I'm speaking to you!" She barked out again even angrier than the last time.
Before I had a chance to react, Zayn reached me and pulled me out of hiding by the collar.
“Are you trying to get fired?"
I shook my head immediately, my eyes bouncing from him to a very angry looking Veronica.
" Good” Zayn muttered under his breathe, before pulling me towards Veronica and practically pushing me to the ground.
I scrambled to my feet immediately and regretted it almost instantly, Veronica stood In front of me. In all her gorgeous supermodel glory with her arm crossed starting intensely at me.
" What part of all hands on deck do you not understand?”
I gulped, words vanishing entirely from my mouth. I was astonished that THE Veronica solace was talking to me and judging by the look on her face, she probably was going to get me fired if I annoyed her any further.
" I'm…I'm sorry ma'am I—"
"I don't fucking care. Join everyone else and find me a dress. You have less than twenty minutes.”
She yelled at me, before continuing her search again.
“You all do!" She yelled out again, turning from me to face the other employees.
Employees who had stood by to watch what was going to happen between us instantly scrambled back to work.
What was happening?
