"We need to fix this. Call the vendor. See if we can expedite it."
"I already called. Earliest delivery is seven days."
"The opening is in five."
My head pounded. I pressed my fingers to my temples. Four hours of sleep. A transatlantic flight. And now this.
"There has to be another option. Other vendors. Rentals. Something."
"I'll start making calls."
"I will, too. We'll split the list." I grabbed my phone. "Just keep me updated."
I stepped outside, found a quiet corner of the street, and called Femi.
It rang. And rang. Voicemail.
I tried again. Same result.
I went back inside and spent the next three hours on the phone. Dead ends. Vendors who couldn't deliver in time. Rental companies that didn't have what I needed.
My phone finally buzzed. Femi.
"Issy. Sorry, I missed you. I was in a meeting. Everything alright?"
"No." I took a breath, tried to keep my voice steady. "The mannequins aren't here. The order was never finalized. The opening is in five days and I have nowhere to display my clothes."
"What? How did that happen?"
"A missing form. Something I should have signed."
“What? Issy… that’s the first thing you should have done. Have you called the vendor?"
"Yes."
"What did they say?"
"Seven days for delivery."
"That's too late. You need to find alternatives. Other suppliers, rental companies—have Meg pull a list, prioritize by proximity, check reviews?—"
I felt my mind start to fog over. I'd been doing this for hours. I didn't call for a strategy session. I called because I was tired and overwhelmed and needed someone to say it would be okay.
I wanted comfort, not a lecture.
"—and make sure to get everything in writing this time. You can't afford another miscommunication."
I closed my eyes. My head was pounding.
"Isabelle? Are you there?"
"Yes." My voice came out flat. "I have to go. I'll call you later."
I hung up before he could say anything else.
For a moment, I just stood there. Breathing. Then I went back inside. Meg was on the phone, speaking rapid Italian. She looked up when I entered, covered the mouthpiece. "There's a company in Florence. But they won't take phone orders. Someone needs to go in person."
I could go. Sort this out. Be back tonight. "Give me the address."
