Page 59 of Tell Me Something

We walked out of the ladies’ room and over to a nearby table. On the way she snagged a glass of champagne.

“I don’t want to keep you from any mingling if you need to…” I hesitated, suddenly self-conscious because Catherine was put together and poised. And if she was in the fashion industry, time was probably valuable to her at functions like this.

But she waved a hand. “Please. I only came because I was in town for business. It was this or spending the night alone in my hotel room. And, well, I love dressing up.”

I studied her dress and its lines and the fact that she wore it impeccably. “Calvin Klein?”

She smiled. “Nice eye. It is Calvin Klein. God, I should hire you away from whoever you work for now. So tell me more about your collection.” She was sincere, down to earth, and a fresh breath of air compared to the kind of people I had expected to meet at a party like this.

“Well, I have several Chanel, Oleg Cassini, and Givenchy pieces. And then I have a few YSL, Pucci, Halston, DVF, and Ralph Lauren. Let’s see, what else... Oh, Balenciaga, Valentino, and Tahari.”

She looked impressed. “You seem so young. How did you amass such a wardrobe?”

“They were my mother and grandmother’s dresses. My mother was obsessed with Jackie Kennedy and Audrey Hepburn. She was the daughter of a governor in the South in the late 60s. She would love that I’m wearing the dresses and suits now for work and for parties like this.”

Catherine’s eyes suddenly looked sympathetic. “When did she pass?”

I sighed. She was very perceptive and easy to talk to. “Last year. Now that I’m working in New York, I finally have an occasion to wear a suit every day and use her purses and coats.”

“I’m in New York, too. So tell me, what’s your very favorite piece?”

That was an easy question. “The Valentino wedding dress. It’s simply exquisite, the type of dress that makes you sigh.”

“I’d love to see the collection—maybe what you think are the top ten pieces. For both personal and professional reasons, I’m truly interested. Maybe I could come by sometime? Not to invite myself, but I feel like I’ve found a kindred spirit. Plus, now that I’m divorced and out there dating again, I find that I need younger friends. The women in my age group are either married, divorced, busy with kids—or they’re so embittered they don’t want to go out at all. Jeez, I’m not coming off as too depressing and desperate, am I?”

I laughed and shook my head. “Not at all. As for coming by, well, I’m kind of crashing with friends currently. But I’d love to bring my dresses by your place. Anytime. As for the other, I don’t know anyone in New York aside from my boss and a couple of my coworkers. They’re all men, so it would be nice to have a female friend in the city.”

“Here’s my card.”

I glanced at the title and was momentarily stunned. “Fashion Editor for Cosmo Life?”

She smiled. “I’m still thinking of stealing you away from your current job. Any interest in fashion?”

It was tempting. “I like what I’m doing, especially with the travel, and my boss has been great about helping me relocate to New York. If I didn’t have plans for law school next year, I would definitely be interested. I love fashion.”

“Law school, wow. Well, then it works out better this way to be friends, don’t you think?”

I’d completely lost track of Josh and the fact that he was probably looking for me by now. As if on cue, my eyes caught his across the room. I watched his approach and was ready to introduce him, only to see his surprised expression when he noticed Catherine.

She wore the same look of recognition. “Hi, Josh. I knew you were traveling but had no idea you were in London.” Her eyes were wide and her face flushed. It was obvious she was interested in him. But then, how could a woman look at him and not be affected?

“Catherine, it’s good to see you. I didn’t know you were here, either.” He kissed her cheek in a familiar way.

“I had a fashion show to attend. Then of course I came here because it was the hot ticket of the evening. We need to do dinner again soon and catch up. It’s been a couple of weeks.”

My stomach knotted at the thought that they had a personal relationship, but the truth was I liked Catherine too much to be jealous.

“Oh, my, where are my manners? Josh, this is Haylee. Haylee, this is Josh Singer, a friend from New York.”

We both looked at her with surprise, and then Josh chuckled.

“Haylee is my assistant, Catherine. She’s helping Nigel out as he’s had to take some time off.” He scratched his chin. “Uh, how’s it that you two know each other?”

Now it was my turn to smile. “Ladies’ room, actually.”

Catherine laughed. “I’m trying to steal her away from you to come work for me. Obviously, I didn’t know it was you she worked for. But anyone who knows fashion like she does should work in the industry.”

He gave a slight smile. I couldn’t tell if he was more uncomfortable with my job offer or with the fact that Catherine and I had become fast friends. “Well, she sort of does work in fashion, at least on the side. Haylee did the Cassius Rum shoot.”