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“It’s my dream…St. La Vie.” I mustered, saying his name without sounding like a gushing fan.
There was something about his accent, about his scruff and candor that made me as steady as glue. I blamed it on his eyebrows, thick, black arrows that were likely formed from years of contemplative thoughts and fashion conundrums. He was intimidating in the best fucking way.
“Just call me Henri,” he corrected. “And everything I do is for me. It’s not nice to hear, but it’s true. This included. Well… sort of,” he flicked his cigarette. “When I heard Alex Rivers was getting a suit created, I was excited… that is, until I wasn’t. You could imagine how disappointed I was… seeing how I personally reached out to him myself. I figured I should’ve at least been considered. So I reached out again, and what did I hear? Your name, of course, Gemma Rose Harrison, a person—who for some reason—equaled the end of my single opportunity to design for Alex.”
“It made him a bit restless,” Dean confirmed, but Henri shot a pensive look. It was weird to hear my full name leave Henri’s mouth, but it was even more weird to imagine that I’d beaten him to an opportunity. Henri didn’t seem to like this narrative.
“I was insistent on designing for Alex Rivers,” he corrected, “but felt a little displaced to be honest. He’s such an icon, so ahead of his time, and sure his actions are unconventional, but I consider them avant-garde,” he shrugged. “But even men like Alex Rivers can be bought. I knew I could have him, but I wasn’t sure of the cost.”
“He doesn’t do things for money,” I said, looking at the book in Henri’s hands.
He appeared disappointed.
“He certainly does not. Can you guess what his price was?”
Right away, my name popped into my mind, but I’d never let that answer leave my lips.
“I don’t know,” I said, avoiding the possibility of ever sounding vain.
“I’m looking at it.” He pointed the book right to my face.
“And he gave you my designs?”
“It would appear so, but make no mistake, Gemma, what I’m about to offer you stems only from a favor. I have promised Alex Rivers I’d give you a chance to work with me, in exchange for his time in the future… and I certainly plan on cashing that inverysoon.”
I tried to shrink myself, my toes curling from the sudden attention. I looked back at my designs, recalling the only moment that Alejandro had an opportunity to take them. I caught him sitting at my desk, the night we set off the fire alarm. He must have stolen them then, just for me, a complete surprise. But was this what I wanted? A favor?
“I don’t want to be anyone’s charity.” I finally admitted, feeling unsure about the whole deal. It felt cheap, like there was nothing to earn.
“I don’t do charity. I give opportunities. When a Miss Castillo dropped off your portfolio, I had my doubts about what I had agreed to, but I’m not too sure about that now.” His weary mood flashed for a moment as he leaned into his chair, crossing one leg over the other. He seemed to be so confused by me, as if I were the first bite of a new meal, his pallet deciphering the flavors into either bitter or sweet. “You have talent, Gemma, but it’s unharnessed. You need help, you need guidance, and I can provide that for you.”
“I had no idea he did this for me,” I said to myself.
“Well, I’m happy he did. And if that wasn’t confirmation enough, then the approval from my design assistant sent it over the edge,” he smashed out his cigarette flipping through the mail he brought. “Do you know a Miss Dana Myers?” he asked, the name completely shocking me.
“Dana?” I leaned across the desk, startling Dean. “As inmyDana from FIT?” I asked, stunned to hear the name of my old college best friend, my personal relationship coach from the night I told Parker I loved him. I immediately took a sip of my wine. “She’s not even in New York anymore! I haven’t heard from her in years.” We lost touch after graduation, her trip around the world not starting with Paris, but the UK, working with Sarah Burton at the Alexander McQueen headquarters. Time and distance were never kind to us, but there was never any hard feelings, just warm regards.
“That’s right. She’s been in our Paris location for quite some time now. But I’m planning on relocating her back to New York… that is, of course, pending your agreement to what I’m about to ask.” He made eyes at Dean, who nervously smiled. “Listen carefully, because I don’t like repeating myself, and I certainly don’t like asking twice—so I won’t do either—but you have a chance to do something here. I’m working on a project, something outside of fall fashion week that you can be involved with.”
“In what way?” I asked, nervous by how serious he looked at me.
He pointed his finger like I was a child, highlighting the importance of my attentiveness. “It’s a chance to earn my endorsement, to get your feet wet with the crowd, designing and learning how to fix your mistakes. It’s a paid position, full benefits and salary… mind you, you’ll be spending lots of time here, working with me in this very building.”
“The one you share with New York Prestige?” I thought of the obvious person I could run into if I accepted the offer. What would that look like? Sharing a space with the woman who hated me again, Camilla?
Henri reached for a small booklet, opening it up. “Don’t answer just yet. I don’t need impulsiveness, I need certainty. Take a few days and think about it,” he ran his finger down the list of a page then looked at Dean. “Let’s pencil in a future meeting, but get our front office to at least begin the paperwork for Gemma. That way if she decides to stay, we can move ahead, and quickly.”
“I appreciate that,” I replied, perplexed as to what I was offered. “This just feels like a really,reallybig deal. Even sitting here is odd in itself. And all you’ve seen are my drawings. Is this a good idea?”
Henri nodded slowly. “Maybe not, it’s a risk, but that’s how you get great rewards. Sure, it could go horribly wrong, but I’ve already accepted that, and you’ll need to do the same. Besides, Alex Rivers clearly saw something in you… that must count for something,” he assured.
“Ok,” I nodded hesitantly. “I appreciate the time to consider this.”
“Don’t thank me yet. You still have to choose. We all get a little time in life to make our choices, but, at some point, a decision has to be made, and once we do, it can make all the difference in our world.”
I agreed quietly, surprised by another chime of my phone. I looked down again, faced with an equal predicament that finally appeared.
“Is it the person you hoped to hear from?” Dean asked as I slowly faked a smile.
