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“That would be disorienting.”
“In what way Miss Banner?”
“I think a person might feel deceived by the promise of the first impression. The inside should not be a rude shock, but an invitation to constant discovery.”
“You have the words Miss Brooke, let’s see if you have the skill.” He presses a button on the intercom on his desk. “Pricilla, could you take a look at a prototype, we need your eye on this please.”
The intercom speaker crackles with her voice.
“On my way Mr. Knight.”
Ethan Knight walks around the desk and then leaning against it, puts one hand in his pant pocket, elegantly slanting his lean body. “We are not just selling handbags; we are selling a good time.”
“I am sure you know all about that.”
Jessica turns to give me a look, while Jake nods at Ethan Knight hoping that his affability will somehow smoothen the awkwardness of our exchange.
“Ah, the whole team is here,” says Pricilla entering the office. She has a small kit bag with her that she places on the desk, opening it to reveal a flashlight, scissor, ruler, and a magnifying glass.
“Team if Pricilla has been in the business for 25 years,” says Ethan Knight, keeping his eyes on me. “If there are mistakes or low-quality work,” she will find it.
“Oh, don’t let him make you nervous, I am just an observer.”
I can see Jake and Jessica looking at each other anxiously. I must admit I want to meet her standards. She brings out the magnifying glass and runs it across the seams of the bag.
“Triple stitching, so far unwavering, love that turn you make at a right angle…”
Ethan Knight is studying my face. I try not to look back at him.
Pricilla continues with her test, taking out the thinnest scissors I have ever seen. She inserts the scissor between the threading and tugs gently at first and then with more effort.
“Sturdy without causing those annoying dimples. Hand stitching is superb.”
Jessica cannot contain herself. “She is so good, our Brooke, you know what I mean…”
Her cute and spontaneous cheering, along with her verbal tic, brings a smile to my face. My smile lets out a giggle. Ethan Knight however, the freak that he is continues to watch me without expression.
Is he disappointed that I am good? What kind of maniac rewards excellence with a stern expression like that?
Pricilla turns the handbag upside down and shakes it.
“What are you doing,” asks Jessica.
Pricilla continues to shake the bag as if trying to make everything in it fall out.
“There is nothing in the bag,” says Jake trying to help.
“I know that” says Pricilla, and then she gives me a smile. “I am just trying to see if the inside silk material will fall out sloppily or if the designer has done something clever. Ooh there I see it, a bronze button right in the middle bottom that’s holding the inside material in place.
I think Jessica wants to hug me going by the smile of admiration and pride she has on her face.
Ethan Knight is not as complimentary. “Care to speak to that extra button Miss Banner?”
By now I am in my zone.
“That button is not extra Mr. Knight. It serves the purpose of keeping the inside materials pinned down, and secondly…that button is hollow.”
“Hollow?” he says watching me as I walk over to the bag.
