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By the time I get home I am beat, which was the plan. Without changing, I crash into bed. As soon as my head hits the pillow, images of Paige start playing in my mind. As I drift off to sleep I know I am in trouble.
3
PAIGE
It’s been three days since my meeting with Travis and Jasmine. Travis has kept his distance. I don’t think he’s even been in the building since then. Which is ridiculous, considering I had to give up my office because his people insisted that he needed a place to work out of when he was in the building.
So now I am in a smaller office down the hall from my old one. I’m in the middle of a team meeting with my design team, reviewing their sketches for the coming season when a knock sounds from the door.
Travis’s head pops in. “Ms. DeLisle, I was wondering if we could have a moment.”
I stand up from where I am perched on my desk and nod to the people in the room. They all start filing out as Travis walks in.
Once the door closes behind him, he points at an easel holding a sketch of one of my most recent designs, “That’s beautiful.”
I’m so entranced by the way he moves with such confidentease that it takes me a moment before I gather myself and say, “Thank you.”
With one hand in his pocket, he moves the other to his face and with long and nimble fingers scratches at his stubble. I am distracted by the gesture. However, I wake back up at the next thing he says. “But it’s not exactly what we had discussed.”
“I’m sorry, but our last meeting wasn’t a discussion. You barked orders at me and then ran out.”
“First of all, I didn’t run out of anywhere, and secondly, I did not bark at you. I simply communicated how I want one of my companies to move forward.”
I’m about to sayDeLisleisn’t his company when I remember that it is. So I bite my tongue. “Listen,DeLislenow belongs to you. You’re the boss. I get it. However, I am the design professional here. I am the one who understands this industry. I know you own many companies, but as far as I know,DeLisleis the only high fashion brand you’ve ever acquired. Things don’t work here like they do in any of your other companies. The sooner you realize that the better.”
He sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose.
“I can appreciate that you are more knowledgeable than I am when it comes to fashion and fashion design. However, the things I know about business, you do not even know that you don’t know them. I have been doing this since before you were born. Bottom line, to ensure longevity, this business needs to find a way to bring in way more money than it already does. I know that this brand is very popular, but publicity is not good if we do not have merchandise to move.”
God, I hate it when people talk down to me.
I flex my jaw before I say, “I’m not an idiot. I know the point of every business is to generate revenue,but we also have to be cognizant of what has brought us to where we are today. We can’t abandon our blueprint for a cash grab. It’s like asking Lamborghini to make a minivan that would appeal to soccer moms. They won’t buy it and the brand will be diminished for having tried.”
“I do not think you are an idiot. I just think you’re being way more stubborn about this than is necessary. I heard that you are a genius when it comes to fashion design. I think if you wanted to, you could find a way to do what I’m asking you to do while staying true to your fashion principles.”
I open my mouth to respond, but no words come out because… he’s kind of right. It won’t be ideal and is definitely not the vision I had for the business, but I could come up with some ideas.
“Anyway, I have a few meetings in the city,” he says. “While I’m away, just think about it.” He turns around and walks out.
I go sit at my desk and shift the fabric swatches, sketch pads, pencils and documents out of the way so I can put my head down and breathe. I am only pulled back to the present when my door opens and my team streams back inside.
I sit back up and once everyone has retaken their seats, I say, “Everything all of you have been able to come up with is absolutely genius. As usual, none of you have let me down. However, we are going to need to change track.”
“What does that mean?” Thabo, my protégé asks as he adjusts the scarf around his neck.
“Well, I’m going to need all of you to go back to the drawing board. I need designs that are more ready-to-wear.”
“Ready-to-wear?” Claire, one of my most recent hires asks with a look of disgust on her face. You would think I had just asked her to lick the floor of a subway car.
“Yes, ready-to-wear. Of course, we have to stay true to our brand image. So although you are doing ready-to-wear I want you to think high fashion. Perhaps think Tokyo streetwear. I want to see multiple pieces, separates. They should have character, but I want everything to be luxe.”
They’re all staring at me like I’ve grown a second head. “Listen, I know this is a departure from what we usually do, but we can’t get comfortable. We should be open to experimenting and trying new things.”
I realize I’m trying to convince myself as much as I’m trying to convince them, but I remain steadfast because I know if I waver, so will they.
They all slowly get up and shuffle out of my office. I am finally alone.
I spend most of the morning and the early afternoon reconceptualizing my entire line. I end up redoing months of work in one day. It’s not pretty, but if my team and I work hard enough, I should be able to get everything done in time.
