Inari seemed confused. “But I thought that was normal for you.” My non-sleep habits were legendary at my studio.
“True, but I need at least four hours to be human. I probably got one.” If that.
“I’ll get you some coffee,” she said, and dashed away to the small kitchen in the corner of my studio. I needed to get a better coffeemaker in here, but I didn’t want to fork out a ton of money for something that my interns would probably break in five minutes.
As everyone filed in, they gave me one look and scurried away, getting right to their tasks. Man, I must really look like shit. I went to the bathroom and was horrified by my face in the mirror. Just one night of poor sleep and I looked like I could audition for The Walking Dead. The makeup hadn’t done what I needed it to do, so I swiped some more under my eyes and hoped for the best.
Ryder was really messing with my life.
~*~*~
I decided to spend my afternoon working on Rory’s dress. I had a million other things I should have been doing, but I needed to do something non-work related.
“What’s that?” Inari asked as I started pinning fabric to one of my dress forms. This was my favorite part of designing. Yes, I liked having an idea and seeing the end product, but watching it take shape and draping the fabric was the best.
“It’s for Rory.” My friends were well-known in my studio, and everyone knew their measurements in case of a fashion emergency.
“Nice.” I was using a bit of practice fabric I had kicking around.
“What color are you thinking?” she asked.
“I’m not sure. What do you think?”
Inari had met Rory a few times when she’d come to get other dresses fitted for various events. Having friends with rich parents who were often involved in charity work meant we all needed plenty of cocktail and formal attire.
“What about a rich blue? Like cerulean?” she said. I loved the names for colors. Chartreuse, oxblood, taupe, bistre.
“Mmmm, that would look really nice. And Lucah has blue eyes, so that would definitely work,” I said. Thinking about Lucah’s eyes made me think about Ryder’s eyes. Damn. I’d gone nearly ten minutes without thinking about him.
“And what were you thinking for the skirt?” I showed her the design.
“It’s going to be spectacular. Really amazing,” Inari said. Technically, since she was my assistant, part of her job was to kiss my ass, but I knew when she was sincere.
“Thanks. I really think she and Lucah will like it.”
“Need any help with it?” Inari asked. One of her favorite things ever was to go fabric shopping. I couldn’t blame her as it was one of my top five favorite things to do as well.
“Maybeeee,” I said, drawing the word out and giving her a smile.
“Please take me? Please?” She clasped her hands in front of her face and pouted. If I didn’t like her so much, I would have wanted to slap her.
“I suppose,” I said with a heavy sigh, as if she was asking me for a giant favor.
“Yes! You’re the best.” I wasn’t, and we both knew that.
“Okay!” I said, raising my voice so everyone would hear me. I sometimes climbed on the table to really make a point, but that didn’t seem necessary at the moment.
“I’m going out with Inari. Kelly is in charge. She will report back to me. And don’t think I’m above putting cameras in this place to make sure there aren’t any shenanigans. I’m watching you.” I took two fingers, pointed them at my eyes then pointed them around the room and made eye contact with each and every one of them.
Kelly gave me a “don’t make me be the bad guy” look, but I just shrugged. That was what you got for being in charge. You got to tell everyone else what to do, but then you also had to be the one who yelled at them when they didn’t do what they were supposed to be doing. Them’s the breaks.
Inari was practically bouncing over getting out of the studio for the afternoon. “Do you mind if I grab a new foot for my serger while we’re out? And I need some bias tape, more black lining, and some fabric glue.”
“As long as you use your own money and not mine,” I said. “I won’t tell anyone you used work time for personal business. I wouldn’t want you to get in trouble. I hear your boss is a bitch.”
We both laughed. It was true. I was a bitch.
~*~*~