Coco Chanel Saved My Life (29 page)

Elena was driving and Emma asked me if I had any news.

“Yes, actually I do. Yesterday Etienne came back.”

“Ah… really? Has he come to see you? What did he have to say?”

“He asked me for more time…”

“More time? Hasn't he left his fiancée yet?” Elena joined the conversation.

“They are all the same, the cowards, terrified of a serious commitment. He doesn't know what he's missing…” Emma said.

“Thank you, Emma. You're a great friend.”

“Of course! If you asked me, I would be ready to go to France and kick your blue-eyed, blonde ex-errand boy in his ass! Believe me.”

I laughed. “Thanks, but there is no need for that! The truth is that I'm afraid to be in love with him. Yesterday, when I let him go, I realized it. I love him and don't know what to do.”

“Ouch!” Emma said, staring at the road in front of us. “Then let's hope he won't make us wait too long…”

“He won't come back. I know it.”

“Keep the faith, Coco.” Emma encouraged me.

Hope, faith – whatever – I was running out of it.

*

At the centre of the table there was a tall candle surrounded by a garland of tiny white roses. While waiting for our friends, I checked the stylishly long menu. I wasn't hungry, my stomach was in knots, but I didn't want to spoil the party.

Claudio and Lucrezia arrived a few minutes later. He wore a dark suit and she had on a light silk dress.

“I've never seen you look so elegant before!” I kissed him on the cheek.

“Well, it is a special occasion.” He winked at me and looked at the wine list. “What about ordering some wine?”

We were all more than ready and let him select the perfect bottle.

“How is your renovation going?” Lucrezia asked Elena. The two girls had bought a larger apartment together and were doing some work on it.

“We are going crazy, but we found the most amazing tiles that you can imagine for the bathroom!”

“At last we'll have more space…” Emma added.

“And you'll stop invading my side of the closet with your mountains of shoes!”

“Sharing a house is a real enterprise. Do you know I had to put all my precious DVDs in boxes, to make room for Lucrezia's miniature house collection?”

“Ah, but you sacrificed yourself for a good cause!” Lucrezia kissed him, laughing.

“Let alone that my bathroom has been completely invaded by make-up stuff and lotions! But where do women find the time to rub themselves with all those lotions? It's like a full time job.”

“You're both so sweet that my blood sugar goes up just looking at you!” Emma joked.

They smiled, slightly embarrassed.

Then it was time for the birthday cake! Claudio had ordered a special raspberry mousse, covered with a thin layer of white chocolate.

“I'm sure it's full of calories, but it's worth some cellulite!” I said, tasting the first spoonful of that delicious soft cream confection.

“But this is not a raspberry!” Lucrezia had found something hard with her spoon. She picked it up to look at it, and then she suddenly blushed.

“Is this…?” She couldn't finish her sentence.

Claudio took the tiny object covered with mousse from her hand, and dropped it into a glass of water.

We were all motionless, watching as the cream melted in the water. Lucrezia reached in to find a white gold ring with a small diamond.

“I… I…” she stammered, looking at Claudio, “don't know what to say,” her voice was broken with emotion.

“Well,
I
know what to say.” Claudio gently took her hand.

“Before I met you, I started to believe that the future didn't hold more surprises for me. But I never found in other women's eyes the light I see in yours. Since you entered my life, everything has changed. Green is greener, red is redder. The morning coffee has a better flavour and the sun seems brighter and warmer.”

Lucrezia's eyes were shiny with tears.

“Every day I thank my destiny that led you to me, and every evening I'm thankful because I'll wake up in the morning with you by my side.”

I was holding my breath.

“You are everything I've ever wanted, everything I've missed. I know we haven't been seeing each other for a long time, but I believe – I feel – you are the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.”

He slowly stood up and got down on one knee in front of her. “Lucrezia, will you marry me?”

She was shaking as he put the ring on her finger. Then sobbing, she held both his hands. “Yes! Of course I want to, with all my heart!”

They kissed and we all burst into applause. I didn't know Claudio could be so romantic.

“Obviously, Coco will organize our wedding!”

“Fantastic!” A radiant Lucrezia was clapping her hands.

“It will be a great honour,” I said to my friends.

A waiter brought us a bottle of chilled champagne and we toasted to their happiness. My best friend was going to marry. He had found the strength and self-confidence to make a choice.

*

Spring was here. The sadness of winter had left; the sun and crisp new air gave the city a brighter palette of colours.

I wanted to spoil myself. When you don't have anyone who makes you feel exceptional, you need to do it on your own.

So, one afternoon, after work, I made a solemn decision: I wanted to give myself a gift. A big gift!

I got on the metro and headed to the city centre. I walked briskly among the afternoon crowd and took the little street that I had named
Chanel Street
.

In front of the windows of my favourite boutique, I remembered Etienne. A lot had happened since we'd shopped together. I smiled, ready to shamelessly use my credit card.

“May I help you?” A skinny and kind shop assistant approached me.

“Yes, I would like to try on some shoes…”

She led me to a little parlour and brought several styles to try. I spent more than an hour there, looking for the perfect shoe, until I found it! A pair of very high heeled sandals with a thin ankle strap, and two Chanel golden
Cs.

My new perfect Chanel shoes. I paid a fortune, but I felt I deserved it! I took my bag and floated into the warm evening.

At the outdoor cafés people were having aperitifs and a street musician was playing a love song. I decided to walk home. My new self: strong, cheerful and determined wasn't bad at all.

*

So life went on, with my work, my friends, long e-mails to Elodie, red wine, shoes and clouds of Chanel No 5.

There was a sort of balance in all this.

Claudio and Lucrezia were busy with the preparations for their wedding, and I was helping them with the special touches.

Emma and Elena had moved to their new apartment. They often invited me for dinner, preparing delicious dishes and introducing me to new friends.

Valentina had at last stopped her war against me. She worked a lot and things were much more relaxed. She'd probably stopped using drugs. Sometimes she still suggested blind dates to me, but of course, smiling, I said no.

Often I visited Mrs Leoncini. We drank tea together and then she would play her old piano for me.

Life isn't made only for romantic love. Life is many other beautiful things: laughs with friends, sunny days, cappuccino and croissants in the morning, a glass of wine at the end of the day, tear-jerking movies, and a new long string of pearls around my neck.

*

One morning, when I was busy sending e-mails to impatient brides, answering their many questions, Paolo called me to his office.

A bright sun was streaming through the window.

“Take a seat, Rebecca. I want to talk to you about something very important,” he paused. “it is almost one year since you joined us. I'm satisfied with your work and proud of you. But let me ask you this. Do you enjoy working with us?”

“I'm very happy here, Paolo. I love my work, every day a little more.”

“I'm glad. And what about Paris? Did you like working at
Seven
?”

I looked at him, perplexed for a moment. “Paris was great. Please, don't misunderstand me. I love working with you, here… but Paris is a totally different thing.”

“I understand,” he flashed a large, warm smile. “sometimes, I've dreamed of escaping Milan for Paris!”

“May I ask why you are telling me these things?” I was curious.

“This morning I received a call from
Seven
. I had a long conversation…” my heart began racing. “There is an opening at the Paris office and your name has come up for the position.”

“Really!?” At that point my heart had definitely stopped beating.

“Yes, I spoke at length with Etienne. He told me that he has chosen you and that if you want, the position is yours, even beginning tomorrow.”

“What did he tell you?” My legs began shaking and I was short of breath.

“He said you can start tomorrow, if you want…”

“No… the other thing he told you!”

“Ah, sure! He said to use these words, he made his choice and has chosen you.”

The room started spinning around. I couldn't believe this was happening.

“He has chosen me…” I whispered, unable to articulate anything else.

At that precise moment, with unbelievably perfect timing, a young man knocked on the door.

“I have a delivery for Ms Rebecca Bruni,” he said, holding a huge bunch of red roses with a few large white camellias at the centre.

I remained sitting, staring at the beautiful flowers, when I noticed the card. I took it out from the envelope. No signature, of course. I smiled.

I read and re-read it several times, tears started to stream down my cheeks.

The most beautiful words that a man could ever tell me were written on that little white piece of paper. They were the words I'd waited for all my life.

Mademoiselle Coco, are you ready to be my number one?

 

 

 

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Thanks to Michela, Sara, Claudio, Elena, Valeria, Daniela, Giulia, Axi, Maurizio, Mafe e Filippo. Every one of them knows why.

Thanks to Francesca Mancini.

Thanks to caffeine.

Thanks to Coco Chanel.

D
ANIELLE
F. W
HITE
was born in Naples and lives in Milan and Padua. An events organizer, she works with communications agencies, cultural organizations, magazines, radio and TV. Since 2003 she has edited the popular blog
www.dottoressadania.it.