The Cherry Blossoms (4 page)

“Yes, we have been catering to a very small market.  Older women have the money to pay for custom fitted clothes.”

Charlene looked excited now, “Mademoiselle est brillante.”

“I think so too.  I asked Grant to advertise for models.  Eighty women will be here this morning.  To get through eighty interviews, we’re going to work in teams.  I will work with Michele while Charlene works with Grant.  We are looking for personality more than size or age.  I want to see models that are comfortable in their own skin.  They need to be confident, stand tall, and have the ability to feel comfortable as they walk down the runway.  What do you think?”

Charlene answered, “Je pense que j'adore votre idée.”

“Since my French is so poor, can I assume you like the idea?”

Charlene laughed, “We really must invest some time into French lessons for you.  I said that I think I love your idea of not picking perfect models.”

“Thank you.  Let’s just hope it works.  As we interview, I think notes are in order for each potential candidate.  We’ll never remember the names, so when they enter the building, Annette will keep a list of names.  She will assign a number to each interviewee.  Annette will use a system of one for Michele and me, the next for Grant and Charlene.  At the end of the interviews, we’ll collectively decide which women we want to use as our models.  After that, I’ll sketch new designs for the chosen women.  Since I want a back up model for each outfit, I may need two different patterns.  Michele, don’t order any cloth just yet, we’ll order the cloth later once we know how much we need.  We are of course limited on space, but we’ll work something out.  Are there any questions?”

No one asked anything.  “One more note.  We may not get through all the interviews before close of business.  Is there anyone who needs to leave for personal reasons?”

The group broke out in laughter.  When their boss was getting ready for a fashion show, Daniella required them to cancel their personal lives until the show was over.  “What’s so funny?”

Grant answered for the group, “Daniella, when you are preparing for a show, one of your requirements has always been that we devote all of our time to you. This is the first time you have asked about our personal lives.”

“Now isn’t that just a damn shame, so I’ll make you the promise right here and now, that I’ll try to do better as a boss.  We have a few minutes before our guests show up so if we all chip in we can help Annette get the reception table set up.”

At precisely 10:00 that morning, Annette unlocked and opened the front door.  Hordes of women lined up at her temporary registration table.  Daniella watched in amazement as Annette registered the women, giving a number to each. 

Daniella whispered to Grant, “It’s show time.  Annette is having a blast with her role in this, whatever we want to call it.  If you start with the group on the right, I’ll take the group on the left.  You and Charlene use the conference room.  Michele and I will use my office.”

Two of Daniella’s seamstresses, Bridget and Konstanze, escorted models to the appropriate interview locations, while the other two seamstresses, Hélène and Thérèse, escorted them out.  Daniella chuckled several times during the interview process.  If Michal saw this manufacturing belt in motion, he’d howl with laughter, but it worked.  In fact, it worked quite well.

Daniella was chatting with Michele about the fabric while they waited for their next interview.  Daniella wanted to stay with the original choices.  Michele told her, “I think that is a wise idea.”

During those few minutes, they had slouched in their chairs, so when the office door opened, they sat straight and tall.  They were expecting the next interviewee to enter the office and were shocked to see that it was Grant.

“Daniella, it is now after 7:00.  Other than short restroom breaks, no one has eaten since early this morning.”

“Oh my word, I lost track of time.  Tell Annette that we’ll resume interviews in the morning for those who come back.  We may lose a few, but I think we have plenty to work with.”

“Daniella, there is no one left to interview.”

“Does that mean the eighty women did not show?”

“Not at all, look at the last number on you notepad.”

Daniella and Michele looked down at their notepads.  Daniella let out a gasp, “The last number is ninety-one.  We interviewed ninety-one women in one day?”

“Daniella, we interviewed ninety-two women in one day.”

“Oh my word, I can’t believe it.  Is everyone still in the building?”

“They are.  No one was sure if you wanted to start looking at the notes.”

“No, we’ll do that tomorrow.  Grant, go ask the staff where they’d like to have dinner tonight.  Make sure they understand dinner’s on me for their hard work today.”  As he started to turn away, Daniella called him back.  “Grant, make sure they choose a nice restaurant.  I can certainly afford to pay for a good meal in a decent restaurant.”

“I do not think anyone would object to that offer.”

“I didn’t think that they would.  I want to call Michal to let him know I’m alive and well, and then I’ll join everyone in the lobby.”

The love of her life answered on the first ring, “
Salut ?”

“Michal, we interviewed ninety-two models today, so I’m taking my staff to dinner tonight.”

“Daniella, are you serious?”

“About taking them to dinner?  Yes I’m serious, they worked hard today.”

Michal laughed into the phone, “Mon amour, I was asking about the number of interviews you did today. I was not questioning you about taking your staff to dinner.”

“You goof.  They’re waiting for me.  I’ll see you later.”

Daniella joined her staff in the lobby, “Have you chosen a restaurant?”

Grant sheepishly stepped forward, “If you approve, everyone would like to dine this evening at Chez Georges”

“Then Chez Georges it is.”

Charlene stepped forward and whispered to Daniella, “It’s very expensive.”

Daniella whispered back to her, “This team is worth it.”

The cost of the dinner proved to be a valuable investment.  She watched her staff laugh at the funny stories they told one another. They had worked hard today and would work harder for the next several weeks.  This was the very least she could offer them. 

When Daniella entered Michal’s home, she found him stretched across the sofa with a book lying on his chest.  She gently lifted the book from his chest, slipped his page marker in and set the book on the coffee table.  Daniella leaned over him to kiss him on the forehead.  His eyelashes fluttered appearing as though his eyes were trying to focus.

After clearing his throat, he told her, “I must have dozed off.”

“The neighbor called me to ask what the roar emanating from our house was.  I assured them they were safe; it was just your snoring.” 

Michal
sat up, “Vous êtes une telle femme humoristique.  How was your evening?”

“It was so much fun watching my staff laugh with one another.”

“That’s wonderful.  Where did you go?”

“We went to Chez Georges.”

He chided her, “I’m so sorry that I was not invited.”

“If this show comes off well, I promise to include you in the celebration dinner.  I’m exhausted and I have an early morning.  I’m going to bed before the clock alarm sounds.”

Daniella was shaking her head in disbelief when she entered the shop.  Her entire staff had arrived before her.  There were plates filled with pastries and Charlene told her the third pot of coffee was ready.  She handed Daniella a cup along with a pastry.

Daniella thanked her and took an open seat at the table.  “I take it everyone’s a bit anxious to get started.”  When she looked around the kitchen, she could see that they were.  “Okay, Grant grab the pastries, we’ll work in the conference room.”

Daniella set a clock on the table.  “There’s no need to work through lunch today.”

Once everyone took a seat around the conference table, Daniella made a suggestion, “We have ninety-two interviews to get through, so I’m going to suggest that we quickly separate those we liked into one pile and those we won’t even consider into another pile.  The selection process will be quite subjective, so if your favorite choice gets the ax, don’t take it personally.”

When the round of giggles subsided, Daniella continued, “I don’t want to waste your time reviewing the other team’s notes.  On a fresh piece of paper, go through your own list and write the numbers of the models you like.  I don’t believe that you will need to defend your choice, so the model number alone will work.  If each of us selects ten prospects, we’ll reduce the list from ninety-two candidates to forty.  If we get the lists down to forty today, we can work together tomorrow and reduce it by half.  I’d like to have all of us in the second interviews.”

At 11:30 that morning, Daniella watched as her team members set their pencils down.  She asked, “I take it that everyone’s ready for lunch?”

Grant responded, “Charlene and I have finished.  So, yes we would like to break for lunch.”

Daniella asked Michele, “Have you finished your list?”

“Oui madame, j'ai terminé mine ainsi.”

“In that case, we’ll break for lunch.  Grant, what time did you schedule for the lunch delivery?”

“11:30 this morning, so it should be here any moment.”

As Daniella’s team finished lunch, “If I promise to release everyone at a decent hour this afternoon, do you want to start with the remaining forty?”

Grant acted as the spokes person, “Yes we would.  The sooner we finish selecting the appropriate models, the sooner we can work on our individual roles for the show.”

“Okay then, let’s get started.  Grant hand me the lists from you and Charlene.”

Using a yellow highlighter, Daniella matched the numbers on each list.  When she finished, Daniella capped the highlighter and doubled checked the selections.  Grant and Charlene had chosen the same candidates.  “Grant did you and Charlene, collaborate on your lists?”

Horrified that Daniella would ask such a question, he answered, “Vous êtes une telle femme humoristique.”

“Grant, please speak English.”

“Daniella, I am so sorry.  When I get excited or upset, everything I say comes out in French.  I said, no mademoiselle, we did not.  That would be wrong.  Why did you ask?”

“Your selections match exactly.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“Not at all, I was just surprised.  Let me see how Michele and I did.”

Daniella took her yellow highlighter and matched the numbers on the lists submitted by Michele and her.  “Michele and I also matched number for number so either, great minds think alike or we’re so inbred that we think alike.  Grant, can you please schedule these twenty candidates for a second interview?  See how many can make it tomorrow.  Folks, I believe we’re done for the day so please feel free to leave.  We can’t do anything until after the second round of interviews.  I’m planning to stick around for a bit.  I’ve been so focused on the designs for the show; that I haven’t started my own outfit.  I’ll end up wearing something I’ve already worn.”

Charlene and Michele offered to stay and help Daniella with her design.  “Merci, but I haven’t even thought of what I want or need.”

Daniella pulled her design folder out.  As she went through the file, she found a number of designs she’d done for herself but never actually had them cut and sewn.  She laid several possibilities to the side.  She wanted to see what Michal thought before selecting one. 

After she’d called his office to let him know she was on her way home, she looked around her studio.  She was worlds away from her roots in the United States and loved her life in Paris.  There was no going back for her.

When Daniella heard the front door open and close, she called out, “Michal, I’m in the kitchen.”

When he came to the kitchen to join her, Daniella handed him a glass of wine.  She kissed him and asked how his day was.  “Comment s'est passée ta journée ?”

He chuckled, “I am impressed that you asked me about my day in French.  My day was just fine.  What are you doing home at this hour?”

“I’m fixing dinner.  Do you want me to leave?”

“Je ne veux pas vous laisser.
I am just surprised to see you home this early and cooking dinner.”

Michal picked up a piece of cheese and popped it into his mouth as he watched her slice vegetables.  “How did the selection for second round of interviews go?”

“Marvelously, Grant is calling the twenty women we selected today to ask if they are available tomorrow.  I let everyone go home and went through some of my older designs.  I brought several home to ask your opinion.”

Daniella looked up from the cutting board, “You have the strangest look on your face.  Are you all right?”

“I am sorry that I look strange to you.  I am fine.  This is the first time that you have ever asked me for my opinion of your designs.”