Chapter 12
An entire week of assisting Ymir and Saoirse with preparation for Men’s Fashion Week whilst simultaneously running around doing the most ridiculous and random tasks for August was chaos.
I’m on my third trip of picking up complimentary outfits from the store to be sent off as PR packages for celebrities and influencers when I hear August’s voice echo in the Comms room.
“Where is all this glitter coming from?”
I look down at the garment bags in my arms and my eyes trail to my hands, sporting specks of tiny, shimmery particles.
Cursing, I immediately rush to the door.
The entire Comms team is present today with Eden and Lara, the girls from Social Media working in the studio instead of working from home. Everyone glances in my direction, tight expressions on their faces.
“Sorry, that’s me.” I wince, remembering the commissioned piece I was working on last night that incorporated a lot of glitter.
“I wasn’t aware Holmes had any glittery garments being sent out.” August’s voice held no amusement.
“We don’t,” I shake my head. “This is, um, from me. I dropped a package off at the post office on the way to the store. It had a bit of glitter.”
A bit is an understatement.
The commissioned corset I had been working on is covered entirely in different shades of pink glitter.
August observes me, stoic and nonchalant.
“Mahalia, the clothes being sent out are going to be endorsed by big names on both social media and public appearances for the Holmes catwalk show,” He begins, unimpressed. “Quality checks over at the store have been performed on these garments and they have to be maintained in top condition.”
There’s a tense silence as everyone looks at me.
“I know,” I inhale. “I’m sorry, I’ll clean it up.”
I head to the table in the corner where I’ve been asked to assemble and package up the PR parcels for the high-profile guests attending the show.
Quickly grabbing the lint roller from my bag, I begin clearing out the glitter around my workstation.
Since I’ve been tasked to organise the PR bundles for Holmes’ brand ambassadors and celebrities for the day, I didn’t need to be fully present at the huddle. I still listened to what the meeting is about regardless but kept quiet, lest I end up triggering August again in some shape or form.
The anxiety I’ve been feeling hasn’t lessened since working under him and I’ve been doing my best to keep focused and level-headed. I didn’t realise the tense silence extended far beyond what I was feeling until August wraps up the mini-meeting and leaves the Comms room.
“God, he’s terrifying in person,” Eden comments as soon as the door slides shut.
“I think I much prefer working from home and seeing his face on a virtual call,” Lara adds.
I refrain from contributing to the conversation, especially since what happened with August still makes me all too anxious.
“How are you getting on over there, Hallie?” Saoirse calls out towards me.
“Good,” I reply. “Have we received all RSVPs from the celebrities attending the show?”
“The majority of it, yes.” Ymir answers. “I’m still waiting for confirmation from a few guests but the list of names I forwarded to you with the outfits they’ve chosen for the event are the people to prioritise at the minute.”
I nod, looking down at the list of names attending the Holmes catwalk show.
NYC’s It Girl, Valentina de Hauretto.
Romeo and Mateo Conti of Casa de Conti.
London’s rising model and presenter, Henry Atkinson.
Actress Audrey Darlington and her co-star Zander O’Hara.
“We still can’t believe they said yes,” Eden gushes. “It’s been impossible to get one of them to show up in events, let alone both of them.”
“Isn’t Audrey with River Williams?”
“Isn’t Zander?”
A chorus of giggles echoes in the Comms suite and I feel my anxiety ease up a little.
“I’m in the middle of sorting out the travel, accommodations and a style team for all of them.” Ymir discloses.
“We’ve already brainstormed the content we’ll be filming for the celebrity endorsements,” Lara says.
“If you need an extra pair of hands,” Saoirse gestures towards my direction. “Hallie can help.”
I give them a nod of agreement.
“We’re going to need all of the positive reinforcements we can get for Holmes,” Eden sighs.
It’s just after 5 PM when I finally finished writing the last handwritten note for the PR packages and everyone at Comms left the studio earlier. I’m tidying up my desk, using the lint roller to clean up any glitter I might have missed when a voice stops me in my tracks.
“Where are today’s updates, Mahalia?”
I startle at the voice and whirl around to find August hovering by the desk full of elegantly wrapped gift boxes.
“The updates?”
I pause before slapping a hand over my forehead.
“Shoot, I completely forgot,” I say quickly. “I’ve been working on the PR packages all day, I’ll do them now—”
“It’s the end of the work day.”
“I know, I’m sorry. It won’t take long.”
I hurriedly grab my notepad and scan the bullet-point list of the notes I made for the day.
“I’ve been doing brand ambassador and celebrity sponsorship-related tasks all day,” I begin. “This morning, I picked up the physical invites from the calligraphist and I was back and forth between the office and the store collecting the outfits that Ymir sent over to Isla.”
I glance over at the Holmes designers’ bags in the corner and hurriedly grab a pen.
“Um, I have to return those at the store, let me just make a quick reminder, sorry.”
I grab a sticky note, quickly scribbling on it before turning back to August who’s watching me intently.
Awkwardly, I smile before continuing.
“I spent the afternoon writing out personalised messages for our brand ambassadors,” I clear my throat. “And the rest of the working day was dedicated to packaging up the PR bundles for the celebrities attending the catwalk show. Ymir said we’re still waiting to hear back from a couple more ambassadors but otherwise, I’ve done all the PR packages.”
I gesture towards the desk animatedly and August looks over at the parcels all wrapped in bows.
“Is gift-wrapping on the long list of your tinkering talents?”
I wrinkle my nose at the word.
He makes it sound like a useless skill to have. Which, fair enough, I probably shouldn’t have spent nearly two minutes tying up a perfect bow that will end up being undone within two seconds but still.
My hands like making the effort, no matter how much other people think trivial of it.
“Yup,” I nod, holding up my hands and moving my fingers back and forth in tiny wiggles.
His gaze flickers to my left hand, grey eyes squinting and I reflexively ball my fingers into a fist.
“I’ll send you an email on today’s update in more detail,” I say, rushed.
“No need.” August shakes his head. “Though, I’m not in favour of a repeat performance of today.”
“It won’t happen again,” I reassure him.
“It won’t,” August echoes. “Seeing as I’ll be expecting to see you in person for your updates from now on.”
“In person…” I parrot him, confused.
“Half an hour. In my office. End of every day.” He says.
Wide-eyed, I turn to him.
“Is that a problem?” He looks at me pointedly.
I close my mouth, shaking my head.
Something shimmery catches my eye as he turns to leave.
“Um, August?” I call out.
He directs his attention back to me expectantly.
“You have glitter,” I gesture towards the cuffs of his blazer. “On your sleeve.”
Reaching for my lint roller, I hand it over to August.
Stoically, he examines me, eyes narrowing before letting out a non-committal noise. He doesn’t say anything else as he takes the roller from me and exits the room, leaving me standing by my desk to second-guess my entire working existence at Holmes.