Chapter 29
Harper spent her day going over the notes she’d written on the memoir, getting them really polished, rereading them again, and finally sending them. She hoped they were well-received.
Not long after she’d sent that email, she got another one from a client, Mimi Atwell, wondering if they could do a quick Zoom consult on her outfit choices for her appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel show.
Harper couldn’t say no. Mimi’s email had sounded desperate, but Mimi always sounded desperate. She lived on the verge of a breakdown. They’d been working on Mimi finding ways to be calm and peaceful, but Harper turning her down wouldn’t help.
Mimi would spiral. The indecision about the outfit would snowball until Mimi would want to cancel the appearance, which would cause the production company to get upset. Mimi was doing the junket for her new movie, The Big Silence.
It was being billed as a return to film noir. Harper had seen a few dailies. It looked good. And Mimi was due for a hit. She’d done some independent films that had been critically acclaimed but hadn’t gotten the success they’d deserved.
Harper sent her a response that they could do a Zoom immediately, if that worked.
Less than sixty seconds after Harper hit Send, she got a notification for a Zoom meeting. Fifteen minutes. She ran to the bathroom and fixed herself up, putting on a little makeup and arranging her hair in a stylish messy bun. She pulled a few tendrils loose around her face to soften the look.
She changed into light-wash jeans and an oversized white button-down shirt, which she tied at the waist. She added silver Balinese dangling earrings set with garnets, a gift from Mimi after they’d first agreed to work together.
Then she stuck her head outside where Frankie was still working. And Archie was still snoozing, the lazy beast. She smiled at her sister. “Hey, I’m going to be on a Zoom call in about five minutes, so keep it down out here.”
Frankie laughed. “Tell Archie to stop snoring then. We’ll behave.”
“Thanks. Actually, I think I’ll use the office. More professional than sitting on the bed.”
Frankie nodded. “Definitely.”
Harper went in and grabbed her laptop, then carried it to the office. She set up on the desk and opened her camera to see how she looked. The lighting was good. This would be fine.
As usual, Mimi was early and already in the room when Harper clicked the link to join. She put a big smile on as she joined the chat. “Hi, Mimi. It’s great to see you. You look wonderful.”
“Thanks, Harper.” Mimi’s face filled the screen. She was in her closet, a huge walk-in affair. She’d set her laptop on her dressing table to take advantage of the lights that surrounded the mirror. She was perfectly made up, her blond hair styled in a 1940s pinup look. “How are you? Is it true you’re in Florida?”
So much for clients not talking, as per the NDA they’d all signed. She’d only told a handful where she was going. “I am and I’m enjoying the time away, but let’s focus on you. Is that the hair and makeup you’re wearing for the show?”
“It’s one possible look. Raffi was just here. Do you like it?”
“I love it. It’s giving me real Old Hollywood glamour.”
Mimi grinned. “That’s what I was going for, you know, with the movie and all.”
“Right. I totally get it. How are you feeling about doing the talk show?”
Mimi blew out an uneven sigh and dramatically put her hand to her chest. “I’m working on finding my peace, but this is a big deal.”
“It is, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that it’s also Jimmy Kimmel. He’s not going to let you stumble. He’s a good host who will take care of you, because if you have a good show, he has a good show.”
“Right.” Mimi nodded. “I need to remember that.” She exhaled and shook out her hands, a technique Harper had given her to release tension.
“What are you thinking about wearing?”
“I’ve narrowed it down to three outfits. I can show them to you.”
“Could you try them on? It’s probably better if I see them on you. It can be hard to tell when something is hanging on a hanger. I’d like to see all three options before I make my judgment.”
“Good idea. I’m fine with that.” Mimi disappeared for a few minutes, then came back in a sleek black gown with big shoulders and a deep vee neckline that showed a tremendous amount of cleavage. The waist was snatched with a wide belt of glittering black seed beads. It looked like something that might have come off the movie set.
Mimi turned side to side. “What do you think?”
“It’s a real stunner. Might be a bit much for Kimmel, though.”
“I was thinking that, too. Might be a dress to save for an awards ceremony.”
Harper nodded. “I agree. Really looks like it belongs on a red carpet. What’s next?”
“Two minutes,” Mimi said before disappearing.
She returned this time in a tight, short red number that didn’t show much cleavage but still left little to the imagination. She laughed as she walked on screen. “My stylist said this is a dress that will get me remembered, but I’m not sure that it’s my acting people will be thinking about.”
“I’d have to agree with you there. I mean, you’re a total wow in that dress, but can you sit down in it?”
Mimi went silent for a moment, her lips parted. “You know, I hadn’t thought about that. I should try, right?”
She came back toward the camera and the chair at her vanity. She moved down toward the chair, but stopped before making contact, her body oddly stiff. “Okay, that’s not going to happen. Not without doing damage to the dress.”
She stood up again. “I guess we’re on to Look Number Three. You’ve already saved me. If I’d worn that to the show, I’d be in trouble.”
“I’m sure you would have figured it out when you were in makeup, but it still wouldn’t have been good. Can’t wait to see the next one,” Harper said.
As Mimi went to change, Harper frowned. What kind of a stylist recommended a dress that was so tight the client couldn’t sit? Sometimes it felt like Harper was doing several jobs beyond her own.
Mimi reappeared in front of the camera and Harper sucked in a breath. “Oh, wow, that is amazing.”
Mimi did a twirl. “You think so?”
The dress almost looked like armor, and yet it had movement. Small bronze discs, each about the size of a silver dollar, were linked together by tiny loops of metal. A nude lining made the dress look sheer, but it really wasn’t, meaning nothing showed where the gaps between the discs were.
The dress defined Mimi’s shape without being vulgar. The spaghetti straps and straight neckline showed some skin, but not too much. The hem hit right above her knees.
“It’s perfect. It shows off your figure without being cheap. And it’s interesting. Like you,” Harper emphasized.
Mimi was all smiles. “Thanks. It is kind of different, right?”
“Very different. That’s the kind of dress that will get mentioned on social media. Who’s the designer?”
Mimi shook her head. “Someone I never heard of. Someone new.”
“How are you styling it?”
Mimi shrugged. “I guess some high heels?”
That felt expected to Harper and expected was boring. Expected didn’t get talked about and Mimi needed good press. “What about those tall black stiletto boots you have? And a black boyfriend blazer. I know you have one of those. The Dolce Gabbana one with the leopard liner.”
Mimi made a face. “Boots and a blazer? Don’t you think that will cover most of the dress up?”
“You’re showing a lot of skin in that dress already, even though I know it’s lined, you look nude underneath. I think the jacket and boots will give you a more powerful look.” Power was something Mimi always talked about. How she never felt like she had any. How the men around her controlled everything. “You could at least try it.”
Mimi nodded quickly. “I like the idea of looking more powerful. Hang on. I’ll get the jacket and boots.”
She disappeared again, returning with both items in hand. She sat to put the boots on, then stood, slipped into the jacket and backed up so Harper could see her.
Harper smiled. “I love that. It’s sexy and powerful and interesting and not a person in that building will be able to look at anything but you. This is an outfit that will get talked about.”
Mimi laughed. “Well, who could ask for more than that? Thank you so much. I feel ready now. I really do.”
“You’re going to slay.”
Mimi shot both fists into the air. “Slay all day!”
“I’ll be watching,” Harper said.
“Thanks. For everything,” Mimi said. She returned to her chair. “I’ll talk to you soon, all right?”
“Yep.”
“Have fun on your vacation! Bye-bye!”
“Bye.” Harper tapped the button to exit the call and sat back. Was that what she was doing? Vacationing?
She guessed it was. In a way. But vacations came to an end. And that was something she wasn’t ready to think about.