Chapter 11
My alarm rings an hour earlier than normal. Yesterday was kind of a disaster, but I planned to make it up to Leonard today. Or at least I hope I can. I’d go in, find
the manual, and prove to him that I can do my job without issues. He told me it was fine during the car ride home last night, but there was no way I could keep
this job if I couldn’t get my things together.
Unfortunately, my clothes still haven’t arrived, so dressing professionally wasn’t much of an option with my wardrobe. However, my mom has a decent
selection of clothes I can always steal from. So I sneak into her room and raid her closet, pulling out a lovely black pencil skirt and a black floral blouse with a
tie collar.
Before I leave, I walk into Charlee’s room and kiss her forehead. She stirs a bit and quietly groans before rolling away from me.
My train ride into Manhattan goes smoothly, and I arrive at the office about forty-five minutes early. As soon as I get in, I start the coffee pot and get to
work, looking around the old assistant’s desk for the job manual or something that could help me ease into the routine Leonard expected.
The elevator dings, and I turn around, expecting to greet Leonard. But instead, it is a woman carrying a large bag filled to the brim with different clothes and fabric swatches. She is smiling at me.
“Good morning. How are you?” I greet her with a friendly smile.
“Very well. And you?” she replies, less enthusiastically than I sounded.
“Good, thank you. Can I get your name, please?” I ask her, assuming she must be here for a meeting with Leonard. He does dress very nicely, and I presume
he gets invited to galas and large events often, so a stylist appointment seems reasonable.
“My name is Monica Harris. Mr. Kapino sent me for a fitting,” she offered me. “This fitting is for a Rayne Stevens.”
I stare at her in confusion, shaking my head back and forth. Why would he schedule a stylist fitting for me? I hold my finger up to ask her to wait a moment,
quickly searching through his calendar to see if there was something in the books to explain it. There are no events, no important meetings for me to attend, no
dinners. Nothing to explain why he would send a stylist for me.
“Well, that’s me,” I admit after a moment. “I just don’t know why he sent you. I think we should wait for him to arrive. If you can, just have a seat.”
Monica sighs and sits down on one of the lush velvet chairs, holding her purse tightly on her lap. Her lips are pressed into a thin line, and I feel like I might
have annoyed her in some way. I offer to bring her some refreshments just so I can get away from her for a minute, but she declines. The silence between us is
extremely uncomfortable, and I count down the seconds for Leonard to arrive.
Thankfully, not long after Monica sits down, the elevator dings again, and Leonard walks out with his briefcase in hand, wearing a nice black three-piece
suit and long trench coat.
“Morning,” he smiles at me before walking over to Monica. “Hi, it’s so nice to see you. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
“Leonard!” Monica greets him with pure delight, standing to hug him. Her entire demeanor changes with him in the room, and I can’t help but roll my eyes
when she isn’t looking. “It’s been a few months, hasn’t it? It doesn’t look like you need my help picking clothes anymore, though.”
Is she flirting with him? It certainly sounds like it. I’m surprised to realize I feel a little bit jealous of her as they chat, discussing the last time they saw each
other and laughing. A small pang of annoyance grows inside my body the longer their banter goes on.
“Excuse me,” I interject. Leonard and Monica both turn around when they remember there’s another person in the room. “Monica said she’s here to style me?”
Leonard steps away from Monica and walks to my desk. His words address us both. “Yes, I asked her to come in to style you for your work clothes,” he states.
“I wasn’t aware there was a uniform,” I reply, looking down at my current outfit, which apparently wasn’t up to his standards.
“I should clarify, there isn’t a work uniform per se. But we give all staff a clothing stipend so they can dress professionally and adhere to the company’s
standard,” he explains. I can’t help but feel slighted by his statement. “Monica will just get your measurements and fit you for some outfits to see what works
for you, and she’ll bring you a new wardrobe in a few days.”
He waves at Monica and walks through the glass door to make his way to his office. I quickly chase after him, trying to catch him out of Monica’s earshot.
“Leonard, wait!” I quietly call after him. “I don’t know if I’m comfortable taking money from the company to buy new clothes like this. I know I might not be
the most fashionable–”
“Rayne,” he interjects. “It’s already allotted by the company. You look great already. I mean, you dress fine anyway,” he finishes with a stammer.
“It just feels uncomfortable to me,” I repeat.
“It’s just a sizing today,” he says, placing a hand softly on my shoulder. “Monica is already here, so let her do that. Then we can talk about the clothes later.” He looks at his hand on my shoulder for a moment and quickly removes it, resting it by his side.
I nod at him and make my way back out to Monica, who is back sitting in the chair, tapping her foot. I smile at her, and she stands up, not returning the gesture.
She begins by taking my measurements and jotting down what she finds in a notebook she brought with her. I hadn’t even realized that there were so
many separate places she had to measure me. I never had roles important enough to be fitted like this when I was acting. They would ask me for my size and
then hand me a pile of clothes to try on.
Monica held pallets of colors to my face and sighed when she looked at me. Then, before I realize what is happening, she snaps a picture of me holding two
pallets on either side of my face, blinding me with the camera flash.
“What’s that for?” I ask her nervously.
“This lighting is terrible. I can’t tell if you’re a spring or a summer,” she replies calmly.
I have no idea what that means, but she is the professional, so I stop asking questions. She pulls out a tablet and opens a screen with several models
wearing various outfits, and sets it down in front of me. I click through them and choose the outfits I would be the most comfortable wearing every day.
As soon as I finish, she starts packing up her things and preparing to leave. I thank her, and she coldly leaves the office without any further comment.
“She’s a joy,” I mutter to myself, getting back to work.
By the early afternoon, I find a document on the computer detailing the day-to-day job functions as well as manuals for all of the technology in the office. I
read through all of the documents and practiced using each to get a good hang of everything. Unfortunately, I don’t see Leonard during that whole time.
I try not to let my mind wander too much. It’s easy to get bogged down with negative thoughts. But I thought yesterday left us on friendly terms, but now
everything feels off. Was he upset that I questioned the wardrobe change? Part of me wanted to find and ask him, but I decided against it to avoid risking my
job.
He walks through the doors to reach the elevator a few minutes before five, ready to leave for the day.
“Did you want a ride again today?” he offers when he sees me packing my things.
“Thank you, but I can’t put you out again like that,” I reply, quickly brushing his offer aside. “Besides, it’s very nice outside, and I’d love the fresh air right now.”
He nods at me and calls the elevator for us. We stand in silence for a moment before he turns to me with a sigh.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you Monica was coming today,” he says apologetically.
I smiled back and shook my head. “Don’t worry about it,” I reply, waiting a moment before speaking again. “You two seemed to know each other pretty
well,” I add with a nervous smile.
“She’s been my personal stylist and shopper for years. So I guess I’ve gotten to know her pretty well,” he replies, shrugging off the statement.
“It’s not really my place to say it, but I think she was flirting with you,” I laugh, and he turns to me with a bashful smile.
“Monica? No,” he blushes. “She’s a friend, and that’s all there is.”
He turns away from me and clears his throat just before the elevator door opens, and we step off. I walk behind him with a faint smile growing on my face.
Something about Leonard and Monica’s relationship does feel right to me and makes me anxious. She is beautiful and very attracted to him, but Leonard is so
kind I would hate to see him with someone so cold.
I am becoming more attracted to him and feeling a little jealous of his relationship with Monica.