"I don't think it's necessary Nana, I can manage it's not that soiled." She protested looking down at her already tidied up blouse. Nana ignored her as she placed the fourth cloth she had brought out against her chest.
"This won't do." She whispered to herself as she stared at the closet her had against her chin.
"Nana." Alice tried calling.
"I am truly okay, the stench is all gone and there isn't any stain not that there was much to clean up anyway."
"Adam had mentioned you are going somewhere important, haven't you heard of the saying, dress the way you want to be addressed?"
This shut Alice's mouth making nana chuckle wickedly and finally her eyes brightened as she caught sight if a black suit.
It is perfect for Alice's pale skin and would also go well with her full Brown hair. She needed to make her look exceptional, this is the first woman Adam had brought home, she needed to do well by her.
Interrupting her thoughts came an impatient knock which startled Alice making her run to nana.
"Nana, what's taking so long?" Came Adam's gruff voice.
Alice made to open the door when nana held her back.
"He is a gentleman, he would wait for his lady." She assured, a knowing smile on her face.
Alice almost smiled back when the words sank in.
"His lady."
**************
Bruce watched as Bethany carefully inspected each fabric in front of her. She is meticulous, charismatic and quite a show off not that it bothered him. She is showing off because she has what it takes.
He glanced at the head designer who seemed constipated from trying to hide her frustration, Bethany was taking too long and was not involving anybody. Though it was fun to watch, he knew when he should step up and he did. Gracefully, he walked to her making her try harder and even force out a smile which he returned with a Charming one making her visibly relax
"Hannah." He started softly.
The two women, an assistant designer Alex and two of the white's employees all turned to look at him. Playing dumb, he continued.
"I have a material I think will suit our purpose. I want your opinion." He saw her eyes lighten up as Bethany's darkened but he chose to ignore her. He could even hear the slight gasp of the others but chose to block them out
He is simply doing what's good for his business.
If Hannah kept feeling belittled, she may begin to withdraw from work or even worse choose to resign and he could not afford that. It is true Bethany is an important asset to the company but so is Hannah, in the bid to keep one who he has not tamed yet and is still a newbie in the fashion world with more of her father's connection to speak for her than her true achievements he shouldn't lose the other who had helped build the company to what it is, has established a name for herself in the fashion world and is tied to his leash owing to her humble background and the debt she owed him for helping her to be what she is now and anyways he had other ways in mind, better ways to keep Bethany.
"I think this material will do well with the cloth in mind." He said holding the fabric he had seen Bethany hold on to earlier. He knew that was the fabric of her choice as he had seen the smile, the satisfaction and the slight nod of her head once she had thoroughly examined it. She had simply continued to extend their stay, pretend to examine all other fabrics to exert her dominance. She wanted to rub it in her colleagues faces that the final decision was in her hand and she was the owner of the project. They would wait until she decides.
He had no problem at all with that, infact he admired that attitude because he is of the opinion that if a person has the beauty, the brain and the wealth, he is naturally selected to be above others so there is no harm in flaunting it. It just happens to be that her flaunting it might affect his own work which is why he is against her for now.
Hannah giddily held the material, rubbing it against her fingers. Authoritatively, she ordered for an inch to be cut and she began testing it against her skin, against the light. She pulled it to check the durability and expansivity then after what seemed more of a show than anything she passed it on to Alex.
"What do you think?" She asked as she allowed her eyes to glance briefly at a raging Bethany, swallowing her smirk, she turned back to Alex.
"It's very good, really good Boss."
"It is perfect and I've never seen the like of it anywhere." He added still rubbing it.
Hannah flashed him a smile and nodded then turned to Bethany, a wide smile plastered on her face.
"What do you think, Bethany?"
Bruce found himself eager to hear her answer.
Was she as smart as she presented herself or was it all a sham?
He watched as she stretched her hand and collected the fabric, her rage visible in her eyes.
Thank God it is her father's company, whatever damage she causes will be a family issue.
Shrugging, he made to walk away when he caught her eyes, staring at him and he saw her mouth move.
Maybe it was the intensity of her gaze or little smirk on her face but he had not heard whatever it is she had said until she repeated it.
"Sir, I was saying you must be a natural, spotting the buried gold from the sky, some cannot even see it even when it's right before their eyes. This fabric is just perfect."
Bruce was stunned, so stunned he couldn't pretend he allowed his jaw drop at her audacity yet he couldn't help the challenge alarm ringing in his brain and oh God help him but he could resist every temptation, but not even the smallest challenge.
He saw Hannah's smile drop a bit at her failed attempt to embarrass her and he shook his head, she could never measure up to her.
Smiling wider, he was dramatic enough to put his hand on his chest and gave a small bow.
"It was a wild guess, a risky one but I am glad I took it." He said, his eyes on her hoping she got his meaning, he knew he didn't meed to worry about the others, they would never catch up.
*******
Adam tapped his leg as furiously as he could. He had made a mistake, he shouldn't have brought her here first.
For goodness sake the lady is sick, what is nana thinking?
He rubbed his temple in frustration as he glanced his watch for the fifth time.
They've been here for about thirty minutes, what if something happens?
She had thrown up quite a lot and it was obviously not from a hangover, what if she collapses due to dehydration or there's some complication?
Making up his mind, he marched back to the room, this time determined to take her with him.
"Nana, please." He begged.
"We really need to get to the hospital." He added hoping whatever was going on in there would finally come to an end.
If something happens, if her condition is serious, he would not be able to deal with the guilt.
He had noticed how tired she was looking, how overworked she was but he had ignored her telling himself she was just overreacting, just like every spoilt brat he had known all his life or every convincing manipulator, he had judged her even if deep down he knew or atleast he had every reason to doubt if she really was as he made her out to be.
"Nana, Is Alice okay?" He asked on a second thought.
What if something was wrong and nana was trying to take care of it on her own? The thought made him even more agitated and he knocked yet again, this time even more desperately.
On not getting a response, he proceeded to knock again when the door opened making him hold his breath in anticipation. Slowly, painstakingly slow it opened to reveal who was behind it.