Ida peered at the clock. 11:12 am. The meeting was at twelve, but no way she was leaving anything to chance. She picked up her handbag from the bed and began marching toward the door before realising she had left her room card on the dresser. Slow down. With the plastic card in her hand she paused and took a deep breath, then double-checked to make sure she had everything before leaving. The taxi was waiting for her outside and got her to La Défense twenty-five minutes early. The skyscrapers in the distance dwarfed her as she marched through the public square with her head lifted high. At 11:44 am she approached her destination; the Éclat Building on Rue de la Demi Lune.
The inside of the roughy thirty-storey building was crawling with business people in suits, and the surrounding area was enveloped by glass, with offices on all four sides having a view of the lobby through their floor-to-ceiling windows.
Ida had barely warmed her place on the leather couch in reception when she heard the sound of Tina’s stilettos clacking through the lobby.
“Ida,” said Tina with a smile as she approached. “You’re early. I saw you come in from my office.”
“Yes, I hope that’s ok?” said Ida while standing up. “I can wait if you need more time.”
“No, don’t be silly,” replied Tina, shaking Ida’s hand. “Come. We’re still one person short, but he’ll be here soon. We can start without him.”
Ida tucked her handbag close to her side and followed Tina across the lobby.
“Come, we’ll take the stairs, it’s just on the second level,” said Tina. “Stretch our legs a bit.”
Tina’s office was an uninspiring space. It had a grey desk wedged against the window, a black leather sofa, a filing cabinet and a small round meeting table, along with a generic landscape painting hanging on the wall.
Tina sat first at the meeting table and began pouring two cups of sparkling water from the bottle sitting on a tray.
“So,” said Tina after Ida had found a seat, pushing a cup in Ida’s direction. “I’m glad you could make it.”
“Oh, of course. Thank you for inviting me,” said Ida.
Realising she was slouching Ida pushed her shoulders back and stuck her chest out slightly to correct her posture.
“Was the flight ok? The room?”
“Yes, everything’s great. The hotel is amazing,” said Ida.
“I’m glad you like it,” said Tina, gazing into Ida’s eyes for a long time.
Ida held eye contact for only a split second before feeling compelled to look away. When she turned her gaze back Tina was smiling, and Ida blushed. She wondered how nervous she looked.
Tina checked her watch then leaned back. She’s wearing a Cartier, thought Ida. How much is she earning?
“So I showed my friend the sample of your work and the online store you set up. You walk a fine line, Ida. Every style choice you make theoretically shouldn’t work. Nobody in the industry would even think about going there. But the way you bring each outfit together is almost genius. How do you do it?
Ida shrugged.
“I follow my feeling,” she said, remembering the advice Chi gave her in Gorbachev’s. “I try not to think too hard about it. I decide first, worry later. I guess I have nothing to lose doing it my way.”
“No, that’s right,” said Tina while repeatedly nodding and with a look of fascination. “Well, that’s the attitude we need. How did you come up with the name for your label?”
“It’s not a label,” said Ida.
“Not yet,” said Tina, pulsating her eyebrows.
Ida’s stomach fluttered at the thought, and she worked hard to push the feeling away. Be professional.
“I felt like the fashion industry focusses too hard on sex appeal,” she began. “I mean, women should celebrate their sexuality, of course. But the feminist struggle is about so much more. I thought fashion should celebrate women’s empowerment in other ways. So I called it the Virgin Queen Collection.”
“Fascinating,” said Tina. “Do you have any tips for how I could diversify the way I dress? To bring it more in line with your philosophy?”
“Oh, no,” said Ida quickly, shaking her head. “No way. You always look beautiful. I like the way you mix business with sexiness.”
“You think I’m sexy?” said Tina, pushing her eyebrows way up and giving Ida a sharp stare.
Ida giggled abruptly and blushed again.
“You know what I mean!” she blurted.
Tina chuckled. Her voice was measured and deep.
“Yes, I was only playing around,” she said, before turning suddenly serious. “But if you want to be in this industry, don’t ever forget; sex is a weapon. You don’t go to war unarmed.”
“What war?” said Ida.
“You’ll see when the time comes,” said Tina. “You’ll get a glimpse tonight. I hope you brought something sexy with you for this evening? You only get one chance to make an impression.”
“I have a dress, yes,” said Ida. “I don’t know how sexy it is.”
Tina narrowed her gaze and looked Ida up and down. Then she reached into her handbag and took out a business card and handed it over.
“We can’t take any risks,” she said. “Here. Go to this store this afternoon and tell them I sent you.”
“No, I can’t,” said Ida, holding her palm out.
“It’s fine,” said Tina. “Take it.”
Ida
