“I guess.” I giggle before righting myself. “I don’t want to let Vanessa down.”
“Believe me, if you design dresses like that, you’re letting no one down.”
We go to Ann’s desk where he hands me some papers confirming my promotion and jots down all the expenses I incurred over the past few days.
I return to my office and finally take a deep breath, soaking in everything that transpired this morning. I’m smiling so much my cheeks start to hurt.
After giving myself a few more minutes, I open my computer. There’s an email from Ann, with the information about the upcoming show in Tuscany. While I’m making note of all the rules and scribbling the dos and don’ts in my notebook, the phone in my office buzzes.
“Miss Clementine. It’s Georg.”
“Hey, Georg. How can I help you?”
Georg is an older, funny security guard, most of the days stationed at the main gate.
“There’s someone for you down here. Shall I send them up?”
“Someone for me? Who?”
“They aren’t telling their name, saying it’s a surprise.”
I think for a moment. Who can surprise me? Em, maybe Florence or Kristy?
“Miss Clementine?”
“Sorry. Yes, please send them up.”
“You got it.”
I make a note of the last point and then close my notebook.
I meet Ann, holding a coffee mug outside the elevator.
“Someone’s very happy today.” He raises an eyebrow at me.
“Today is a good day.” I bounce on the balls of my feet, eager to share the good news with… Whoever is here to surprise me—my friend, my sister, or my sister-in-law.
As the elevator door opens, I face the biggest surprise of the year.
“Mom,” I whisper in a mixed state of confusion and apprehension. “What are you doing here?”
“What I should have done weeks before.” She steps out of the elevator, followed by her two bodyguards. “Pack your bags.”
“What are you—”
“You were supposed to be thrown out of here if not in three weeks, then three months. But you signed a permanent contract instead.”
“How the hell…” My thoughts freeze in confusion.
“Do you even know your worth, Clementine? Your designs will bring this company to the next level. Instead of being an entrepreneur and using the Hawthorne name and your talent to set up your own business, you choose to make others successful. Selling your work for free to the wives of your brother’s bosses—”
“They are my friends,” I hiss. “And how come you’re telling me only today that my work is of some value?”
“What the hell is going on here?” Vanessa swaggers toward us. Her eyes land on my mom and her bodyguards. “And who are you?”
“This is Clementine’s mother,” Ann supplies when my mother doesn’t answer.
Vanessa looks between Mom and me. “This is not a reality show for family drama. Take your personal stuff outside my office.”