Chapter 8

The ball had ended much later than I thought it would. The sun had pretty much set and it was nearing midnight. The moon light shone down at us, mixing with the light of the street lights.

I could hear soft snoring coming from a few of Crystals friends, but she only drooped slightly, catching herself from falling asleep amid the many whip lashes and carriage drivers cursing.

"Are you sleeping?" I heard her say to one of her friends.

"Hmmm?" was the lazy reply from the Lady Clementins I think. "Are you okay?" she asked in a forced way.

"I think I danced with the prince" her words were enough to wake all the ladies and I found myself beginning to sweat nervously as I saw Crystals glowing cheeks.

"Really?" Lady Jones voice was soft and slightly slurred.

"He was really tall and so muscly. He told me my eyes were beautiful. If he truly is that man than I don't care if he's a monster" Crystal proclaimed and the other girls gasped.

"You are in love!" I heard a voice say as I began to drift away slightly.

"Maybe not in love" Crystal laughed and then in a demure voice that conveyed her innocence she continued, "but he was definitely the prince".

At her words, I pictured the man I danced with. Mind entering a delirious state between dream and reality as I pictured what he may look like beneath that mask. He must be undeniably handsome. I doubt the prince was handsome, for some reason. I bet he's fat... And short... I snorted, unknowingly catching the attention of the ladies.

I wonder what he would've tasted like? Weren't his lips a deep red...?

Sour like cherries...

Sweet as beets...

Intoxicating as wine...

.....

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"I think the flower decor would be best presented here" Graham, an interior decorator famous in the capital, said. I waved a hand to gesture for my staff to listen. As if his words were law.

"That would seem welcoming" I agreed, just as one of my main seamstresses tapped my back for my attention. I turned to Sienna, a widow in her early fifties who had spent many years seaming clothes for her children. In her hands were a bundle of letters.

"Miss Colter, we have a lot of advanced orders coming through. They were originally for the store back home, but as you had them delivered here" she paused for a moment as she started at them in wonder. She had been skeptic and against starting in the capital the moment I proposed it. The only way I convinced her was to offer her free lodgings for a year and a lump of advanced pay.

I grinned smugly at her.

"Those will be delivered from here before we open to the public. The return address will be for the store back home" I patted her shoulder and laughed as I heard her curses from behind me.

"Speaking of opening to the public!" she said loudly, catching my attention before I could look over the work bench, "when are we opening? You aren't trying to becoming queen and run this business are you?" although her voice was demeaning I knew she was only looking for some entertainment. Most employers found it hard to look past, but I needed talents so I couldn't care less.

"Me? Queen? If I truly wanted to I wouldn't have to even try" I laughed haughtily at her to which she rolled her eyes.

"You would make a most insufferable queen" she turned back to her pile of letters with annoyance and a tinge of excitement, "how exactly did you manage to get so many customers when we haven't even opened".

"Well now, I can't reveal all my secrets can I? I need at least one specialty and that's about it" I finally looked to the bench full of documents that I needed to file away or sign.

I had worked through a load of them before I heard someone unfamiliar clear their throat beside me and glanced up. A strange noise left my throat as I jumped up in surprise to see my landlord, Mr Archangel, who now observed the place in a calculative manner.

"Mr Archangel! What a pleasant surprise" I hoped my smile didn't look as forced as it felt.

"I am very sorry to intrude so suddenly, Miss Colter. I did knock, but everyone was rather busy" his cheeks tinged an embarrassed red as he rubbed his neck, "I was just hoping to see how the preparation are going. I'm rather surprised your dealing with this yourself".

"I usually deal with my business' directly, until I think it's settled enough for me to allow it to independently trade. Please let me show you around" I jumped up, straightening my dress as elegantly as possible.

"I would like that", he smiled politely and followed me as I explained my plans for the less developed areas, "a make up parlour? That's an interesting adaption and a men's line produced by your brother" he mused as if he was looking for something to criticise.

"We keep the men's and women's shops on different floors to allow privacy for each gender and the make-up parlour will be distant from the boutique to avoid the fabrics catching colour" I felt my nerves finally thrum to life. If Mr Archangel disliked any of this I would be in dire trouble.

"I must say I quite like it. And the fact that you only serve tea and biscuits along side dry snacks reassures me that your business' won't overlap" he placed his hands together as if to clap, but just held them as he looked to my staff.

"Of course, it was a hit among our own customers back at home" I smiled and then reached for my latest accounts statement. The profits displayed nicely at the top, "I know it will mean little, but this is our latest profits figure for the boutique. This is of our most successful and this of our least. If to only offer reassurance".

His eyes widened at the figures, an excited smile spreading across his features making him finally seem like the twenty year old he was and not a serious middle aged man possessing his junior.

"These are- extremely promising!" He praised pushing his hair back to get a better look and turning to me with a grin, "if this business does even half as good then I'll be more than happy to allow you to continue".

"That's good to hear" I could feel my legs wobble slightly as my tension left me. "If you do have any other question please let me know and if only to subside future doubts we have already begun to receive orders".

He nodded encouraging at the letters of demands for dresses. Every one of them asking for a style resembling Crystals from the ball and a single asking for one resembling the dress I wore. I couldn't help but be convinced that if Crystal had worn the Vanilla dress than there might've been more orders.

"Spectacular" he finally clapped his hands with a bravo, "now comes my final question, when do you plan to open?"

I stared at him, taken by surprise as I couldn't even answer. He frowned at my reaction, still somehow looking handsome as ever as he asked.

"You do plan on opening, don't you?"

"Of- Of course" I shook my head "but I'm still waiting on a letter regarding the selection process" I couldn't even hide my misery as I explained. I could see the pity in his eyes.

"Have you not received one? I assume if it's this late then they might have rejected you".

"Right?" I couldn't help the excitement show on my face, "I've been waiting for someone to say that all week!" I laughed.

He raised a brow.

"You truly didn't want to continue either? Then you must have a sweetheart you are waiting for".

I couldn't help to cackle at his words and neither could Sienna who looked away from her materials and shouted.

"That girl couldn't hold a man if she tried!"

"She ain't wrong lad!" Agreed Tom, my janitor.

"That girl pays your wages!" Was all I had up my sleeve, but they just chuckled among themselves while I turned back to Mr Connor who was holding back his own laughter it seemed.

"You seem quite close with your staff" he added with a laugh.

"Well my business wouldn't be anywhere without them", I said. Even the work of a simple Janitor could help business thrive.

"I must say I'm rather exited to see your work, Miss Colter. Please contact me when you settle on an opening date!" He held out a business card which I took carefully. I hadn't been handed one before. Most men hoped I gave up despite not knowing me.

"That makes me really happy" I smiled softly at the card.

At the time I hadn't noticed the way his cheeks reddened at my words until Sienna told me and even then I had waved her off.

Men have little interest in a girl that intimidates them.