Just Another Damn Love Story Read Free Page A

the look, love the design of the bag and the trench, but what’s with those letters in particular?”  Sterling asked, lifting an eyebrow.
    “Sterling, we pretend that our main corporate headquarters is in Milan, just so people will believe that Vespasian is an Italian company,”  Wilson explained.  “We have to put out merchandise that pays homage to Italian history or that has Italian themes.”
    “Yeah, but why so over the top?”
    Wilson laughed.  “You’re used to bespoke men’s suits.  All dark and double breasted.  Your idea of fashion excitement is adding subtle pinstripes.  Let me handle the women’s fashions.”
    Sterling waved his hand.  “You got it.”
    Marleena, Sterling’s secretary, strolled into the office holding up a pair of white, open toed, high heels with a gold SPQR logo as the toe strap.
    “Now those are fly!”  Sterling told them.  “Is this the stuff we talked about doing months ago?”
    Wilson nodded. 
    “It turned out great,” Sterling said while nodding.  “Any luck finding a designer?”
    “Not yet,” Wilson exhaled, and plopped down in the chair behind the desk.  “I’m still searching for one with that right look.  I interviewed three designers this morning.”
    “How’s the executive search coming along?”
    Wilson shook his head.
    “Stay at it, we’ll find someone.”
    “You ready for the rest of the material?”  Wilson asked.
    Sterling turned, leaned back against the desk and folded his arms.  One by one, various models strolled into the room, showcasing Vespasian’s latest designs.
    “Love that suit,”  Sterling told Marleena.  “Take notes.  We need a three button, English version, in the same material.  This pants suit coming up, needs to be flared more at the ankle.  Also, I want the same jacket, but with a straight pants leg variation, and also a variation with a long skirt.  Love that suit.  That one is perfect as well.”
    “Marleena, are these Ford models, or the new ones from Wilhelmina?”   Wilson asked.
    “Wilhelmina,” Marleena told him.  “Also, Fed Ex delivered the ties from the manufacturer today.”
    “I want to see them after this viewing,” Sterling told her. 
    “They probably delivered the scarves as well,” Wilson added.
    “We are really going through with this expanded women’s line?”  Sterling asked.
    Wilson nodded.  “It’s about time.”
    “I showed the reversible purse to my daughter, the one with the glow-in-the-dark V’s, and she went crazy over it,”  Marleena told him.  “I think you have a hit on your hands with that one.”
    “What’s this?”  Sterling asked, stopping one of the models.  He clasped her forearm and held up her hand.
    “That’s our wrist bag,”  Wilson explained.  “It’s a tiny handbag, attached to a thick bracelet.  It’ll be great for formals, or for anywhere women just want to carry a small fold.
    Sterling nodded.  “I like it.”
    Marleena nodded.  “Another hit.”
    “And now, for the coup de grace …”  Wilson stood, and waved his hand towards the door.  “Our company’s first take on the little black dress!”
    A model strutted into the office wearing a form fitting black dress that stopped at her knees.
    Sterling nodded.
    “With the right accessories, you can wear it to work, change accessories and wear it to a cocktail party, change accessories and wear it to a formal or to church,”  Wilson said excitedly.  “It’s stylish, versatile, and absolutely stunning!”
    “Who did it for us?”  Sterling asked.
    “That little Italian girl that works in our Milan office,”  Wilson explained.
    “She’s good,” Sterling told him.  “Well, I like what I’ve seen so far.  Especially the men’s line up, and the new handbags and shoes.”
    “Well, you know where to sign,” Wilson told him.  “We can get everything into production within two weeks.”
    Sterling nodded.  “You sign.  That’ll be your new job.  And we need