MasukMs. Sterling arrived at the office precisely at 9:50 AM, an elegant woman softly dressed wearing a silver and ivory skirted tailored suit with a soft rose blouse. She looked like a woman fresh from the front or insider cover of a fashion magazine. Marni walked her into my office and sat at my request for notations. Damn Ms. Sterling's legs were amazing. Marni noticed me noticing. She didn't waste a second on small talk. "Ms. Lawrence," she began, her voice measured as she took the seat Marni offered her. "I will be direct. Roger Vandenberg boasted about your ability to handle complex aesthetics. I believe he specifically used the phrase 'capable of managing shadows with a silver lining.'" She gave the faintest hint of a smile, acknowledging the corporate drama I was currently embroiled in. "My project, the renovation of the old Paramount Theatre into a private social club is a project of high six figures. My initial thoughts were the balancing of the old-world elegance with cutti
Ms. Sterling arrived at the office precisely at 9:50 AM, an elegant woman softly dressed wearing a silver and ivory skirted tailored suit with a soft rose blouse. She looked like a woman fresh from the front or insider cover of a fashion magazine.Marni walked her into my office and sat at my request for notations.Damn Ms. Sterling's legs were amazing. Marni noticed me noticing.She didn't waste a second on small talk. "Ms. Lawrence," she began, her voice measured as she took the seat Marni offered her. "I will be direct. Roger Vandenberg boasted about your ability to handle complex aesthetics. I believe he specifically used the phrase 'capable of managing shadows with a silver lining.'"She gave the faintest hint of a smile, acknowledging the corporate drama I was currently embroiled in."My project, the renovation of the old Paramount Theatre into a private social club is a project of high six figures. My initial thoughts were the balancing of the old-world elegance with cutting-ed
From left to right was the pale gray-white, it was for maximum brightness. Next the cool light gray with just a hint of blue giving it a slightly warmer color. Last was the warmer grainge, the compromise darker beige color. My intention was to give Isla the spectrum of light, not just the endless void of her chosen darkness.On a makeshift workbench, I laid out the tabletop samples. The elegant honed-white marble, then a really dramatic dark darker quartz gray with its white veining. This was the first nod to her. The last was more dramatic and the one I preferred. The marble was a true dark purplish, it was nearly black with a tiny bit of near gray veining.I stood back, arms crossed, letting the silence of the construction site settle the tension in my chest. A shadow fell across the floor.Isla walked in. She was predictably clad in black. I looked up and saw she had chosen a severe black turtleneck, very loose black pants. They almost looked like cargo pants, without the side pock
Marni was tracing lazy patterns on my leg, humming softly, but I couldn't fully relax. My phone, now sitting across the coffee table, was a brooding and silent threat, a reminder that the world and the truth of me facing Roger Vandenberg loomed.I existed, I knew I had to face the fallout. I reached for it, the peaceful haze immediately burning off as the professional anxiety flooded back.I walked over and got my phone, then came back and sat down with Marni. I saw I had three missed calls as well as voice mail messages, so I pressed play on my voice mail."Let's just get this over with," I murmured, setting the phone between us and tapping the voicemail icon. "Brace yourself for the fury of the Vandenberg empire.""Sophie, it's Roger. It's imperative that you call me back immediately. I do not know what transpired this morning, but I understand my daughter was... difficult. However, walking off a contract is unacceptable, and I need this project finalized."There was a pause. "We ar
And that did it, I had enough of the spoiled brat's attitude. I was enraged, and my brain wasn't able to catch up with my mouth before I spoke."No need to do that, Isla, I will call Roger to cancel the contract. I can not and will not proceed with your thoughts of hellish dining, I quit!"I turned from her and started loading my samples into my case, and once packed, I closed the case and as best as I could stormed out of there, wheeling the case down the crude ramp of what could be the elegant hotel and loaded it back into my SUV. I slammed the door and got inside.That is when the tears broke. I started my car and drove away.I sat in my office, crying. Marni was there, standing next to me. She offered her support in agreeing with me that a matte brown yuck didn't belong on the walls of the restaurant, and certainly didn't match the elegance of the porcelain tile floor."I can't do it Marni, that brat, she is," I paused, "was so demeaning and rude ..."In the background, the phone
Internally, I paused and thought to myself, 'Great, the one who thinks black and white is a personality, has input.'Then I spoke. "Let me guess, you think the color wheel stops at 'Sensible Dove Gray?'"Isla's head popped up quickly as she glared at me. This was the battleground being drawn;, if I got this job, the clash of personalities, had just begun.I pressed the space bar on my laptop, flipping to a widescreen image of the open and spacious bar."Roger," I said, ensuring my voice was steady, "The Velvet Hour, this area is designed to bring more than just hotel clientele in, generating significant revenue. My concept is less about a dark, dull feel and more about setting the stage for a meeting place."Isla opened her eyes wide as if now paying more attention. I assured them that this would be "the" popular place for all to come and gather. A refined establishment meant for pleasure and business meetings alike. My voice, calm and steady, filled the room, carrying the conviction







