Chapter 1: Seattle and Sewing

2022: Alice

There were very few things on my mind as I rushed around the apartment, getting ready for my day. One of them being that I was out of coffee, and about to be out of my mind. My chartreuse blouse was disheveled and untucked from my tailored navy shorts, and my blonde hair wouldn’t take the curls my iron so desperately tried to create.

This day truly could not get worse, but I had to maintain a calm exterior, or I would wake Kansas. Hell hath no fury like a Kansas scorned, and I would do my damndest not to be the one to agitate that woman.

With my keys and my sleek, black Givenchy purse in hand, I flung the door open and raced down the flights of stairs I took twice a day.

Elevators weren’t my style, they made my heart race with panic, and stairs were the only way that I would get any exercise anyway. There was no use in driving in Seattle, and the boutique I owned was only a few blocks away.

I looked at my apple watch and noticed that I would be a few minutes late. Mumbling a few curse words under my breath, I quickened my pace. Reece didn’t have a key to the shop, and I made a mental note to get one made for her.

“Hey Alice, goodmorning.” Reece greeted me as I fumbled with the keys in my hand. “I’m so sorry Reece, I ran out of coffee, I’m gonna get a key made for you sometime soon. I promise.” My breathing was labored, and she only laughed, holding the door open for me.

“Don’t worry boss. It isn’t that cold out yet, and I don’t mind. I’ll start dressing the mannequins.” I offered to help, but she only shook her head and pointed at the register.

“You know I hate counting that thing.” I laughed at her as she went ahead with the mannequins. She had a real eye for styling accessories, and I was glad to have her on my team.

The register was the most time consuming task, and I had to count twice to make sure that I was correct when punching in the numbers on the computer. It was only Reece and I working today, and I knew we would be busier later in the day. Wonderland Boutique was booming lately, and I couldn’t be more thrilled.

Customers with all different backgrounds loved our unique selection, and word got around fast. I had opened the shop three years ago after I graduated from the money I acquired after I sold my mother’s publishing company, and I could never regret my decision. Sure, I liked managing businesses, but my passion was creating stylish clothing.

Fashion allowed one to be expressive with their body, and though I loved anything that had to do with art, clothes had a special place in my heart. Wonderland Boutique was stocked with a curation of my designs, along with a few other smaller name designers that I had exclusive contracts with, and it was the only place that customers could shop for them.

I was lost in my own sea of thought when I heard a small shriek coming from the sundress section. With a quick turn of my head I saw that Reece had fumbled with one of the dresses on the mannequin, and my heart stopped for a moment.

“Alice! The mannequin ripped the powder blue sundress! It wasn’t me.” My shocked expression turned playful as I saw the guilty expression on Reece’s face.

“I’ll get my sewing kit, Reece take the dress off the mannequin without ripping it further, pretty please.” I left my post at the register and made my way to the stockroom.

The row of sewing machines took up half the space, and the other half was occupied by mountains of boxes containing accessories, dresses, and a slew of different clothing items. When my eyes spotted my sewing kit lying on one of the sewing machine’s tables, I made my way over and grabbed a needle, and some powder blue thread. Sure, I was frustrated that one of the dresses was ripped, but it was an easy fix, and could be done without major surgery on its initial design.

I came out of the stockroom to find the dress on the main registers desk, and Reece was already tending to business on the other end of the store. I carefully examined the rip in the dress, and blew out a relieved sigh. It was smaller than I anticipated, and began threading my needle.

“You know, Reece, I ought to take this out of your paycheck” I sang playfully as I began to push the needle through the delicate fabric.

“Yeah, right.” Was her sarcastic response.

The store was then illuminated by our thunderous laughter, and tears of joy threatened to spew from my crinkled eyes.

After I finished whip stitching the rip on the dress, I heard the small bell on the front door ding. I looked up from the dress, and saw a man in a rather expensive suit rushing to the front desk. I sized him up for a moment before I noticed the vicious glare plastered on his wrinkled face.

“Hello sir, how can I help you?” I flashed him a polite smile as I cut the thread, tying the knot a bit tighter.

“I need to speak with Alice Carroll, now.” He roared arrogantly. Okay, this man was not polite, and my smile immediately vanished.

“Speaking.” My voice was even, and cold.

I was quickly losing my patience with the man, and my body language was evidence of that.

“Listen, give me the contracts that were signed when you sold your mom’s company. I need them, and I need them now.” He was frantic, and his hateful glare deepened, creasing his forehead in an unpleasant way.

“Okay, that’s no way to ask for important documents. I don’t even know who you are.” I folded my arms across my chest, and deepened my own frown.

“I am Ford Mitchell’s lawyer and I will not be spoken to like that, young lady.” he scolded.

This man, with absolute seriousness began waggling his finger at me, and the rage that was bubbling inside me vanished, replaced with pure shock.

“Well, Mr.Ford Mitchell’s lawyer, I won't be spoken to with such disrespect in my own shop. I would actually have to search for them, considering I don’t know where they are. So, I suggest if you want those papers, you’re going to have to find Mr. Mitchell himself, and have him get them himself, because you are no longer welcome here. In fact, if Mr. Mitchell needs those documents, he’ll have to be the one to get them. Now, get out of my boutique.”

It was a little petty, okay, a lot petty, but I don’t take disrespect well. Like mother, like daughter, they tend to say. The look on his face however, was the highlight of my grim day.

He was shocked, and dumbfounded. I had to keep a straight face, enforcing my statement, but inside I was howling with laughter. It always brought a smile to my face when an arrogant and dominant man was put in his place. He huffed and puffed, but eventually he exited the store the same way he entered, with a sour look on his face.

Reece walked up to me with a confused expression on her face and scoffed as she saw the man stomp out of the shop.

“Geez, What’s got his panties in a knot?” I could only look at her as the laughter exploded from my mouth.