#work place

"Like I said with us sighing so many ambassadors this year that are new n' fresh n' young and all that. I thought it'd be good to show that ya know.." he vaguely gestured towards her. "He has a point." her assistant added dryly. It's true she was young, the youngest member of the board team by far. But she didn't want to be seated like a piece decoration at the event of the company she owned.

Being head of one of the most prestigious high-end jewelry companies was a privilege to say the least. Truly a dream for many and an untouchable position for most. But God damn it was it playing with the boundaries of her comfort zone every fucking day.

"We have almost finished with styling the models, the venue has already been organized and the décor has been settled on. There's enough grandeur and advertising, I don't think I'm needed on top of it all." she argued, pushing her glasses from the bridge of her nose to the top of her head. Which, yes, all true, but she knew better.

She knew that for the head of such a large firm she had avoided the public eye with obstinate determination. Whether it was at an unconscious or conscious effort, she had remained mostly out of the public eye. It felt right to her. After all, she had inherited the position after working under her mother as her assistant for around five years.

Her mother had created it all, put in her sweat and tears, years of her life to lift up the business to what it was. The day the decision of the inheritance was made was not one filled with positive feelings. It didn't feel like wining the lottery. Not at all.

Her mother had a cerebrovascular accident, also known as a stroke. It caused cognitive impairment and severe aphasia. Leading to her having a conversion with her father that felt like talking about the aftermath of war. Her mother had just gotten out of surgery, one of the doctors had said that with time she may have slight improvements in cognitive function but she's never gonna be the same. Simply thinking about those words made a lump in her throat form.

Because of all that when she stepped into the position of executive chief and owner of the enterprise she was careful. Steadfast but careful. Careful not to dishonour her mother and careful not the damage the image of the company. Through the lense it all, she obviously didn't think that parading her young and inexperienced self would be a good look. The empire her mother built carried itself with dignity and respect around the world. A name with weight, with might. Not one to be twirled around the pointer finger of a 27-year-old like car keys of a Honda.

Slowly she became the leader she wanted to be: respectable, disciplined, hard-working, adaptable, dedicated, smart but still a little less serious than her mother was. Not too much. Just a bit less formal. But with it all she'd forgotten that as PR goes it's good to have a face to visualize when a brand name is said. And yeah, sure, sponsorships, representatives work but those are one thing- the face behind it all is another. It would make the brand more approachable, more open. And it would draw our loyal clients in even more is what her mother would have said and she knew it.

And now sitting in the same chair her mother used to sit in years ago she realized something. "Shit…" she mutter, Will was right. "I understand where you're coming from, Will" she said, clearing her throat. "I think besides my obvious discomfort it should be pretty easy to execute it in general. I mean I sit front row next to Donatella." she shrugged and turned around, the wheels of her office chair making a sound against the marble floor along with her movements.

She leaned back and leaned on her elbow that was still sitting atop her desk. A desk bombarded by venue pictures, charts of the outfits each model was going to wear with the perfect set of jewelry sited next to them, reports sent from Quality Control, sketches and graphs sent from the designers department for the next collection and so much more. She looked at the huge whiteboard behind her, it was partialy covering the floor lenth windows that captured the view of the most emposing part of the city- shiny skyscrapers and a bussling city as far as the eye can see. Looking at specifically the part of the whiteboard that as occupied by the seating chart for section A of the event. Section A being the area with the most prominent guests- CEOs and chiefs, creative directors, main ambassadors, etc. "Well, they'll have to scouch over a bit" she says smiling to herself making her team in the room giggle too.

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Later that night

She placed her work bag on the entryway table, gently took off her fur coat, hanging it gracefully on a velure hanger and placed it in her coat closet in her hallway. Oh vintage coats made her heart swell up, of course she was going to take care of them.

Sliding off her shoes, she thought about her day. The meetings that were scheduled within today that are going to take over two weeks of hers. The meetings with her teams and the video call she had with her long-term gossip colleague and now business partner for this event- Donatella Versace. That was probably the highlight of her day. Talking to Donatella was never boring and it always left her hopeful that there were still people like her in the industry. People that did it for the love of the game, the passion for fashion.

Then her mind drifted off to the conversation with Will and her assistant- Maya. She'd agreed to it- they all had. But still, that didn't mean that it didn't make her feel uneasy to think about how she'll mingle around with so so many people. Talk and smile and laugh and giggle and compliment and drink and on and on and on. That's all easy, truly it is she tried gaslighting herself yeah, for like the first 20 minutes she remembered.

And the plan for the event was…eventful. First a welcome drink with champagne and bar stool tables, with art and jewelry pieces on exhibit. It was gonna be a mix of art, tasteful and following the pallette of the main events theme. Showcasing art from around the world, from smaller creators that deserved recognition.

Followed by the main event- the runway show, including 50 models, decked out in Donatella's and her's visions.

After that- a dinner, 6-course meal that comes with a side of presenting restored vintage pieces from both enterprises. Talking about the history of both houses. That part she was especially proud of coming up with- paying homage to the past while promoting the future? Her mother would have loved that she was sure.

And lastly- an after party…she didn't really concern herself with its organization that much, to be quiet honest with you. Essentially the only thing she remembered were the faces of the fifty-something-year-old chairmen when they were told that some famous DJ would cost about $1.5 million for the night.

It was a lot. And she was beyond proud of it all. Her company did a yearly collaborative event with another brand, each year a different one. This year being her third year as CEO she really trusted her own judgment and she hoped she'd see it pay off.

While pouring herself a cold drink she scribbled down onto her journal to schedule yet another call with Donatella to serve her the news of her sudden participation in the event's audience. Along with that she had to tell Maya to get Andy- the stylist that was her mother's and now hers that there was work to do. And not only Andy but Eilleen(her make-up artist), Maison(her hairstylist), Frank(her tailor) and a few other people. Oh tomorrow is gonna be a long day she thought to herself.

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The next two weeks went by within the snap of a finger. She was finishing all the preparations and organizing for the event. The models clothes were arranged, their jewelry was decided on, polished and brightened. A team consisting of a stylist, make-up artist, hairstylist, esthetician was assigned to every 5 models. And an additional number of jewelrs to oversee and take care and ensure the proper treatment of the jewels.

Currently she was talking with the caterer Maya had hired on the phone, commenting on appetizers and trying to stay focus on what he was saying while still paying attention to her surroundings. Her surroundings- she was walking through the main corridor of one of the manufacturering HQs. She did this by-weekly, walking through the factories with a quality control expert with her. It kept things strict and honestly she didn't mind being viewed as the bad guy if that ment keeping up the standard of the jewels.

"Yes, but tuna tartare is something we served two years ago. I would like the idea of it being in avocado cups if this were a dinner party. Unfortunately for you, it is not." she said her tone sharper than usual considering how pushy the man on the other side of the line was. She spent a couple seconds listening to his but's and maybe's. "Figure out how to plate the seared scallops with cauliflower purée. That's all I'm asking of you at this stage." her voice calm and collected now, having realized that an attitude will not get her point across better. "I will not repeat myself." she said in a cold measured tone. She hung up without another word.

Turning her head and looking over her shoulder, she trailed the gaze of her most trusted quality control specialist only for it to lead her to a splotch of flux laying on the floor. Flux has used mainly to prevent oxidation and to help solder flow. "What in the world.." she muttered quietly.

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Later that night

She was going through the sketches offered as ideas by the design department. Unmistakably her favorite part of her job- the jewels themselves. The geometric shapes, the symmetry, sometimes the lack of it, their grace, their fragility, their weight. The fact that something so labour-intense to source, clean and shape, using so much heavy machinery can become this composition of elegance.

Suddently her phone rang. But not her phone, not her personal phone. Someone called on her work phone, which she has stated quite sternly she doesn't want happening unless there's an emergency. Gently she moved her cat from her lap and stood up. She walked to the phone on the kitchen counter with a confused look on her face, her borrows slightly furrowed. She held the phone and tilted it towards her face. 'Donatella💜' well this is gonna be interesting she thought to herself. She answered the call still confused but with her interest peaked. She knew Donatella, the woman didn't call out of the blue for nothing, so this was bound to be good.

"Hel-" she barely finished a word when she heard the other businesswoman's voice boom through her phone. "Oh you picked up! How great" she exclaimed, her ever so present Southern Italian accent distinctively echoing. "Yes" the younger woman let out a slight breathy giggle, "Is there something wrong? It's after my usual work hours, ya know" she said softly, still hinting at the fact that she likes to have some alone time when the late hours of the evening hit. "I know, I know, how you are, strict with your work-life balance", even though everyone knew that it was a more of a work-with-people/work-alone balance. "and nothing is wrong dear, I'm calling with good news, very good ones" she added with an almost childlike excitement. "Right, okay, what are the good news?" the woman on the other line asked, her interest bubbling up, knowing that there are few things in this world that would make a woman like Donatella sound like that. Those were fashion, pasta with caviar and- "Hyunjin!" she squeeled.

Oh that's right, that guy we didn't have conformation if he'd come the younger woman remembered. "Wh- oh, that's nice" she said cheerfully but still with not as much glee as the older businesswoman. "Yes, yes, I just got the email from my assistant that his company has confirmed he'll be there" she went on about this guy. The jewelry owner knew him, of course she did. He was an idol from a group, in South Korea…handsome. And that's about all she could say at that moment so as much as she appreciated Donatella's enthusiasm, she couldn't reciprocate it. "That's good, I'm happy, Donatella, does he need assistance with his outfit, is that why you're calling me?" she safely assumed. "Well I'll have a meeting with him tomorrow, yes, and I'll see then, I wasn't told through the email" Donatella added quickly. "I'll show him through the work space for the models' looks that's on same floor as your office, I think he'd like that" Oh she really did like this guy she thought. "Oh wow, I'm sure he'd feel honored, ask him if he needs something from our side, alright?", "Yes, I will, don't worry, is it okay if we come into your office at some point?" Donatella added. Oh "Why would you need to do that for?" she said, a second later she left dissapointed in herself for letting a slither of defensiveness show in her tone.

Her office was her main work space. The only people that came in a stayed for more that two minutes were people very close to her- professionally or personally.

"To show him to you, of course!" nevertheless the Italian woman remained unphased, wording it as if she wanted to show the other businesswoman her new exotic pet. "Oh, yes, that'd be okay" the younger woman added smoothly, "in any case if you're in the building we'll bump into each other at some point, right?" she added.