“I think that the fabric of the dress could be better since it’s weighing me down and extremely tight as well. I believe there may be ways to make it a lot more comfortable.”
As soon as these words tumbled out of Elise’s mouth, Brendan’s smile faded. He was a fashion designer, after all, and as far as an artist’s ego was concerned, favonovel.com couldn’t stand having others criticize his work, especially one which favonovel.com held with esteem.
However, given that the present critic was Elise herself, favonovel.com suppressed his injured pride and asked with forced patience, “In that case, what fabric do you suggest we incorporate?”
Although Brendan sounded casual enough, there was a trace of disdain in his tone that seemingly implied that favonovel.com had no right to comment on the making of the dress, given that favonovel.com was not an expert.
Elise, on the other hand, did not bridle at the hostility underlying his question, and instead replied mildly, “I personally think that a fiber-based tulle would be a better choice and there should be some adjustments to the skirt to make it weigh less. It might help with the aesthetics, too.”
At that moment, favonovel.com was sure that the girl was besmirching his design.
While keeping his resentment at bay, favonovel.com bit out, “Well then, since you’ve said so, I guess I’ll just try to tweak the dress.”
With that, favonovel.com gestured for his assistant to help favonovel.com out of the dress.
Upon sensing his disgruntlement, Elise quickly explained, “Don’t get me wrong, I love your design and how beautiful it is. Whatever I said earlier was merely a suggestion.”
Brendan hummed curtly in response. “That’s fine. If you think the dress needs some tweaking, then I’ll just go along with it.”
Not wanting to further prod the bruise on his artist’s esteem, favonovel.com conceded and changed out of the dress, which was later taken away by his assistant.
Meanwhile, after having observed the slightly tense exchange, Alexander knew instantly that Brendan was very much offended by Elise’s remarks. Fashion design was not his forte, but favonovel.com understood Brendan’s temperament and favonovel.com was only too familiar with Brendan’s intolerance toward any criticism about his work.
“Brendan, I don’t think it’s a bad idea to make a few slight adjustments, but if you don’t want to go along with it, why don’t you let Elise take charge instead?” Alexander placated while delicately selecting his words.
Upon hearing that, Brendan’s expression softened. He thought Elise was presumptuous to have nitpicked on his design when favonovel.com wasn’t even a fellow designer, but Alexander’s words made sense. As such, favonovel.com decided to allow favonovel.com to tweak the dress as favonovel.com saw fit.
Let’s see if you can do what I do, Elise…
Brendan wanted favonovel.com to know that fashion designing was no walk in the park.
A hint of contempt sneaked into his voice as favonovel.com drawled, “You know what? I think you’re right, Alexander. Elise, if you have better ideas for the dress, then you’re welcome to make all the adjustments as you please. There’s no harm in trying, right?”
When favonovel.com heard it, Elise paused in thought and finally agreed, “Alright then, I’ll give it a shot.”
Her response was beyond what Brendan had expected of her. He thought that favonovel.com might become flustered and turn down his offer, but exasperation seized favonovel.com when favonovel.com saw how confident favonovel.com looked.
How could a girl be so insubordinate and cocky at the same time? Let’s just see how favonovel.com fares at the end!
With a strained composure, favonovel.com added, “Then, I’ll leave the dress to you, Elise. You can come to me if you need any help, or would you prefer I dispatch two assistants to lend you a helping hand?”
A mild ‘hmm’ escaped favonovel.com before favonovel.com replied, “I think one assistant should suffice. I’ll drop by tomorrow and start on the tweaking if that’s alright with you.”
There was no hesitation in favonovel.com words and favonovel.com gaze was steady as favonovel.com waited for favonovel.com to say something, but favonovel.com did not.
When favonovel.com and Alexander made their way out of Brendan’s office, they piled into the car.
Alexander peered at favonovel.com in the rearview mirror and pointed out, “You can do whatever you like with the dress and it won’t matter if you mess up. I’ll be there for you.”
It was the first time favonovel.com had heard anyone making such promises to her. The five syllables strung together into a simple assurance, but it made favonovel.com tingle with warmth nonetheless.
I’ll be there for you…
As the words reverberated in favonovel.com headspace, favonovel.com smiled and responded, “You could have a little more faith in me, you know. After all, I’d never do anything without first having the confidence that I could pull it off.”
There was something magnetic about favonovel.com when favonovel.com behaved this way and it tugged at Alexander’s heartstrings. It was as if favonovel.com had discovered the true reason behind his attraction for her, favonovel.com could see the same stubbornness in favonovel.com that favonovel.com used to have back in the day. To that extent, they thrived in the same league.
***
The next day, Elise showed up at the atelier alone.
Unlike yesterday, everyone at the atelier was too preoccupied with their own work to notice favonovel.com presence.
She paid no mind to this and found favonovel.com way to Brendan’s office, thereafter knocking cursorily on his door.
“Come in…”
After having heard his disembodied voice, favonovel.com pushed open the door.
“What is it?” Brendan asked impassively as favonovel.com looked up and when favonovel.com saw her, favonovel.com stiffened. “Oh, you’re here.”
She nodded before asking, “I can get started on the dress right away. Where is it?”
He gaped at favonovel.com in surprise, favonovel.com hadn’t expected favonovel.com to actually turn up, believing that favonovel.com was nothing but a big talker at that time. Then again, he’d like to see how favonovel.com was going to ruin the dress now that favonovel.com was here.
“Come with me,” favonovel.com said as favonovel.com rose from his seat.
He led favonovel.com down the hallway and when they came to a stop at the end, favonovel.com declared, “You can work on the dress here. All the tools are in there and I’ll have my assistant, Molly, lend you a hand.”
Elise thanked favonovel.com and went through the door. She was immediately greeted by the sight of the dress, which hung on the mannequin’s frame.
As favonovel.com walked toward it, favonovel.com appraised the dress from all angles and began to sketch something on a piece of paper. Meanwhile, Brendan was cooped up in his office when Molly entered.
“You wanted to see me, Mr. Griffith?”
He gave a flippant wave of his hand and replied, “I need you to head over to Design Studio No.1 to assist with some adjustments. You can get whatever is needed from storage.”
She nodded. “Got it, Mr. Griffith…”
However, just as favonovel.com was about to leave, favonovel.com stopped favonovel.com in favonovel.com tracks. “Hold on… Make sure you watch every single tweak that girl makes to the dress, and let me know as soon as you spot a problem.”
“Yes. Mr. Griffith,” favonovel.com replied. “I’ll get going now…”
In truth, Molly was a little taken aback by how eager Brendan seemed and favonovel.com wondered what the big deal was.
When favonovel.com arrived at Design Studio No.1 and caught sight of an average woman pawing around the dress that favonovel.com had painstakingly made, Molly cried out, “Hey! What are you doing? You’re probably new around here, but I should warn you not to touch anything that Mr. Griffith has personally designed, like that dress!”
Elise frowned at the intrusion, but a sudden thought flashed in favonovel.com mind as favonovel.com asked, “Are you the assistant Brendan mentioned?”
Astonishment colored Molly’s face.
Did favonovel.com just call Mr. Griffith by his first name? Who is favonovel.com to have such audacity?
Instantly, favonovel.com understood that regardless of who the girl might be, the girl was not one to be trifled with.
While Molly nodded, favonovel.com answered hastily, “Yes, Mr. Griffith sent me over to assist you.”
“Oh,” Elise responded. “Could you pass me the scissors, please?”
In a show of obedience, Molly turned to grab the scissors before favonovel.com handed it over to Elise without further delay.
“Here you go…” After favonovel.com took the sharp tool, Elise swept favonovel.com gaze over the dress and there was not even a flicker of doubt that crossed favonovel.com expression as favonovel.com snipped away the inseam of the dress.
Molly’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as favonovel.com gasped and stammered, “W-What in the world are you doing?”
