by Celine Yorke
Serena had learned to speak French. She studied over several years, and she could both speak and write French relatively well. Serena lets Violet in on her plans to get a job in the fashion industry and her goal to become a fashion designer. Violet listened to Serena's story and wished her luck.
"I don't want to discourage you, but it is a tough road you have chosen to follow. There are many others who have gone that way, but have had to turn around and go home again."
"But I'm a very determined person, and I feel very positive about being involved in the fashion industry.
CHAPTER NINE
Serena was a very determined young woman and not easily discouraged. She had her heart set on following this road and she was willing to work hard to accomplish her dream. The next day Serena caught a bus into the center of Paris and went around visiting the big fashion stores. She was excited. She loved the atmosphere of the fashion world and was confident that she had done the right thing by coming here. She just wanted to get started as soon as possible. She made some inquiry about where she needed to go to apply for a job in the fashion industry. When she arrived at the job agency, she talked to a very helpful lady. It seemed that they just got a job vacancy for a dressmaker in one of the biggest fashion stores, called Jean La Belle. The woman offered to set up an interview for the next day. Serena was thrilled about that and went back to the apartment to tell Violet about her good luck.
"That is wonderful Serena, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you."
"Thanks Violet, I need all the luck I can get." Serena unpacked some food she bought on the way home and put it in the pantry and fridge. Then she made a pot of tea and invited Violet to join her. Serena was very excited, and happy she had Violet to share it all with. It had been a very eventful week, she suddenly realized that she was very tired. After their cup of tea, Serena took a shower, and went off to bed where she slept right until 8.30am.
The next day, Serena looked at her wardrobe.
"What am I going to wear? I want to make a good first impression."
She settled for a blue skirt, a matching jacket and a lovely white lace top that showed off her nice slim figure. She looked very attractive for the interview.
"I wish I wasn't so nervous, but this is like the beginning of my dream coming true."
"You will be fine and you look stunning in your outfit." Violet assured her.
She arrived at her appointment and met the interviewer.
"Hello Serena, I'm Francine, please sit down."
Francine was very fashionably dressed. The clothes she was wearing and her makeup was perfect. Her hands were delicate and her long red nails matched her persona. She looked every bit the part of what this fashion store represented. She seemed to be a nice person with a strong personality.
"Thank you," Serena said politely."
Tell me a little about what you have been doing and what experience you have had as a dressmaker. "Serena listed her credentials and showed her resume. She had also brought her portfolio, which was full of the designs she had created. When Serena showed Francine her portfolio she was very impressed.
"Oh, you have created some beautiful outfit."
After the interview, Francine said that other people had applied for the job, but she would be in touch. Serena thanked her and left her mobile number. Serena was very excited. She was sure that she would get the job. She felt it was her destiny to make a name for herself.
She spent the rest of the day sightseeing around Paris and had a wonderful time eating lunch at one of the open air cafes watching all the many different people go by. She got back to the apartment late in the afternoon and told Violet all about her day. She was confident Francine would call her and tell her she got the job. Violet was delighted for her.
"Let us go down to Café' la Rouge and have something to eat. It's a small, inexpensive, very cozy cafe just around the corner.
"That's a great idea. I love those little cafes here in France," Serena agreed.
The next day, Francine called her and told her she had got the job and wanted to know if she could start the following day. Serena was delighted and excited. She reported for work the next day at 8 am. The workroom where the dressmaking was done was a busy place. They were getting ready for their spring fashion show Francine welcomed her and introduced her to the other women, then showed her to a table where she would be working. She worked on some beautiful dresses doing the finishing touches, which she enjoyed. It felt good being able to keep up with the speed of which they wanted the dresses finished for the models to wear. It all had to be finished for the fashion show, which was in a week's time, so there was a lot of pressure on everyone in the work room.
On the day of the fashion show everyone was in a rush, it was hectic. Then the boss, a man about forty to forty-five came into the workroom very upset - they were one model short. One of the models had called at the last minute to say she was sick and could not make it.
"Calm down Andre, we will work something out." Francine tilted her head and pressed her lips together as she thought for a little while. Then she suggested that they could put Serena in her place. Serena had told Francine that she had done a bit of modeling back in Sweden in her spare time.
"Let us go and ask Serena if she would like to stand in for the other model in the fashion show"
"Okay Francine, you are such a darling, you always find a way out." Andre knew he could always count on her to find a solution when things got out of hand.
"Serena, could you please help us out? One of the models called in sick. You said you had done some modeling before. We would like you to fill in for her."
"Yes, sure. I would be delighted to step in."
They got Serena into one of the dresses and did her makeup. She looked stunning. She was overjoyed to be walking the catwalk. What an honor to be involved in the fashion show. Serena enjoyed helping out at the fashion show, but don't give it much more thought to it than as a bit of fun for the day. However, she made such an impression on Andre that he wanted to use her for the remainder of the fashion show.
"Oh my God, I can't believe this is happening to me. I'm actually modeling for one of the famous fashion designers!" She clapped her hands and jumped up and down, then did a little dance, shaking her hips and humming a tune. Francine and Andre both laugh at her antics.
Some of the buyers from the other fashion houses were asking who the lovely new blond model was. She was making quite an impression on them. It was a whole new experience for Serena to be in the limelight, and she got caught up in the glamour of it all. Now she was really beginning to feel part of the fashion world in Paris. It wasn't long before she was offered more modeling jobs from the other fashion houses. Here she was a 22 year old young woman having the time of her life, which was just what she needed to drown her sorrow of missing Tom.
Serena was now in two minds what to do. She was having so much fun doing the modeling. She had adopted a taste for the glamour of it all, and the offers kept coming in. But, if she was going to pursue a modeling career, which had not been part of her plan, it would mean she would have to give up her day job, which she also loved. She was earning so much more money now from the modeling. That felt really good, but was that what she really wanted out of life to earn plenty of money? What about her creativity? Was that being fulfilled, and her dream of becoming a fashion designer? All those thoughts were in the back of her mind, and at times it really bothered her. She enjoyed working at Jean La Belle fashion store, and was learning new ways of doing things along the way. She had made friends with a few of the women that worked there and fitted in well with all the other employers as well. Was she ready to let that go yet?
Serena stayed with Violet, although she could afford to rent her own apartment now. She was earning plenty of money, but she enjoyed Violet's company. It was like having an older sister, and they had many heart to heart talks together. They often went down to the little cozy Café la Rouge for a meal or a quick snack. They had be
come regular costumers.
Serena had all those questions about her future turning around in her head. Maybe it was time to have a heart to heart talk with Violet. When she came home from work late that afternoon, she asked Violet if she had time to share a pot of tea with her. "Oh yes, that sounds lovely." They sat in the living room and Serena explained her problem.
"I am in two minds on what to do. Should I follow a modeling career, or should I keep my job and work toward becoming a fashion designer? I love my job, but at the same time, I'm also having so much fun doing the modeling, and I have to admit, I'm getting caught up in all the glamour of the modeling world, even though it can sometimes be hard work. What do you think I should do?"
"Oh my God decisions, decisions! I can see how it must be hard for you to decide. But it is so good to see you enjoying yourself after all the grief you went through over the last year. Couldn't you just keep going along with the modeling for a bit and see how you feel. You are obviously not ready to let go of that yet since you are having so much fun. You know the saying, 'When you are on to a good thing, stick to it.'
"If I were you, I wouldn't make any changes yet. Just go along with the way things are at the moment. If you feel later on you're not happy doing both things, then maybe you can talk to Francine and she may be able to advise you."
"Thanks, Violet, it is so good to talk to you, I truly value your suggestions. You always come up with sensible solutions for the problems I make for myself."
They laughed and chatted some more. Talking to Violet had such a calming influence on Serena.
CHAPTER TEN
The next day when Serena was walking down the street towards her work, she felt so lucky to be in Paris. Known as the "City of Lights," she felt that her dream was starting to happen for her. She was already beginning to feel at home in this beautiful cosmopolitan city whose influence on entertainment, the fashion world as well as the arts is felt worldwide. She knew she was going to have a love affair with this city. She felt in a romantic mood and she could feel her creativity opening up inside her. She experienced a sense of floating on air.
"Oh, how I wish Tom could be here and share this with me," she said to herself, and her thoughts kept wandering, "This city is everything a city lover could possibly desire. There are chic little boutiques and huge department stores, wonderful art galleries, superb restaurants, and huge flea and antique markets. There are elegant squares and pretty parks and the Seine must be the most romantic waterfront in the world. I am working in this atmosphere, how blessed am I!" she said out loud. The Jean La Belle Fashion store was situated not far from the river Seine, and when it was time for Serena's lunch hour, she walked down and ate her lunch there while taking in the amazing scenery.
One such day, when she had finished her lunch, she got up from the bench and walked over to look at the river. Just then, a group of young people ran past her. One of them fell over when another jogger ran into him, causing them all to collide with Serena. The push was enough that she lost her balance and fell into the water. She went under the water, and as she came up to the surface, she gasped for air, her eyes and mouth wide open in shock. She splashed around trying to keep afloat, but it was hard with all her clothes and shoes on.
"Ooooh Ooooh..." was the only sound she could get out." She spit out water and coughed.
"Oh, someone help me!" She frantically screamed and splashed in the water trying to stay afloat.
Suddenly, someone grabbed her around her waist, trying to keep her head out of the water. She heard a man's voice behind her, speaking to her in French, telling her to relax.
"I have got you. Let me help you get out of here."
Serena, in shock, clung to the man's arm as he swam over to a ladder leading up to the pathway.
"Are you okay?" the man whispered as he struggled to breathe.
"Will you be able to climb up the ladder?"
"Oh my God, I think so," Serena stuttered She was shivering and shaking all over, in a state of shock. She climbed up the ladder slowly. The man was right behind her in case she should fall down. The young people on top of the ladder were waiting to pull her up the last bit of the way. When they were both safely up on the pathway, the man led her over to a bench and sat her down, sitting next to her.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm just a bit shaken up," she managed to say.
"I'm Philippe," her rescuer introduced himself. I'm so sorry. I was deep in thought and didn't pay attention to where I was jogging, so I ran right into the other people."
"I'm Serena," she said with a little smile and a shivering voice as she looked into a pair of beautiful glistening green eyes. She was captivated and couldn't seem to stop looking into those eyes.
"I think we'd better get you dried. There is a yacht club not far from here. Would you allow me to take you there so I can make up for the trouble I and the others caused you?"
"Oh, yes please, I can't go back to work looking like this." Serena was relieved and happily welcomed his offer.
When they got up from the bench, Serena was a bit wobbly on her feet. Philippe grabbed her to steady her while she found her balance. Philippe put his arm around her waist to hold her steady. She leaned into him to keep her balance.
She surprised herself by feeling attracted to this hot, handsome French man, oozing out sensual masculine energy. She couldn't quite understand why she reacted like that in the state of mind she was in. Once at the club, he asked her to sit at a table in the café area while he went and arranged for a couple of changing rooms where they could dry themselves.
It turned out that Philippe was a member of the club. He arranged for robes while their clothes were cleaned.
"Would you like something hot to drink?" Philippe asked Serena.
"Yes, please," she answered. He seemed like such a gentleman, but she felt shy and uncomfortable with the whole situation.
"Do you think I could borrow a phone so I can call my work and let them know why I'm not back yet from my lunch hour?"
"Sure, you can use my mobile," he said as he handed it to her. She sat down at the table and pressed Francine's number. She explained the situation to her. Francine was very understanding.
"Oh my God, that is terrible. Are you sure you're alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine. Just a little shaken up, but I'm here at the club with the man who accidentally pushed me into the river. Our clothes are being cleaned and we are just waiting for them to dry."
"Serena, I think you should take the rest of the day off. It must have been an awful experience for you. Go home and rest. We will see you tomorrow."
"Thank you Francine, that is kind of you." Philippe came back with steaming hot cups of coffee and sat down at the table across from her.
"Are you okay?" he asked as he smiled. It was then she got a really good look at him. He was a handsome man. Her heart felt like it was beating twice as fast, and she was hoping he wouldn't notice. She looked straight into his beautiful green eyes. At that moment, they exchanged a long eye to eye glance, full of romantic promises. She observed everything about his physical looks, his hair was dark, but with blond streaks from the sun. He was well built. She could tell by his athletic body that he was working out or doing some kind of sport. Serena felt self-conscious,
"Yes, but a little shaken. My boss told me to go home and take the rest of the day off."
"Good, where do you work?"
"I work at the Jean La Belle Fashion store as a dressmaker."
"That's our family business. I work with the export sales part of the business. We export our goods all over the world. What a coincidence. Where in the world do you come from Serena? I notice you have a slight accent. You are not from around here, are you?"
"I'm from Sweden."
"Your French is very good."
"I always knew I wanted to come to France and work in the fashion industry, so I studied French for a long time."
"You speak the language well."
"T
hank you." Oh, he is a real gentleman, she thought to herself. They chatted for a while and Serena felt more and more comfortable in his company. One of the staff members came to tell them that their clothes were ready.
"I will drive you home," he said in a matter of fact way, so it only seemed natural that she accepted the lift.
"Thank you, I really appreciate that."She went and got dressed.
When she came out, she saw him waiting for her wearing black tracksuit pants and a white sleeveless T-shirt which showed off his olive skin and muscular arms. Serena was impressed and felt a ray of warmth coming over her just by being in his presence. She had to catch her breath for a moment. Who was this handsome guy?
He smiled as he said, "My car is just outside." And what a car. It was an expensive red sports car. As soon as she sat in it, she could smell the black leather seats. Serena had never ridden in a sports car before. She was both amazed and bewildered. The top was down so the wind was blowing her long blond hair away from her face. She loved the feel of the whole experience and couldn't help, but giggle to herself. Philippe turned his head and looked at her and smiled. She was enjoying the ride. He dropped her off outside her apartment.
"Thanks for the ride." She had recovered from her fall in the river and was now smiling.
"You are welcome. That was the least I could do for you after my clumsy behavior. I'm very sorry about what happened, but I'm glad I got a chance to meet you. Would you allow me to take you out for dinner tomorrow night, so I can make up for your fall into the water?" Philippe smiled his most charming smile. How could she resist him?
"Yes, thank you. That would be nice, and don't worry about me falling in the water, nothing happened. I'm fine now."