Broken Truth (26 page)

“Those were your figures after the two years of your apprenticeship,” Imogen clarified. “Comparing them with the permanently employed staff, we found that your figures were higher than our number one stylist employed at that time.”

“But... I don’t get why?”

“It’s your personality, Charlie. Your customer satisfaction scores are up because people love you. It was why we took you on permanently after your apprenticeship. We wanted to help you grow and succeed because you were never meant to just dress people for a living. You’re too good for that and you know it.”

“I like what I do,” Charlie shrugged. “I’ve always loved clothes since I was a little girl, so I’ve always wanted to work in the fashion industry. Now that I’m in this sector, I couldn’t really see myself going anywhere else.”

 Imogen’s eye flashed wide as her mouth twitched into a smile. “Thank you for telling me that. It has most certainly led me to the reason for our impromptu meeting this morning,” Imogen replied, placing her hands in her lap. 

Charlie shuffled uncomfortably on the spot with nervous anticipation. She wasn’t sure what Imogen was about to tell her, but she hoped it was positive. With everything else going wrong in her life, the last thing she needed was to add work to that growing list.

“I have a proposition that I would like to run past you,” Imogen said, watching Charlie’s expression carefully.

Charlie tried to swallow, but found her throat suddenly dry. She eyed the takeaway cup of tea on the desk next to her handbag with sudden need. She could feel a rising heat slowly engulfing her body from head to toe.

“As you are aware, our sister company has expanded over the past twelve months into various locations throughout the country, whereas I&L chose to remain as a single boutique.” Charlie nodded and continued to listen. “It would appear that the risk for our sister company has paid off as the expanded locations have generated more profit than originally anticipated. Following the appointment of a new director a few weeks ago, it was decided to review all of our group structure as a whole and in particular, where we see the future for both of our companies heading.”

Lifting her hand, Charlie rubbed the back of her neck as a swarm of nervous prickles erupted.

 “Our sister company have expressed an interest in you Charlie. They are keen to work with you and grow your exceptional eye for fashion in a new environment. Would you be up for the challenge?”

“When you say a new environment... Where do you mean exactly?” she asked, raising her fingers so that she could gently gnaw on her nails.

She had a bad feeling that Imogen was referring to their flagship shop situated in the centre of London. She knew that as much as she would love the opportunity to work with such talented stylists, it just wouldn’t be possible to live in London. There was too much drama still on-going in her life to contemplate a move down south.

“Milan...”

Charlie coughed loudly as her breath caught in the back of her throat. Instinctively, she reached for her cup of tea to try and wash away the dryness. “Did you just say Milan? As in Milan, Italy?” she choked.

Imogen smiled and nodded in confirmation.

“The plan is for you to hopefully go to Milan and work within our new boutique on a six month to one year secondment. We feel that learning the skills and growing your knowledge in one of the most fashion conscious places in the world will enable you to come back and effectively train our members of staff across both of our companies.”

“Wait...” Charlie paused, still trying to make sense of what Imogen was saying. “You are willing to send me to Milan for experience?”

“Yes,” Imogen confirmed. “Following a recent meeting with the board of directors and our investors, we believe it to be a wise move and an excellent opportunity to put us ahead of our competition.”

“Okay,” she gulped, slightly lost for words.

Noticing Charlie’s shell shocked appearance, Imogen tried to quickly reassure her. “But of course we won’t expect you to make this decision immediately. There are a lot of factors to be taken into consideration, Charlie. We all want you to think this through fully before you commit to anything. We have a week until we have to advise the board of directors, so please take your time and let me know when you are ready.”

“Milan! Charlie, you have to go. There is no way in hell that I am letting you pass up this opportunity,” Amelia screeched at the top of her lungs. She jumped about excitedly on her side of the sofa, clutching her wine glass firmly. Charlie eyed the red liquid as it swished and swirled dangerously close to the rim of her glass.

“Careful,” she laughed as a few small drops escaped Amelia’s glass to land on her pyjama covered legs. “Maybe we should switch to white?” she suggested, bringing her glass to her lips so that she could drain away the remaining liquid.

“I’ll drink to that,” Amelia giggled.

She lifted her glass the same as Charlie had and downed the rest of her wine in one gulp. Placing her empty glass on the coffee table, Amelia stumbled happily into the kitchen to retrieve a further bottle. Returning a couple of minutes later, she thrust the full bottle of wine into Charlie’s face.

“I can’t open it!” Amelia whined.

Charlie laughed as she took the bottle out of her hands. “You are such a wimp,” she teased, gripping her fingers tightly around the cork. She wiggled it for a few seconds until it finally loosened and popped out of the bottle with a loud bang. “Give it here,” she said, extending her hand towards Amelia’s empty glass on the table.

“Thanks,” Amelia sung cheerfully as she passed her the empty glass.

Filling the glass halfway with white wine, Charlie passed it back to Amelia. She picked up her own glass and poured herself another large helping. Although she hadn’t prepared for alcohol tonight, it was definitely the right thing to have done.

“So... You’re going to Milan right?”

Charlie groaned and sunk back into the cushions of the sofa. Bringing her glass of wine to her lips, she took a long sip.

“Look, it isn’t that simple,” she explained with a sigh. “It isn’t just a case of hopping onto a plane and going to work in a foreign country. There are things that I need to take into consideration and seriously think about.”

“Like what,” Amelia scoffed. “It isn’t like your family are going to miss you. If anything, your Sister and Brother-In-Law will be happy to have you out of the country.”

“Thanks for that,” she mumbled, lifting her feet up so that she could tuck them under her bottom. “It’s always lovely to hear how your family doesn’t really care about you.”

“Well... Your Mum kind of cares for you in her own way,” Amelia offered positively. “She just goes about it a little differently to most people.”

“She is a fucking psycho,” Charlie muttered, taking another sip of her wine.  

Switching herself off from the conversation, Charlie found herself thinking about how sad it actually was that her family probably wouldn’t support her decision if she did decide to go to Milan. She knew that her mother would just use it as yet another reason to moan and bitch about how irresponsible she was being.

She thought about the other people her decision would affect. In reality, there wasn’t that many people who would in fact miss her if she did leave. Taking out her two best friends and Xavier, there weren’t many others who would care.

“Uh, hello?” Amelia snapped her fingers in front of Charlie’s face. “Are you seriously staring into space and blanking me,” she shouted, lifting her foot to nudge her in leg.

Looking up, Charlie smiled sheepishly.

“I am so sorry,” she apologised. “I was just thinking about some stuff and got carried away. What did you say?”

“I asked you whether you’re going to tell Callum if you decide to go,” Amelia replied.

“I’m not sure,” she said honestly.

She hadn’t really thought about the impact her move to Milan would have on Callum. She knew that it would have some form of effect on him, but she wasn’t sure how. She wondered whether he would be upset about her decision or whether he would choose to accept it as a way for them both to move on.

“Is
he
why you aren’t jumping at this opportunity?” Amelia asked with disgust. “If it is, Charlie, then you seriously need me to slap you. Fuck him! Fuck everything about that bloke!” She hollered loudly across the sofa, causing Charlie to flinch a little from the sudden harshness of her words.

“There are plenty of things to think about,” she replied quietly.

Amelia grimaced at her own rude behaviour. “I’m sorry that was totally out of line,” she said, shaking her head. “Of course he is still going to be a big part of your decision. I mean, I know you still love him and all.”

“Okay, let’s change the subject,” Charlie suggested. She didn’t want to linger on the Milan and Callum talk any longer as it was starting to put a downer on her alcoholic buzz.

“Fine,” Amelia said, waving her hand dismissively. “How was work? Didn’t you have Annabelle coming in today?”

“Surprisingly... She rescheduled,” Charlie said, feeling very grateful for the change in conversation.

“That’s a little odd,” Amelia added, loosely pursing her lips together. “It isn’t usually like Annabelle to cancel an appointment for shopping?”

“Oh don’t worry! She rescheduled for tomorrow morning instead. She would never let me get away that easy,” Charlie winked. 

“Sucks to be you tomorrow then,” Amelia said, flashing a cheesy grin in her direction. “What time is it anyway?” she asked, lighting up the screen on her mobile phone. “Shit!” she exclaimed, her eyes opening wide in disbelief. “It’s almost twelve... We’d better knock these back and get up to bed.”

Amelia raised her glass in a small toasting gesture and drained the liquid in a matter of seconds.

Briefly nodding her head, Charlie raised her glass slightly in the air before bringing it back to her lips. Drinking the entire contents of her glass in one swift movement had Charlie rapidly clutching at the side of her head. The objects in the room around her started to fuzz as she felt the effects of the alcohol coursing through her system.

“Woah!” Charlie muttered as she stumbled to get to her feet.

Amelia giggled drunkenly from behind.

“I think you had a teensy, weensy, bit too much to drink,” she mimicked in a small cutesy voice.

Placing her empty glass on the coffee table, Charlie grabbed Amelia’s hand. She figured it would be practical for the both of them to attempt the stairs together. “Come on,” she urged, pulling her out of the door.

“Wait...” Amelia commanded at the foot of the stairs.

Charlie looked towards her. “What?”

Unprepared for her next move, she was taken aback when Amelia opened her arms and pulled her into a tight embrace. “I love you,” she slurred into her ear. “Just think about Milan will you? I don’t want you to miss out on the biggest opportunity of your life. He would understand you know.”

Pulling back from their embrace, Charlie smiled at Amelia’s lopsided and drunken grin.

“Okay,” she agreed.

Twenty Five

“Jesus, you smell like a fucking brewery,” Xavier coughed as he gave Charlie her usual early morning hug. “It certainly smells like you had a late night?” he asked, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.

“It wasn’t too late,” she replied, trying to brush it off as nothing.

Xavier nodded, seemingly unconvinced with her answer. “Whatever... Go spray some perfume and get a mint or something for your breath,” he said, turning back towards the clothes he was previously folding.

Charlie frowned and lifted her hand to cup her mouth. She exhaled deeply to check her breath and almost gagged as the putrid smell of rancid alcohol wafted into her sinuses. Her cheeks flamed almost to the shade of beetroot as she shamefully walked out the back in search for her handbag. She knew that she had a packet of chewing gum hidden somewhere that would hopefully keep the smell at bay.

“Aha!” she called out triumphantly as she pulled the packet of gum from her bag. Popping a couple of pieces into her mouth, she placed the packet back into her bag before reaching for her bottle of perfume. Coating herself from head to toe in a fine layer of the sultry mist, she finally felt satisfied that the evidence of her mid-week drinking had been masked.