Coco Chanel Saved My Life by Danielle F. White

jumping for joy.
    â€œWe organize everything: the selection of dresses, wedding rings, location, catering, flowers, cars, even the type of confetti. We offer a complete service and we are the best. Do you understand? The best,” she said with pride. “And
I
co-ordinate everything!” Humility evidently wasn’t her best skill.
    I went to my desk without a word and turned on the computer. I began to look at the documents that someone had put in a file called
Rebecca
. There were miscellaneous items: photographs of events, budgets, quotes, the history of the company, and a document stating the agency’s
mission
. I spent most of the morning going over these documents, then I took a break and went to the coffee vending machine. There I met two girls who seemed nice. They smiled and introduced themselves. Marika and Sara worked in marketing. When they learned that Valentina was my tutor, they laughed, wishing me
good luck
!
    As I was finishing my watery cappuccino, Etienne approached me with an amused smile.
    â€œSo… Rebecca.”
    â€œYes… Etienne.” I extended my hand for a formal introduction. He shook it, still smiling.
    â€œHow is your morning going so far?” He selected an espresso from the vending machine.
    â€œWell, I’m trying to settle in… It’s too early to say, new colleagues, the wedding thing and Valentina…”
    â€œShe’s a tough nut, right?”
    â€œDo you know her?’
    â€œYes, I’ve met her a few times… for some deliveries.”
    â€œI wonder why bosses hire people with that kind of attitude… They should know immediately what kind of person they are going to get! Don’t you think? A boss’s task should be to create teams that also function from the human perspective… Ok, sorry for the tirade. I sometimes think that managers are a little dull. They should know better.”
    He winked. “Come on! Chill out… First days are always the most difficult, but you’ll see, eventually it will be fun.”
    Well, with errand boys like you – I thought – maybe it
will be fun
. “Thank you! I’ll survive.”
    He tossed his cup in the trash can and turned towards me. “Beautiful pearls!” Then he left.
    I stood there watching him walk away, then I looked down and saw an envelope. I picked it up. It was addressed to him with elegant hand writing. I thought of calling him back, but he had already disappeared. And now? I felt the impulse to open it, but I couldn’t go against all my principles just because of a blue-eyed beautiful guy. I would keep it until our next encounter. It could be a good excuse to talk again. I turned to go back to my very, very
simpatica
Valentina.
    When I got back to my office she was at my desk, touching my hand bag I’d thrown on the chair.
    â€œVery soft leather,” she said.
    â€œYes, I bought it in an outlet near Venice. It was a wonderful bargain!”
    â€œMay I ask you something?”
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œWhy did you move to Milan? It was for a man, right?”
    Her disregard for my privacy got on my nerves. “No, I moved to Milan to grow professionally.”
    â€œSure! Maybe you even have the ambition to become a CEO…” She laughed out loud. “Are you sure you didn’t move here for some handsome Milanese?”
    I couldn’t understand why this tasteless woman had to put me through this inquisition about my personal life. If she weren’t my boss, I would have sent her to hell without a second thought.
    â€œNo, I’m single.”
    â€œSingle in Milan? Competition is tough here…” she said sarcastically.
    Why didn’t she mind her own business? “Well, I thought Milan would be a good place to start over…”
    â€œEverything is clear now! You thought that in the big city you would find more prey to have fun! I can imagine how many guys you’ll