Coco Chanel Saved My Life by Danielle F. White Page A

conquer with your little grandma dresses…”
    I was ready to throw the whole computer at her little blonde head. “I don’t want to find
prey to have fun
,” my voice was rising “I simply want to grow professionally, meet new friends – and why not? – one day maybe find a guy with whom to share all this. Is that enough for you?” I was going to lose my temper. I felt angry and hurt, but to start crying in front of my new colleagues on my first day of work would not have been a good start.
    â€œOh, you are so romantic! Love, Love, Love.”
    I didn’t understand why she kept provoking me. I couldn’t see her objective. Did she want to make a fool of me in front of everybody so I would run away? Undermine my already fragile self-confidence to show she was powerful? I tried to breathe and calm myself.
    Now she was saying, “You really are a naïve provincial girl. Do you think you’ll find your Prince Charming? Men are all assholes. You don’t know how many grooms I find – organizing weddings – who want to take me to bed!”
    â€œWell, good. I see, a wedding planner who sacrifices herself for the cause! May I go back to work now?” I had to end that painful conversation.
    â€œYes, that’s why you’re here, honey.” Fuck you – I thought. “You can start to study these…” she added, pointing to some fat files. Then she moved on to harass someone else.
    While trying to focus on the boring files, I remembered Etienne’s letter. I was extremely curious. I noticed it was open… Could I give at least a quick glance? I was conflicted. Maybe it was something very important and I had to return it as soon as possible. I was ready to put it back, when the light letter slipped out. It was written in French, my second language. Destiny had chosen for me. I had to read it. Two lines were enough to understand that it was a declaration of love. It ended with,
do you want to marry me, Etienne? Yours, Juliette.
    I was embarrassed. My young blue-eyed man was engaged! Maybe he was going to marry soon. I felt a strange sensation, as if I were somehow involved. Why did I feel that I needed to do something about it? Why did I think I knew Etienne’s answer? I couldn’t stop thinking of those passionate words. I had a weird feeling and felt my heart in my throat.
    At that point the bitch came back to my desk. “Do you think we pay you to attend to your own business?”
    I blushed, feeling guilty. “Sorry… I’ll go back to work right now.”
    â€œListen darling, I don’t know what you were used to in your humid, wet, provincial town, but here we work seriously. If I tell you to do something, you must do it and right away!” She stared at me with small, evil eyes etched with crow’s feet. Then she returned to her desk and I couldn’t help sticking out my tongue at her back as she walked away.
    *
    I needed to hear a friendly voice and tell someone about this ironic turn my life was taking. I called Emma.
    â€œHi, do you have a few minutes?”
    â€œHi Coco! How is it going?”
    â€œWell, I wanted to talk to you about something. They assigned me to organize weddings!”
    â€œWhat?” Emma started laughing. “I can’t see you organizing wedding receptions! Did you tell them about your performance at my cousin’s wedding?”
    â€œWhen I stumbled into the table where the five-layered cake was placed and it fell on the floor? I don’t think it’s funny.”
    â€œYou should have told your boss! It was an incredibly funny scene. My Australian relatives still remember it. In every e-mail they send me, they always ask me about you.”
    â€œSee, I’m a disaster. How can I be a wedding planner?”
    â€œCoco, I think you are taking it too seriously. It’s just work! Perhaps your
karma
is saying something to you. Helping other women to