But somehow — I don’t feel thrown at all.
Subconsciously, I realize, I’ve been expecting him.
“What are you doing here?” I say, trying to sound as composed as I can.
“As I said, I’ve heard you’re the best shopper in town.” He gives me a quizzical look. “I thought perhaps you could help me buy a suit. This one is looking rather tired.”
He gestures to his immaculate Jermyn Street suit, which I happen to know he’s only had for three months, and I hide a smile.
“You want a suit.”
“I want a suit.”
“Right.”
Playing for time, I put the dress back on a hanger, turn away, and place it carefully on the rail. Luke’s here.
He’s here. I want to laugh, or dance, or cry, or something. But instead I reach for my notepad and, without rushing, turn round.
“What I normally do before anything else is ask my clients to tell me a little about themselves.” My voice is a little jumpy and I take a deep breath. “Perhaps you could… do the same?”
“Right. That sounds like a good idea.” Luke thinks for a moment. “I’m a British businessman. I’m based in London.” He meets my eyes. “But I’ve recently opened an office in New York. So I’m going to be spending quite a bit of time over here.”
“Really?” I feel a jolt of surprise, which I try to conceal. “You’ve opened in New York? That’s… that’s very interesting. Because I had the impression that certain British businessmen were finding it tough to do deals with New York investors. Just… something I heard.”
“They were.” Luke nods. “They were finding it tough. But then they downscaled their plans. They decided to open on a much smaller scale.”
“A smaller scale?” I stare at him. “And they didn’t mind that?”
“Perhaps,” says Luke after a pause, “they realized that they’d been overambitious the first time round. Perhaps they realized that they’d become obsessed to the point where they’d let everything else suffer. Perhaps they realized they needed to swallow their pride and put away their grand plans — and slow down a little.”
“That… that makes a lot of sense,” I say.
“So they put together a new proposal, found a backer who agreed with them, and this time nothing stood in the way. They’re already up and running.”
His face is gleaming with a suppressed delight, and I find myself beaming back.
“That’s great!” I say. “I mean…” I clear my throat. “Right. I see.” I scribble some nonsense in my notepad. “So — how much time are you going to be spending in New York, exactly?” I add in a businesslike manner. “For my notes, you understand.”
“Absolutely,” says Luke, matching my tone. “Well, I’ll be wanting to keep a significant presence in Britain. So I’ll be here for two weeks a month. At least, that’s the idea at the moment. It may be more, it may be less.” There’s a long pause and his dark eyes meet mine. “It all depends.”
“On… on what?” I say, scarcely able to breathe.
“On… various things.”
There’s a still silence between us.
“You seem very settled, Becky,” says Luke quietly. “Very… together.”
“I’m enjoying it, yes.”
“You look as though you’re flourishing.” He looks around with a little smile. “This environment suits you. Which I suppose comes as no great surprise…”
“Do you think I took this job just because I like shopping?” I say, raising my eyebrows. “Do you think this is just about… shoes and nice clothes? Because if that’s really what you think, then I’m afraid you’re sadly misguided.”
“That’s not what I—”
“It’s far more than that. Far more.” I spread my arms in an emphatic gesture. “It’s about helping people. It’s about being creative. It’s about—”
A knock at the door interrupts me, and Erin pops her head in.
“Sorry to bother you, Becky. Just to let you know, I’ve put aside those Donna Karan mules you wanted. In the taupe and the black, right?”
“Erm… yes,” I say hurriedly. “Yes, that’s fine.”
“Oh, and Accounts called, to say that takes you up to your discount limit for this month.”
“Right,” I say, avoiding Luke’s amused gaze. “Right. Thanks. I’ll… I’ll deal with that later.” And I wait for Erin to leave, but she’s gazing with frank curiosity at Luke.
“So, how are you doing?” she says to him brightly. “Have you had a chance to look around the store?”
“I don’t need to look,” says Luke in a deadpan voice. “I know what I want.”
My stomach gives a little flip, and I stare straight down at my notebook, pretending to make more notes. Scribbling any old rubbish.
“Oh right!” says Erin. “And what’s that?”
There’s a long silence, and eventually I can’t bear it anymore, I have to look up. As I see Luke’s expression, my heart starts to thud.
“I’ve been reading your literature,” he says, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a leaflet entitled The Personal Shopping Service: For busy people who need some help and can’t afford to make mistakes.
He pauses, and my hand tightens around my pen.
“I’ve made mistakes,” he says, frowning slightly. “I want to right those mistakes and not make them again. I want to listen to someone who knows me.”
“Why come to Barneys?” I say in a trembling voice.
“There’s only one person whose advice I trust.” His gaze meets mine and I feel a small tremor. “If she doesn’t want to give it, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
“We have Frank Walsh over in menswear,” says Erin helpfully. “I’m sure he’d—”
“Shut up, Erin,” I say, without moving my head.
“What do you think, Becky?” he says, moving toward me. “Would you be interested?”
For a few moments I don’t answer. I’m trying to gather all the thoughts I’ve had over the last couple of months. To organize my words into exactly what I want to say.
“I think…” I say at last, “I think the relationship between a shopper and a client is a very close one.”
“That’s what I was hoping,” says Luke.
“There has to be respect.” I swallow. “There can’t be canceled appointments. There can’t be sudden business meetings that take priority.”
“I understand,” says Luke. “If you were to take me on, I can assure you that you would always come first.”
“The client has to realize that sometimes the shopper knows best. And… and never just dismiss her opinion. Even when he thinks it’s just gossip, or… or mindless tittle-tattle.”
I catch a glimpse of Erin’s confused face, and suddenly want to giggle.
“The client has already realized that,” says Luke. “The client is humbly prepared to listen and be put right. On most matters.”
“All matters,” I retort at once.
“Don’t push your luck,” says Luke, his eyes flashing with amusement, and I feel an unwilling grin spread across my face. I catch Erin’s eye and with a sudden blush of comprehension, she hurries out, leaving us alone.
As the door closes, Luke and I stare at each other. My throat is suddenly tight with emotion.
“Well, Mr. Brandon…” I say at last. I clear my throat and doodle consideringly on my notepad. “I suppose ‘most’ would be acceptable. In the circumstances.”
“So.” His eyes are warm and tender. “Is that a yes, Becky? Will you be my… personal shopper?”
He takes a step forward, and I’m almost touching him. I can smell his familiar scent. Oh God, I’ve missed him.
“Yes,” I say happily. “Yes, I will.”
FROM: Gildenstein, Lalla [L.
[email protected]]
TO: Bloomwood, Becky [
[email protected]]
DATE: Wednesday, January 28, 2001, 8:22 a.m.
SUBJECT: HELP! URGENT!
Beck
y:
Help! Help! I lost your list. I have a big formal dinner tonight with some new Japanese clients. My Armani is at the cleaners. What should I wear? Please e-mail back soonest.
Thanks, you are an angel.
Lalla.
P.S.: I heard your news — congratulations!
Ms. Rebecca Bloomwood
Apt. 4D
418 W. 46th Street
New York
January 30, 2001
Dear Ms. Bloomwood:
New Account No.: 4567 2346 7689
Welcome to Second Union Bank! We are sure you will be happy with the wide range of banking services we can provide.
We at Second Union Bank pride ourselves on our highly individual approach to clients. May I invite you now to contact me personally at any time if there is anything I can help you with. No matter is too small for my attention.
Thank you for choosing Second Union Bank, and I am sure this is the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship.
With kind regards.
Yours sincerely,
Walt Pitman
Head of Customer Services
Acknowledgments
HUGEST THANKS to Susan Kamil and Zoë Rice for their help and encouragement, to Nita Taublib and everyone at The Dial Press, who made me so incredibly welcome in New York, and again to Zoë for a wonderful afternoon of research (shopping and eating chocolate). Special thanks as always to Araminta Whitley, Celia Hayley, Mark Lucas, Kim Witherspoon and David Forrer, and all at Transworld. Also to David Stefanou for the gimlets and Sharyn Soleimani at Barneys who was so kind, and to all the people who have given me ideas, advice, and inspiration along the way, in particular Athena Malpas, Lola Bubbosh, Mark Malley, Ana-Maria Mosley, and all my family. And of course, Henry, who has the best ideas.
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Sophie Kinsella, Shopaholic Takes Manhattan
(Series: Shopaholic # 2)
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