Page 10 of Softest Touch
“Ehm, because you are still sick.” I giggle as he continues to modify the drawing.
“Breathtaking; now it's perfect.” Derek's smile reaches his eyes, and his happiness makes me feel good. At least he doesn't hate me for criticizing his dress. “Bring it to José. It would be perfect if he could create it for the parade.”
I take it and carefully place it in my computer bag. “I'll give it to him as soon as I get there.”
“Thank you, and call me if you need anything.”
I cock a brow at him while holding back a laugh. “This is what I should tell you.”
“I'll be fine, don't worry.” The wink following his words makes my heart skip a beat.
* * *
Arriving at work, I can feel the frenzy of Fashion Week in the air, especially in the tailor's lab. I put my things on the desk as Sienna joins me.
“Hi, Melinda.” She looks toward Derek's office and then around before focusing back on me. “Has Derek arrived?”
“He won't be coming to the office. He's still in bed with a fever.”
“For real?” She gasps.
I nod while leafing through the mail. “Yes, he spent yesterday in bed too, and I prevented him from leaving the penthouse.”
“You did?” Her surprised voice makes me tilt my head at her. “Well, we need him in shape for New York.”
“Indeed; can I help you with something?”
“Um...” She thinks about it but then shrugs. “I don't think so. Derek’s the one who usually takes care of it.”
I put down the mail and focus on Sienna. She's nervous, and this time I feel her hormones have nothing to do with her frustration. “What do you need?”
She sighs in exasperation. “A supplier is late with delivery, and a model is sick. We have to choose another one.”
That doesn't sound like something we cannot fix. “Okay… one thing at a time, who is the supplier?”
She hands me the email he sent to her, and I read it carefully before dialing his phone number. “In the meantime, do you have a catalog of models that we can call in case of need?”
“Yes, let me grab it,” she says before walking toward her office.
The supplier apologizes for the delay, but his van won't start, and he’s unable to deliver the last order of fabrics today. This is a mess! While the supplier carries on with his apology, I spot James walking by while chewing on a cookie and an idea pop into my head.
Covering the phone with my hand, I try my luck. “James, I need a huge, huge, huge favor.”
He stops and narrows his eyes at me. “Okay, those are too many huges, even for me, what’s up?”
“Could you go to the docks? Friederick Stan says he's stuck with his van and won't be able to deliver the fabrics to us today, and Josè will lose his mind.” I rush the words out.
“Sure, I have a meeting in an hour, and it’s on my way.” James checks his wristwatch. “I'm leaving in five minutes. Send me the address,” he says, walking back toward the elevator.
I mutter a thank you before sending him the address.
“Mr. Friederick, here I am.” I resume the phone call. “I can send someone to collect the fabrics for us shortly, but you will have to take the delivery costs off my invoice.” I know it's not something Derek would do, but I think it's fair. Not to mention, their fee is pretty high.
I hear him taking a breath of relief. “Consider it done, thank you, Miss Jackson.”
“It was a pleasure.”
Thank goodness one problem has been solved. José would have gone mad. When I gave him Derek's new sketch, he was thrilled but anxious about the fabrics since the delivery was already late.