The Fashion House Fued

The smell of steam and old cedar and English wool was usually what made Kacey Vaughan feel safe. For a time the big oak doors of Vaughan & Sons Bespoke Tailors kept out the noise of London. It was a place where time went slow. People cared about making things well.. Today the air inside the shop felt heavy. Kacey stood behind the counter her fingers tight on the wood. Across the room, a man was leaning on a table with silk pocket squares. He was wearing an Italian suit. This was Stephen Sterling. He was the one who could ruin her life. Stephen had a tablet and a calm face. He did not look up when he talked. "The numbers are simple Miss Vaughan " he said. "This part of Mayfair is not used enough. We need to make it modern. The old lease is a way to hide from progress." "This shop pays its taxes Mr. Sterling " Kacey said, her voice firm. "We make clothes for people who care about quality. Not like the things your company wants to sell." Stephen looked up at her. His eyes were gray and sharp. He looked at her like she was a problem to solve. "People want things that're easy and cheap. In three weeks you will have to leave. You should start packing." Kacey felt angry. He did not care about the history of the shop. He did not see the old stool her grandfather used or the buttons her father taught her to sew. To him, it was an old building. "Get out of my shop " she said, her voice. Angry. Stephen did not move. He put his tablet away. Fixed his cuffs. "I am leaving.. You will have to face reality. My team will send you some papers to help you move." Then a voice came from the back office. "He has not read the addendum " it said. Arthur, Kacey'ss lawyer came out. He was old. Had glasses. He had a piece of paper in his hand. "The lease has a part " he said. "It says that if Kacey is making a wardrobe for the owner of the building she cannot be forced to leave." Stephen turned around. He looked a little surprised. "I have not asked for any clothes " he said. "You do not have to " Kacey said, thinking fast. "The law says that if I start making a wardrobe for you you cannot make me leave until it is done." Stephen looked at her. His eyes were narrow. "You are joking " he said. "I am not joking about my father's shop " Kacey said. "You have a party in three weeks. You need a wardrobe.. I am going to make it for you." The room was quiet. Arthur held out the paper. Stephen looked atKacey'ss hands. The tape measure around her neck. He smiled, a dangerous smile. "A twelve-piece wardrobe in three weeks is impossible " he said. "You will fail.. When you do I will tear down this building." "I will not fail " Kacey said, her voice firm. The morning the rain was loud on the roof. Kacey was nervous. She had spent all night getting ready. At nine o'clock the bell above the door rang. Stephen came in alone. He was wet from the rain. He looked around the shop. Then took off his jacket. "No helpers?" he asked. "I do not let anyone else touch my scissors " Kacey said. "Take off your shoes. Stand on the block." Stephen did what she said. He stood on the block, tall and strong. Kacey felt a little scared. She stepped up onto the block with him. They were coo close. "Stand straight " she said. "Do not look down." Kacey put the tape measure around his neck. She had to lean in to him. She could feel his breath on her skin. Her fingers touched his neck. He twitched a little. "Fifteen and a half inches " she said, writing it down. She stepped in again wrapping the tape around his chest. Her arms were around him like a hug. Stephen did not move,. His eyes never left her face. "You are tense " Kacey said. "Relax your shoulders." "It is hard to relax when you look like you want to hurt me " Stephen said, his voice dry. Kacey looked up at him. Their faces were close. She could see the gold, in his eyes and something else something that made her feel strange. "If I wanted to hurt you Mr. Sterling " she said, her voice low. "I would not use the tape. I would use the scissors." Stephen laughed, a warning. It made Kacey feel surprised. He was not what she expected.For ty-twowo inches she said quickly stepping away to break the spell that was growing between them. She wrote down the number, her breathing a little. This was dangerous she thought. She was supposed to hate him. He was the enemy, the man who wanted to tear down her familys business for his gain.. There was something about him that was pulling her in making her feel off balance. Next,she said, trying to sound calm. The inseam. She knelt on the block in front of him trying not to think about how awkward this was. She took the tape measure. Placed it at the top of his inner thigh. Stephens breath. She felt his muscle harden beneath his pants. Hold this here she said, trying to keep her voice professional as she handed him the top of the tape. Stephen reached down his warm fingers brushing against hers as he took the tape. It felt like a shock and Kacey quickly pulled her hand away. She slid her fingers down the length of his leg to his ankle trying to focus on the numbers and not on the way her heart was racing. ThirtThirty-twowhispered, looking down at the floor. She stood up feeling breathless her face flushed. That will do for the measurements she said. I will start making the patterns for the trousers and the evening jacket today. You will need to come tomorrow for the first fitting. Stephen got down from the block. Put his shoes back on. He did not immediately reach for his jacket. Instead he walked over to the cutting table. Looked at the chalk lines Kacey had drawn on a piece of brown paper. Your father taught you he asked, his voice softer now. Yes Kacey said. From the time I was seven years old. He told me that a machine can copy a pattern but only a human hand can understand the flaws of a body and make it beautiful. Stephen looked at her his face hard to read. My father taught me that flaws are things to be gotten rid of he said. If a company is weak you get rid of it. If a building is old you tear it down.. People Kacey asked, her eyes narrowing. Do you get rid of them too. Stephen picked up his jacket. Put it on. People change he said.. They get left behind. He walked to the door his hand on the brass handle. He. Looked back at Kacey over his shoulder. Tomorrow at nine he said. Do not be late. The next two weeks were a blur of nights and hard work. Every morning at nine Stephen would come to the shop. At first they would argue,. As time went on things started to change. Stephen would watch Kacey as she worked. She could see the hardness in his eyes start to fade. He would bring her coffee. Help her when she was tired. Kacey started to feel like maybe she had been wrong about him. Then on the eve of the big gala everything changed. A tall imposing man with hair and cold eyes came to the shop. He was Stephen's father, Richard Sterling. He was a man and Kacey could see the hatred in his eyes as he looked at her. You are the seamstress who has been wasting myson'ss time he said. I am the master tailor Kacey said, trying to stand up. I have a contract to makeStephen'ss clothes. Richard laughed, a sound. You think a piece of paper can stop me he said. I have the power. I will do what I want. He handed Kacey a document and she felt her heart sink as she read it. It was an eviction notice. It said that Stephen had signed over the deed to the building to hisfather'ss company. Kacey felt like she had been punched in the gut. She looked up at Richard. Then she saw Stephen standing in the doorway a look of shock on his face. You liar she said, her voice shaking with anger. She picked up the scissors from the counter and held them tight, against her chest. Get out she screamed.