Chapter Two: Compliments and Comebacks
1026 Words
By the time Elena got home, she had received three customer messages, two missed calls, and one voice note from a client who apparently believed that a personalised gift box could be redesigned five minutes before delivery.
She stared at her phone.
Then she stared at the ceiling.
“God, please give me patience,” she muttered. “Because if You give me strength, somebody will cry today.”
Her phone buzzed again.
Customer: Please, can you change the colour from pink to purple? And can you make the box bigger? I want it to look simple but expensive.
Elena typed a reply, deleted it, typed another one, and finally settled on a polite response.
Elena: Good evening! I can change the colour, but the box size depends on the materials available. I'll confirm the additional cost before proceeding.
She sent the message and dropped her phone on the bed.
Running a small business sounded glamorous when people talked about it online. They posted beautiful pictures of finished products, happy customers, and neatly arranged workspaces.
Nobody posted the part where you spent twenty minutes explaining why a personalised item could not magically appear after the deadline.
Elena sighed, sat at her worktable, and began sorting the ribbons and gift boxes she had bought earlier that week.
She had orders to finish, money to calculate, and a business page that needed more attention than she had given it lately.
Her phone rang.
Hannah.
Elena answered without greeting.
“If you're calling to tell me another man complimented you after I left, I'm hanging up.”
Hannah burst into laughter.
“Good evening to you too!”
“Talk.”
“First of all, you’re a terrible friend.”
“Second?”
“Second, I need your help.”
Elena paused.
That was unexpected.
“What happened?”
“Nothing serious. I have to finish a design for a client, and she has decided that she wants something elegant, simple, unique, dramatic, traditional, modern, and affordable.”
Elena closed her eyes.
“Is she designing a dress or solving Nigeria's problems?”
“Exactly what I asked myself!”
They both laughed.
Hannah continued, “I need you to look at two colour combinations for me tomorrow. You have a good eye for details.”
Elena smiled. “You know you could have started with that instead of insulting me.”
“I wasn't insulting you. I was preparing you emotionally.”
“For what?”
“For the honour of helping a very talented fashion designer.”
“Please send your designs before I withdraw my services.”
Hannah sent the pictures almost immediately.
Elena studied them carefully. One combination was beautiful but a little too loud, while the other had the understated elegance the client seemed to want.
She explained her choice and suggested a small adjustment.
Hannah replied with three heart emojis.
“See?” Hannah said over the phone. “This is why I keep you.”
“Because I'm useful?”
“Because you're useful and I love you.”
Elena's expression softened.
“Love you too, you dramatic woman.”
For a few minutes, they talked about everything and nothing. Hannah complained about work, Elena complained about customers, and both agreed that adulthood had been advertised dishonestly.
Eventually, Hannah had to leave for another call.
Before hanging up, she said, “By the way, we're going out this weekend.”
Elena frowned. “Who is we?”
“Me and you.”
“That's two people.”
“Excellent mathematics.”
“Where are we going?”
“Somewhere nice.”
“Define nice.”
“Somewhere with good food, good music, and absolutely no stress.”
Elena looked at the unfinished boxes on her table.
“Then you should go alone.”
“Absolutely not. You're coming.”
“Hannah—”
“No excuses. You've been working every day. You need to get out of that room before you start naming your gift boxes.”
Elena laughed despite herself.
“Fine. I'll come.”
“Good. Wear something nice.”
“I always wear something nice.”
“You wore slippers to the shop last week.”
“They were comfortable.”
“Exactly my point.”
Hannah ended the call before Elena could respond.
Elena shook her head, still smiling.
Sometimes she wondered how someone so dramatic had become one of the most important people in her life.
But she was grateful.
---
The following morning, Elena woke early and got to work.
She arranged the ribbons by colour, checked her order list, and carefully assembled a birthday gift box containing a journal, a handwritten card, and a few small items selected for the customer.
When she finished, she took several pictures near the window, adjusting the arrangement until the photographs looked clean and inviting.
She posted them on her business page with a short caption.
Thoughtful gifts for the people who make life special. Send a message to place your order.
Then she waited.
Five minutes passed.
Ten minutes.
One person liked the post.
Elena stared at the screen.
“Wonderful. At this rate, I'll be a millionaire by the year 2086.”
She put her phone aside and returned to work.
She had learned that waiting for people to notice her efforts could become exhausting. She needed to keep improving, keep showing up, and keep finding ways to reach customers.
Still, it would have been nice if somebody had placed an order.
Just one.
Her phone buzzed.
She grabbed it.
A message from Hannah.
Hannah: Don't forget our outing this weekend. I've already decided what you're wearing.
Elena groaned.
Elena: I beg you in the name of everything you love. Leave my wardrobe alone.
Hannah: Never.
Elena laughed and returned to her work.
She had no idea that, before long, the very business she was struggling to grow would bring her into contact with people who would change the direction of her life.
For now, she was simply a young woman trying to make something of herself.
And that was more than enough to keep her busy.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD