MISTLETOE - A Christmas Love Story

CHAPTER FOUR | SIZEABLE

Kasey Jones was one of the successful and independent African American women, who held quite a solid reputation in the New York fashion industry.

Kasey never really had a keen interest in any career, until she turned eighteen. At the age of eighteen, Kasey Jones discovered a hidden gem that had been dormant all her life. That hidden gem was her love for fashion design and fashion illustration.

On her eighteenth birthday, Kasey was asked to suggest the kind of dress she'd like to wear, being the birthday girl. With a black pen and a piece of paper, Kasey illustrated a stunning halter neck gown.

After an observation of how beautiful the illustration was, Kasey assigned a fabric to the style and accessories as well.

Completely satisfied with the compliments she received on her birthday, eighteen-year-old Kasey deemed herself a stylist and her enthusiasm for the world of fashion grew.

With good grades and recommendations, Kasey got admitted into the Parson School of Design, New York. It was a dream come true and Kasey did justice to her years in school under a full scholarship.

During her internship year at Vogue, Kasey was recognized for her zest and meticulousness. Her passion for fashion design was soon replaced by a new hobby for writing.

Still interested in the field of fashion, Kasey Jones got a degree in writing before applying for her first job at Vogue. Unlike cliché stories of the city, Kasey did not get the job and other jobs she applied for.

She worked as a freelancer for three years after graduating from the university at the age of twenty. The life of a freelancer did pay some bills but Kasey was not satisfied with it. She wanted more.

One of the editors at Vogue stumbled on Kasey's blog. Amazed by Kasey's writing skill, the editor reached out to her. By the power of self-publishing, and what the universe would call a stroke of luck, Kasey Jones became a writer at Vogue.

Kasey was not just any writer. Her skills and ideas, got her into close relationships with the editor-in-chief and board of directors at Vogue.

Kasey also presented her illustrations to popular designers, who set her up with proper connections.

In a span of three years, Kasey Jones was a household name in the New York fashion industry. With her savings, Kasey began her own clothing line and after her twenty fourth birthday, she resigned from Vogue with a dream to own a fashion magazine.

Twenty-four and unsure of the future, Kasey Jones began 'Size-able', a fashion magazine she thought different from the rest.

'Size-able' was an idea Kasey pondered upon after a keen observation of the great names in the fashion industry. Kasey had gotten tired of the fashion world's misconception of the female figure.

Unrealistic 'Barbie' body figures had been promoted in fashion for years and Kasey Jones was one of the few millennials who had chosen to break that siege with her writing skills and love for fashion.

Pimples, acne, freckles, stretchmarks, folds and other flaws overly edited on social media were accentuated and eulogized in Kasey's magazine company and fashion line; 'Size-able'.

Kasey's Size-able, encouraged women and men of the digital era to accept the flaws they thought embarrassing. A healthy living style was encouraged of course, but acceptance of the self was emphasized.

'Size-able' was Kasey Jones' dream which she chose to nurture with all her might for as long as she would live. After all we only live once.

The next morning after her kiss with a stranger, Kasey walked into an elevator, in the building her company resided. With a smile on her face, she was ready for a new day.

Dressed in the perfect shades of yellow and white, by virtue of a trench coat over an A-shaped gown, Kasey marched into her office in Off-White heels.

"Good morning, Boss!" A petit brunette in an oversized denim dress and studded chunk boots called at Kasey.

The brunette rushed to Kasey with a cup of coffee and an IPad in her hands. Her hair was cut into an uneven pixie, and the left side of her head was shaved. The brunette had a stylish punk look which Kasey was not a fan of but encouraged. After all, it was her magazine's mission to 'accept and respect every being's identity'.

"Good morning Stacey. And I've told you a million times...call me Kasey." Kasey told the petit brunette.

Stacey Baker was Kasey's personal assistant. She was a vibrant twenty-two-year-old with a passion similar to Kasey's.

Stacey often called Kasey her role model. Kasey thought it eye-service until she noticed the twenty-two-year-old's hard work even at her absence.

"I think I'd rather call you, Boss but if you say so, I'll call you Kasey then. Would you like a cup of coffee Kasey?" Stacy asked.

There was an awkward silence for a few seconds and then laughter.

"See? That's why I'd rather call you 'Boss'."

"Boss it is then. I'm already used to it anyway." Kasey said.

Stacey kept her eyes on the beautiful view from the glass-paned slide doors in Kasey's office, while she dropped the cup of tea on a large mahogany table.

"Beautiful isn't it?" Kasey asked.

"It truly is. I can't believe you get to see this five days a week."

"And on Sundays. So that's six days a week." Kasey said.

"You come here on Sundays? You're such a workaholic! Well you are Kasey Jones after all. You should see the view at sunset. The skyscrapers light up and the sky gets a perfect shade of orange that oversees the sea and..."

"Of course, I've seen the view at sunset Stacey, it's my office. And when did you..."

"Yesterday when you left early for an appointment. I never come to the office when you're not around. I swear! I just came to drop off a copy of this month's cover and..."

"It's fine Stacey. You're my P.A and a good one at that. You're always welcome to my office but only for business purpose of course. You don't want to be one of those workers, who get funky with other workers in their Boss' office when they're not around."

Stacey blushed.

"I'll never do that Boss. Is that a Vulgari ring?" Stacey asked, her eyes wide opened.

"Yes, it is." Kasey smiled.

"That looks like the one Virgil Abloh and his wife wore to that iconic movie's premiere last week!"

"It is Stacey! It's the Shakespearian Couple ring." Kasey lifted her right hand with pride.

"Those details! The diamonds don't have to shimmer like 'Ice' jewels but you can see clusters glow at the rims of the gold and that tiny Akoya pearl in the middle is just everything. I know you're a fashion goddess and I shouldn't be surprised you're wearing this but I am surprised." Stacey said. Her eyes glowed with passion while they were fixed on the gold ring.

"Surprised? What do you mean by that?" Kasey asked.

"You never wear jewellery Boss. When I asked you one day, you made it clear that you're not a fan of accessories. I thought you hate them like you hate Christmas."

"I never said I hate accessories, Stacey. I said I wasn't a fan of them. I considered them a burden when I was younger, but not anymore." Kasey said with a wide smile on her face, while she caressed the only ring on her right hand.

She recalled her kiss with Luca. Her heart skipped a beat and like a silly teenager, she chuckled at the thought of the word 'Mistletoe'.

"Well now that you seem to be in high spirits, I have something to tell you Boss." Stacey said with a smirk.

"High spirits huh? You only start with that when you're about to say something that'll upset me. Fine, shoot! I don't think anything will able to ruin my mood this morning." Kasey said. Her eyes, still fixated on the ring.

"Well, some of the other employees and I put up a suggestion box a few weeks ago and well..."

"Yeah, the suggestion box! How's that going?"

"It's going great. Well, ninety per cent of the workers suggested the same thing."

"Which is?"

"Please don't get mad Boss."

"Stacey, how do you know I'll get mad. Now I'm mad at you for telling me not to get mad."

"I'm sorry Boss. Everyone thinks we should have a Christmas themed office party. Like a joint party between employees at the magazine company and those working for the clothing line sector. It'll be a 'Size-able' special!" Stacey explained with fire in her eyes.

"No." Kasey replied instantly.

"But Boss you didn't even..."

"Stacey the answer is 'no'."

"Boss I know you hate Christmas but everyone's been working so hard all year. We just wanted a little get-together. A sort of Christmas magic." Stacey pleaded.

"Christmas magic huh?" Kasey kept her eyes on the gold ring.

"Fine. I'll think about it." She told Stacey with a smile.

"Thanks Boss! You're the best. By the way, how was the appointment? The one you left for yesterday at noon. You never told me about it but I assume it went well?" Stacey asked with concern.

Kasey's smile disappeared instantly.

She stared at the lazy white cotton balls that glided on the blue skies. With a deep sigh, Kasey Jones recalled the brown envelope she took from her dashboard and hid in her closet the previous night. Tears tried to make their way out of her eyes but with another deep breath she kept them still.

"There's no Christmas magic. Just the Universe doing what it pleases." Kasey whispered.

"What's that Boss?"

"We're not having a Christmas party, Stacey." Kasey said with a frown.

"But Boss you just said..."

Kasey got up from a rotating chair beautified by black Italian leather. With hasty steps she walked out of her office and gazed at the vast space interrupted by cubicles. Each cubicle was separated by short wooden demarcations, with an employee typing restlessly. The sound of machines sailed the corridor in clicks and clatters.

The chatters of employees came to halt when Kasey walked to the middle of the vast room.

"It's been brought to my attention that you all require something special for the sake of the season. Well I'd like you to know that you'll be receiving a bonus." Kasey said. Workers applauded.

"I'd also like you to know that there'll be no Christmas Party whatsoever and that's that! There will be no Christmas Party in this office. If you want one, organize one in your homes and invite yourselves. And please exempt me!"

With those words Kasey walked back to her office, leaving a room of murmurs and sighs.

"Boss are you..."

"Stacey get my schedule for today." Kasey said while she stomped into her office.

"There's no Christmas magic. Just the Universe doing whatever it pleases." She thought.