As Fate Would Have It

The Stylist

At Valerius House

“See you tomorrow, Fate.” Diane said leaving her in the office, the heavy oak door clicking shut behind her.

“Alright, bye Diane.” Fate responded and breathed in relief the moment the door closed.

She fell back into her chair as she felt the knots of anxiety on her body loosen.

She had been feeling tense the whole day and there was no where she could hide. She was making sure she reduced any need to be out of her office because she did not need any interaction with Mr. Valerius

And now she was trapped in her office with Diane who now knew she was the lady who got embarrassed on the night of the company’s gala.

Diane did not seem interested in pressuring her and if Fate was being honest to herself she knew that from the moment Diane had spoken about the whole incident she had always been on the side of the mysterious lady- her.

But this was different, if Diane could recognize her then the chances of her recognizing her in the new persona she has created for her work with Julian Thorne were high and then how long before someone else did?

She hated to think of that.

Fate stared at the ceiling. While Diane had been surprisingly kind, almost protective in the way she spoke about the "mysterious lady," that kindness did not kill the risk.

“Why do things have to be so difficult?” she whispered as she got up from her desk and stretched, glancing at her table clock.

The time was 4:30pm and if she let her excitement get the best of her she would be on her way out of the office just like Diane but she knew better than to act as carefree and daring as someone who was related to the boss.

The next thirty minutes were filled with Fates anxious thoughts and extra preparations just to make sure that this first meeting with Julian Thorne went well and she secured that first deposit.

Once her alarm rang signifying that it was 5pm on the dot, Fate was up and already walking to the door. She had to be with Julian Thorne before 9pm and she had to show up in her disguise to cement herself as a top, exclusive fashion stylist.

The transition happened in a quiet street corner, in the back room of an abandoned store. The man who owned it was fine with her giving him a little bit of money so she could use the place for the next one month.

After locking herself in the room, she began to take off her clothes, she started to feel different, she started to feel like something was happening to her —the shedding of the "office girl."

Out went the sensible flats and the muted blouse. In their place came the "Stylist."

After she was done dressing up and styling herself, she caught her reflection in the rearview mirror. Her curls were tamed and her hair, swept back, sharp and severe, and her lips were a deep, defiant berry.

She did not just look different; she felt different. The "data girl" who shrunk away from Mr. Valerius was gone.

In her place was a woman who understood silhouette, power, and the high-stakes theater of fashion.

The stylist did not just feel like a disguise. She was the part of Fate that had been screaming to get out.

***********

Julian Thorne was feeling excited, maybe a bit anxious. It was his first day working with Fate Mason and he wanted to see how she would show up.

They had spoken about a persona that she would embody as a disguise, the “fashion stylist” persona with the agreement that Fate would show him what she came up with but she had not given any response about that.

He wondered if she just ignored his directive or if she was just hiding it from him or if she had backed out.

She seemed like she would back out if she felt too threatened but then she had mentioned the need to clear her father’s farmhouse debt.

And except she had gotten an offer better than his, there was no way she would be able to pay off that debt in a month. Just as he looked up, Fate walked into his office.

He followed her steps with his eyes as he got up from his seat, she surprised him.

“Miss Mason…”

Fate walked up to his desk and settled into the seat opposite him. Julian Thorne was pleasantly surprised.

“I was just wondering what decision you have taken since I did not hear anything about your alter persona but this is better than I had imagined.”

“I thought it would be better for me to make the decisions in person,” Fate replied, her voice dropping into a smoother, more deliberate register.

“A stylist does not just tell you who they are, Mr. Thorne. They show you. And besides,” she added, a hint of a sharp, playful smile touching her lips, “every good creation deserves a proper reveal.”