The Cherry Blossoms Read Online Free Page B

the shop today ?”
    “ Oui Mademoiselle, there will be eighty women arriving this morning.  Is that bad?”
    “No it is not.  It’s marvelous.  It’s actually beyond marvelous.  When Charlene, Michele, and Annette arrive, please bring them to my office. We need to develop a plan to evaluate these women.”
    “Oui, Mademoiselle, je vais.”
    When Grant left her office, Daniella jumped for joy.  Eighty models to choose from couldn’t be better.  When she finally drifted back to earth, she went to her desk to write up some criteria for her staff to follow as they helped with the interview process.  To get through eighty interviews, the staff needed to work in teams.  She and Grant typically interviewed models, so she paired herself with Michele and Grant with Charlene.  If they needed to bring in the seamstresses, she’d work something out.  Daniella wrote a note that she was looking for happy women.  She wanted women who enjoyed their lives and were comfortable in their own skin.
    Next, she jotted notes for the four designs.  The business attire was first.  To carry the full jacket, the model needed to be taller than five feet, six inches.  The model’s girth wasn’t important, just the height.
    The beach outfit may need a total redesign but Daniella would design it for the selected woman who would model it.  In the end, Daniella realized she didn’t need to write requirements for any of the outfits.  She was a designer and if she had to redo all the sketches to personalize each, that was her job.
    Grant brought Michele, Charlene and Annette into her office as soon as they had arrived to the shop.
    Once they were seated, she told them, “Ladies, we have a task that we need to complete as efficiently as we can.”
    Michele and Charlene looked to one another to confirm they were going to pay dearly for Daniella letting them take yesterday off.
    “The two of you look as though I’m going to drag you across the rug.  This is going to be fun.  I have done a 180 on my thoughts for the show.  All the other design houses have contracted with the best agencies, leaving us without a decent model to work with.  If we are to succeed in our firm, we must stop designing clothes for tall, skinny models.  We will make our mark on the world with designs created for all shapes and sizes. Every design house we know creates clothes for tall thin models to display on a runway.  We are going to break that mold and design clothes not for a model, but for women like the two of you and me.  Look at me.  I certainly do not have that tall thin model look.  The average woman is condemned to buying her clothes in a department store unless she’s wealthy and can sign a contract with a designer.  Not even I can afford to do that.”
    Daniella waited a moment for Michele and Charlene to grasp what she’d told them.  She winked at Grant, who giggled.
    Charlene spoke, “Does that also include all age groups?”
    “Yes, we have been catering to a very small market.  Older women have the money to pay for custom fitted clothes.”
    Charlene looked excited now, “Mademoiselle est brillante.”
    “I think so too.  I asked Grant to advertise for models.  Eighty women will be here this morning.  To get through eighty interviews, we’re going to work in teams.  I will work with Michele while Charlene works with Grant.  We are looking for personality more than size or age.  I want to see models that are comfortable in their own skin.  They need to be confident, stand tall, and have the ability to feel comfortable as they walk down the runway.  What do you think?”
    Charlene answered, “Je pense que j'adore votre idée.”
    “Since my French is so poor, can I assume you like the idea?”
    Charlene laughed, “We really must invest some time into French lessons for you.  I said that I think I love your idea of not picking perfect models.”
    “Thank you.  Let’s just hope it works.  As we interview, I think