« Texting the guy again? » Neil asks as he walks into the office.
Samantha looks up from her desk.
« His name is Nathan. And yes, again. » Samantha laughs as she rolls her eyes.
Neil is so bad at remembering names. He had trouble remembering Samantha's when he started working at Wardrobe, two weeks ago. He got the job in the editing team, but he often spent time in Lucy and Samantha's office when he had free time. The three of them had become very great friends, Samantha had to admit it made her work funnier in a way. She liked the way they were all laughing at something that would usually make Samantha anxious. Like Cassidy, for example.
Neil is really funny, and kind. Samantha and Lucy adore him already. He's also very efficient in his work, even though it doesn't seem like it because he is rarely being serious. His favorite hobby at work is to judge boys based on their outfits. Neil is gay and Samantha suspected him to have a crush on Patrick, because of the way he looks at him. It's a funny way of working, but for the better. It adds something very pleasant in the office, because Neil radiates such a good energy.
« How did you date go by the way? » The blond guy dressed of a Prada checkered suit asks, sitting on Samantha's desk to talk.

Samantha and Nathan's relationship slowly started to lead somewhere. They have been to four more dates these past two weeks, and everything went for the better. As always, they talked about anything, getting to know each other, laughing over a cup of coffee in the square.
« It went good Neil. »
« Good like...? » He questions his friend, implying something.
Samantha chuckles.
« Your dirty mind isn't allowed at work. » She rolls her eyes. « Now get out, I have to finish my reviews. »

Dr. Barbara Sturm's face cream and the new Dior serum are the products Samantha got to write about that month. The process is, Samantha has to try them and then writes a review. Truth is, she does not really try them herself, the products are sent to special people to try them on. Then they write her reviews of the products, including the flaws, the qualities, and the whole product overall. A few different products made the final cuts, then they choose the one that would appear based on two things. They look at market trends and the advertisers. It is a hushed secret among the fashion magazines. If you advertise you are keeping the magazine alive. You see the magazine make more money from great advertisers who purchase 6 page spreads in the center. The magazine is expected unofficially to showcase their products in some way or form. Fashion reviews, product reviews, before and after pieces and celebrity interview spreads are some ways that gets to happen.
Samantha finds it fun in some way. Selecting products, people to send them to, reading reviews to finally publish them. Participating in the work of the creation of the magazine. That means having her name wrote on the last page of it, other people reading her name. Being a part of the process is fun. Watching the magazine being published and sold in fashion shops, or book shops, seeing people buy it and read it. And enjoy reading it, reading about Nicole Kidman's and Brad Pitt's latest oscar outfits, reading reviews of skin products from Shiseido or Dior makeup selected by Samantha. Creating this magazine is a whole process, a process that Samantha tended not to understand at first. But now that she's really a part of it, she understands the effort each people in the office put into that one single page of the magazine. In fact, creating it is a very delicate form of art and delicacy that only a few people can understand. Samantha is one of them.
She tried to explain it to her parents once or twice.
« We're happy if you found passion in your job. » They said on the phone.
Then they'd change the subject and ask about Samantha's next visit to them in Shelby. They're always the one to call her first. She answers, talks about her day, but she never calls first. Because as they said she has indeed found passion in what she does, in the making of the magazine; the only thing she is looking forward to do when she gets home is to sleep. She spends most of her time at work. Sometimes she spends the whole night, writing reviews, searching products and people that would be ready to try them on, some influencers, beginners or professionals. She sometimes finds herself not wanting to leave the office, even after a painfully exhausting day, not even for a date with Nathan. With that job, it feels like she has discovered a whole new side of fashion she didn't know about before. The side that no one talks about : the making. People buy clothes, shoes, magazines and books without wondering about the time they were created. Samantha had never wondered that either before, but now she understands. You always buy a new top without ever thinking about the amount of time, effort and passion that has been put to create only a little piece. Samantha has always dreamed of becoming a model, being under the spotlight, in the public eye. She still dreams about it. But she understood that modeling is one of the parts of fashion that has no secret. Having no secret is boring. Secrets in fashion are a entire art gallery that only a few people are meant to discover.
She spends most of her time with eyes on her computer, sitting in her office. She watches Lucy and Neil come and go, working and laughing. She watches people stepping into the office at dawn, leaving at night. Days go slower, nights come faster. And Samantha doesn't move a finger from her desk when that time passes. She writes, and read, and writes again. And adds some images, some product names, brands, sends some emails, and reads again. And once again she doesn't see the day fading.
She yawns at her screen, tired. She looks at her phone. It's 9pm.

« If I didn't know you were so absentminded to notice what time it is I would almost have believed you were doing extra hours. » Cassidy drops from behind, resting on the wall.
Her tone is not blank, or cold, like it usually is. It's softier. Better. Or it's only because it's late, and she can hear the tiredness in her voice.
Samantha turns around to meet Cassidy's emerald eyes. She loves looking at her in the eyes, even though she is very intimidating. Her gaze has something in it that's so cold but yet so beautifully deep and sincere. It's mesmerizing, it feels like the green of her eyes is full of lies in a tortuous sincerity.
She has no idea of what Cassidy wants, so she chooses to play it cool.
« Who tells you I'm not? » She replies with a playful smile.
Cassidy hides a smirk, but it's definitely showing. She moves to the side of the desk and pulls a chair to sit on it. She drops two coffees on the table, causing Samantha to raise an eyebrow. She has no clue of what the editor is doing, but she knows that it is not usual.
Truth is, Cassidy has no idea of what she is doing either. Her mood is a little off tonight, and she doesn't wanna go home alone as the girls are at their father's. So she does what she always does when she doesn't want to feel alone : throws herself into work and infinite extra hours. She has worked late until she noticed someone else was apparently doing extra hours.
« Have a coffee with me then. You're avoiding home as well? » Cassidy asks.
She hands a cup of coffee to her assistant and takes the other in her right hand. Samantha accepts the coffee with pleasure, though she's confused.
« I just have nothing better to do than my job. » She answers, kind of scared Cassidy might be testing her as she always does.
« I can see you love your job very much then. »
Samantha blinks.
« I do. » The younger woman nods. « Are you avoiding home? » She asks in a high pitched tone, gritting her teeth because she perfectly knows she's never allowed to ask Cassidy a personal question.
Cassidy winces at the question, but soon returns at her blank expression. She sighs and looks away.
« Avoiding loneliness. » She corrects her assistant. « My daughters are at their father's for the week. »
Samantha breathes out. The vulnerability in Cassidy's eyes is clearly showing, yet Samantha finds herself wondering if she's even trying to hide it right now.
The words of the editor break Samantha's heart, knowing that except her daughters, she probably has no friends and no one to spend time with. She takes a deep breath and asks a second personal question, wanting to know more about her personal life as she does not seem reluctant tonight.
« Is it always like this? You avoiding home when your girls aren't there? »
Cassidy is hesitant. She takes time to simp her warm coffee before answering.
« It is. »
Samantha remains silent for a while, watching the editor as she holds back a tear from her eye.
As the conversation is getting a little bit too serious, Samantha decides to make Cassidy feel better and changes the subject.
« You know I've heard about this new Broadway play, and I think the hours match your day off at work. You should consider going to see it. » She shrugs her shoulder and chuckles. How ironic it is suggesting a Broadway play to your boss while the only thing she suggests you in return is to get your life together.
Cassidy scoffs as expected.
« Broadway is overrated. I don't have time for such things. » She almost growls as she fixes her short hair on the side.
« Broadway is a world of its own! Just like fashion. » She takes a simp of her coffee. « You could just go and focus on what they are wearing. And even adding an extra page about the costumes on your magazine. » She smiles.
Cassidy rolls her eyes.
« Don't be ridiculous, I don't want to loose my whole business. » She despises as she frowns.
« You could be pretty surprised. Everyone likes to see broadway plays. » Samantha contradicts her.
« Do you? Like to see them? » Cassidy asks with a slight stutter, looking deep into Samantha's eyes.
Samantha feels her cheeks starting to burn at the woman's gaze on her. She shakes her head, chasing whatever thoughts are making her blush.
« Of course. »

They keep talking for an hour, which seems like a minute to both of them. Samantha mentions her favorite Broadway plays, and proceeds to even catch Cassidy's attention with her improvised summaries. The conversations flow, about fashion, Yves-saint-laurent and even coffee. They even share a laugh or two. And then Samantha brings the topic up. That topic. The Givenchy party.
« You've mentioned my name, didn't you? You talked about me with the models at the party? » She asks, unsure.
Cassidy purses her lip, as she always does.
« I did. » She says in her usual quiet tone.
Samantha smiles, relieved that she didn't deny it. They both remain quiet, until Cassidy speaks again.
« I suggested your name. » The editor adds, her fingers typing on the desk.
« Suggested for what? »
« In case they need a model for a campaign or a show. »
« You did? » Samantha says with wide eyes.
She can't hold back a giggle. The fact that Cassidy actually remembers Samantha's projects make her insanely happy. It shows that Cassidy doesn't hate her assistant that much, and actually cares about her and what she says.
Cassidy frowns, like it's obvious.
« I told myself you might do a good job as a model if you keep working the way you do as my assistant. I must say I've been pretty surprised reading the reviews you've made. »
A huge smile draws on Samantha's face, and her blue eyes lights up in joy and hope.
« You've read my reviews? » She asks, smiling.
Cassidy tries to hide a smirk.
« I sure did. »
Samantha smiles at her again, she doesn't care if it is not a shared smile. She looks at her with joy, gratitude and admiration.
« Thank you Cassidy. For everything. »