5 June, LY Studio, City K

After hearing the pitch, Lexi was intrigued.?The idea of a limited number of pieces, sold in the retail stores each season, with the proceeds to benefit charities sounded great on the surface.?The problem was, would it take away from other pieces??Maybe this was something that Karen needed to work through better before a decision was made.

"Maria, you know the idea of doing something for charity through fashion always appeals to me, but I worry about the impacts.?But talk it through with Karen firstly.?If she thinks it will work, we can go with it.?However, I have another idea I want you all to talk through before we discuss it with Karen.?All of you in the design team are wonderful designers, but the world does not know it.?I want to, in line with the Spring and Fall collections release a small sub-collection by a team member that fits the collection direction but is specifically acknowledged as being designed by someone."

Lexi looked at Maria who seemed stunned, standing there with her mouth open.?Lexi smiled and said "Do you not remember the story about how I got my lucky break.?It was part of my studies, and the designer I was studying with pushed me forward to a couple of clients.?While I want to keep each of you with me, the last thing is not let the world know how good each of you are.?That would be hypocritical of me.."

"Got it boss."?Maria looked at the clock and said "Boss your friend will be in the design room for her next fitting.?Shall I take you in.."

Lexi nodded and with Maria's help she soon was being wheeled into the design studio.?The first thing she could hear was Joan screaming out "How dare you stab me with that."

Lexi wanted to slap her, but the unfeeling nature she was displaying that Rachael relayed to her was on full display.?She was being a total bridezilla.?Calling out Lexi said, "Settle down Joan, I am here."

"Do not give me excuses Lexi Yao.?You were meant to be here.."

Lexi closed her eyes briefly and bit her lower lip.?She wanted to snap at Joan, but that would do nothing for anyone.?After releasing her lower lip and opening her eyes, she knew that she was calm enough to respond.?"Joan, do not take this the wrong way.."

"It is my wedding, and I want it to be right," snapped out Joan.?"That means you, the designer being here to make sure my dress is perfect."

Lexi lifted her left hand up and pinched the bridge of her nose.?Was Joan forgetting her injuries.?Tempering her tone to try and eliminate anger and frustration Lexi as calmly as possible responded "Joan be sensible.?With my injuries there is no way that I could help you into the dress of make the adjustments to ensure that it will fit, when finished as I designed it and you wanted."

"Screw that.?You should have been here," came the even louder response from Joan.

Lexi paused and took a couple of calming breaths.?Joan was already on her nerves, and this would be a long appointment.?The last couple of fitting appointments had seen constant alterations to the design, and it was now the absolute last day to get everything finalised, so the dress could be completed in time for the ceremony, now less that four weeks away.?What made the situation worse, is that Joan and David Hwang were also repeatedly demanding changes in the bridal party dresses.?At least, those plans were something she could keep on top of as Rachael had let her know their plans in their discussion.

Attempting to pacify Joan, Lexi responded "I am here now, so please calm down."

"I would be if the idiot here did not repeatedly stab me with pins," snapped Joan.

Lexi shook her head slightly and looked at the staff before motioning with her head for most of them to move to the far side of the room.?The way that she was acting just gave Lexi the feeling Joan was about to get extremely angry.?The couple of times she had witnessed Joan's explosions of anger had her wanting to protect her staff.

In placating Joan, Lexi said "Just let someone move me over and we can address the problem."

"Thank god you finally have some sense," came the slightly calmer reply from Joan, as Lexi was wheeled closer.

Lexi cast a critical eye over the dress as Joan stood there, hands on her h.i.p.s.?When she first spoke to Joan and David Hwang, she wondered about their ideas about the dress, but the initial sketches she did, made it come to life before her eyes.?It sounded weird in combining elements of Eastern and Western design into a wedding dress, but the outcome was a unique dress.?Which, being honest with herself suited Joan.?The issue she had was the materials to use to ensure that the elements shined.

Seeing it coming together, before the embroidery was done told her the choices of material were perfect.?The draping of the material was perfect, and strangely it gave a whimsical feel to the dress.?The question was, was the embroidery she had initially envisaged for this dress going to be right??The whimsical feel almost called for a tweak in it.?Lexi paused, realising that without seeing Joan as she turned and with a veil on, deciding based on observing the dress from one direction would be stupid.

"Joan, can you move over to the platform over there."

"Why in the world would I do that?"

"Because I asked nicely."

"You, asking nicely, that is a joke," came an angry response.

Without thinking Lexi loudly said, "Stop being a Bridezilla!"

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