CLAIRE

He disappeared to get ready, emerging fifteen minutes later in a full suit. Blake was already dressed too, grabbing his laptop.

"Ready?" he asked Julian.

"Let's go," Julian replied.

They both headed for the door and Julian paused to kiss me goodbye. "Seven PM," he said again. "Don't forget."

"I won't," I promised.

Then they were gone. I stood in the empty kitchen, staring at the dishes, seven PM felt like a lifetime away.

I spent the morning at the production facility, meeting with the new seamstresses we'd just hired, both women were experienced, one had worked for a major fashion house before it closed.

"Welcome to CLAIRE," I...