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Chapter 5 - Ashley's pov

There is a knock on my door, and Sarah brushes in even before I answer. "There shall be a party happening tonight. At the Louvon. To celebrate your rise to Chairman of Peacecholds.""A party?" I ask, as if I didn't hear her the first time. "Yes, a party," she replies, and puts down some hardback files on the table. "These are from Hognan. Says you'll be needing them.""Oh. Thank you.""At the party, you'll be meeting with the creme de la creme of the society. Don't worry, this time, no one will be asking you questions about Peacecholds and in what direction you aim to turn it, blah blah blah. They'll be more concerned about your past. See if there's something in it that can ruin your name. Or legacy.""And why is that?" "Because they are more of politicians than what they make other people see them to be.""Wow, Sarah. You really know how to make a woman feel good. Really.""I'll be in charge of what you'll be wearing. It's your first meeting with the big pockets so you need to go in style. Live up to expectations and all. And there'll be a limo with your name on it and a chauffeur.""What time is this party?" "Eight o'clock.""Which means you'll be with me the whole of today," I say. "Was this how Mr. Pierce was treated during his own time?" "Unfortunately I cannot answer that. I wasn't his personal assistant nor was I ever his handler.""And all these is coming from high up?" "I know how to do my job, if that's what you're asking, miss Ashley.""No, that isn't what I'm asking, Sarah Gibbons. I want to know if all these benefits are courtesy of the board or someone else who knows how to do her job." Sarah looks at me like I've said something that is capable of tainting my image. "You'll understand soon enough," she says and turns to leave. "Be out in ten. We have some shopping to do," she adds. I clear out in just five and head over to Daisy's office. Her face is buried in a cabinet when I poke my head into her office. "Busy?" She waves an inviting hand. "Oh, be just a minute, Chairman."I scoff. "I need to ask a favor, Daisy.""What's that?" "There is a party in my name at the Louvon and Sarah wants to dress me up.." "And it makes you feel uncomfortable, right?" she interjects. "Yes, it does.""What do you want me to do, Chairman?" asks Daisy, as she comes over to seat on the visitor's chair next to mine. "First, stop calling me that. Secondly, I need you to come with me.""Wow. But it can't be that horrible doing ten toes with Sarah Gibbons.""Bad news is, Sarah Gibbons does double time."**********We go to someplace called Armas for suits. Sarah Gibbons doesn't complain about me taking Daisy along. In fact, she looks like she might just enjoy the company. She chooses a dozen suits, different hues, all corporate style and dumps them on a sofa. "Make your choice," Sarah instructs. "And Daisy, help her do that. I won't be joining you girls for the choicey moment.""Nice word there," says Daisy. "And what would you be doing?" I ask. In response, she sits on a free armchair, opens her MacBook, and gives me a wan smile. "I'll work on things."I turn my attention away from Sarah and back on the clothes. "What do you think of them?" Daisy folds her hands across her breasts. "Honest answer?" "Yes, please," I beg. "These aren't for you. I don't think she even knows your size. I mean she probably just looked at you or told the sales girl over there to look at you and get some suits.""She isn't a sales girl, Daisy. I think she's the tailor here.""Well, whatever. How about we go ask her what she thinks about all these?"We walk to the other end of the glass show glasses without glancing at Sarah. I meet the tailor cutting out a skirt. "Hi.""Hello, ma'am. Can I help you with something? You need more suits?""No. What's your name?""Linda.""Linda. Okay. I'm Ashley. And we both know that those suits out there aren't for me, right?"Linda makes a face. It's a funny look and I cannot stop myself from smiling."Well the woman out there was quite bossy, and I was surprised when it was you who was wearing them.""What did she tell you?" Daisy asked for the both of us."Well, she told me that she needed suits for her size.""Her size?" Daisy repeats, and gives me a ridiculous look."Yes, her size. Actually. And that she needed all we had.""Interesting. And I hope those aren't all that have because I really don't like them.""No, no," Daisy says."Come to the back, then."We go into another part of the place and I am stunned at what I see. There are a lot of crazy outfits here. And it seems like someone did the street and formal and casual separately, then decided to merge the designs into one bumper pack. Pure red suits made with satin material."These ones can make a man jump on you," Daisy comments. "Sure they aren't Kim's?" "No, they aren't," says Linda. "I just need something formal, Linda. Not provocative."Daisy sneers at me. I give her the tongue."Okay. What sort of occasion?""I just got a promotion in my law firm so there's this celebration in my honor.""Alroght. Then I don't think you should wear red. Black all the way," Linda says and fishes out five suits. We go back outside and I go into a changing room with my hands full. When I come back out a moment later, even Sarah Gibbons looks up from her computer and stares."Glad you finally found something great?""Shouldn't you be doing that for her?" Daisy asks."I would but I've been trying to solve a bigger problem here.""What problem?" I ask."It's just a party but Terry Palmer of Dutton just asked you out on a date. Red carpet initial."