Not for you

"Can you do it"?

She asked and instinctively, I turned around to look at my surroundings. I could see so many eyes just looking at me and to be honest, I was getting a bit scared.

'What if I fail? What if I can't do a good job? What if I make a fool of myself?'

So many questions ran through my head. I was still thinking about how I'd overcome this when I suddenly felt someone's hand on my shoulder.

I turned around, just to see Grandpa O'Brien smiling gently at me.

"I know you can do it".

He said. I wasn't sure as to why he was trying to encourage me. But one thing was for sure, what he did definitely helped me.

I went towards the compartment where they make lipsticks and picked out the oil, pigment, fragrance, and wax I'd need to make my lipstick.

For the oil, I decided to use lanolin and jojoba. Then for my fragrance, I wanted it to have a subtle scent that was still quite obvious so I went for lavender.

In order not to waste too much of their time, I took my wax and heated it on the gas that was right in front of me. Most of the ingredients I needed were right in front of me. The only thing I asked for was the film-foaming agents. I needed it to make my lipstick last longer.

It took about twenty minutes before I finally finished. They said I needed to leave it there and immediately took me to the next thing I was supposed to do.

They asked me to draw a design for a dress. The time was short so I just had to draw the dress instead of making it.

The lipstick had to wait for about a day before we could use it but it was alright for testing. Mrs Kate took the sample of the lipgloss and left. Leaving me alone to focus on my design.

The expression of the workers around had drastically changed. They were now all over me waiting to see how well I'd design the dress. They were obviously impressed by how I made the lipstick, having heard that I'd never done it professionally before.

"She's really good".

"Are you sure she hasn't done this before"?

"She might be lying about not doing it professionally".

"She's on an international level I'm telling you".

"She's not that good".

"Did you see how flawless the lipstick looked"?

"I can't wait to see what the Boss will say".

So many different comments kept going around. I heard so many of them but I didn't pay much attention as I wanted to finish drawing the dress before Mrs Kate and Grandpa got back.

"She is really good".

Kate said while seated in her office with Grandpa O'Brien.

"Are you sure she hasn't learned this somewhere else before"?

She asked with excitement written all over her face.

"Is it that impressive? All I could see was her just mixing and combining a bunch of ingredients in a container".

Grandpa O'Brien said honestly as he didn't see anything serious in what she had done. Kate laughed lightly at how innocent the old man looked.

"Of course, you wouldn't understand since you have no idea about the field but I'm saying this to you in confidence. You have a very talented granddaughter-in-law".

She said and then sat as though she was about to ask for something.

"With that being said, will it be okay if she works with me"?

She asked and Grandpa O'Brien looked at her. As a businessman, he could tell if what she had just said was genuine or not, and the look on her face right now, did not just look genuine. It also looked needy. It looked like she desperately needed Nadia and that alone was confirmation enough.

Kate was a well-known fashion designer. Known both at home and abroad for her spectacular work. Twice every year, she releases one dress and that one piece is worth millions of dollars.

For someone like that to want Nadia, it said a lot about her potential.

After what felt like forever, they finally got back to the production room.

I was already done with the design so I was just waiting for them to return.

Before they got back, some of the workers had taken the initiative to talk to me and I was kind of grateful that some of them did not make me feel so left out.

Some of them even apologized for making me feel like I wasn't good enough.

"Nadia? I'm really sorry I judged you before I got to know you".

"Yeah me too, I thought you were one of those rich kids that would get in just because of their connection but I must say, you are actually very good".

A young lady spoke after a good-looking man did and the others there concord with what the other had been saying.

"Are we going to be on break throughout today"?

We heard someone speak and it felt like they all knew who it was as they all went back to so their jobs immediately.

I turned to see who spoke and of course, it was none other than Mrs Kate.

"I see you are fitting in just fine".

She said and I simply smiled at her comment. She came close and picked up the paper that had my design on it.

She then looked at me and back at the paper and then at me again.

"Did you draw this"?

She asked and I nodded gently, not sure if she was impressed or not.

"This is... beautiful".

She said and I couldn't help the smile that showed on my face.

"With this talent of yours, you'll be so popular and well-known all over the world. I can help you get the connections and experience you need".

She said and deep down, I was so happy to have been given such an opportunity. I'd definitely love to work with a woman of such caliber.

"Sorry Kate... but I didn't bring her here to work for you".