Chapter 62

When the Commissioner arrived, I had just finished the last details on the dress. 

Overall, I thought I had done my very best and it resulted in a beautiful dress. Jean also praised it when she saw the final product. 

"Quick! Quick! Bring it here!" Mrs. Priddy, in her rush, just packed the dress and carried it down. Jean and I shared a look and a smile. Since my job was done, I started picking up the things I had used: needles, threads and scissors. 

The room was not that much of a mess, but the table where I worked at had lots of things around. 

Jean was doing the same with her work area. She had once again transferred from her room to mine. Though, she had finished a while back and had just been staring at the process of my embroidering. 

"I wonder if the Commissioner will like the dress. If he doesn't buy it, I will!" Jean said as she put her things away, too.

I smiled. "You won't fit. You have a nice body." 

"You say such nice things!" She squealed delighted. "Though, if I were a man, I would like you." She blushed after saying that.

I laughed at the reaction of her own words. Our conversation was cut short when Mrs. Priddy basically ran over the door and wildly looked around the room.

"Come here!" She spotted me and quickly grabbed my hand, dragging me out and down to the shop. For a moment, I thought the worst, even putting aside my displeasure at being manhandled so roughly by her. "This is the embroiderer, Mr. Commissioner!" 

My bad thoughts vanished like smoke when I saw the huge smile on the rotund man that gave me the impression he was filling the whole shop. There was a much smaller young lady, or teen, standing beside him and looking at the dress with a very dazzled expression.

"So, it's you!" The man's smile turned even bigger, if possible.

I knew it was nothing bad, but I was still confused at the situation. "I assume you like the dress."

"Like it?!" The teen, most likely the Commissioner's daughter, shrieked. "I love it!" She hardly pressed the dress against her chest. "I was mad that my Daddy had left the dress to such an unknown shop." 

Oh my! So straightforward.

I noticed how Mrs. Priddy's stiffened at her comment while the Commissioner's smile turned quite strained. It's true the man had power to do anything he liked in town, but he also depended on his reputation. To have it destroyed by his own daughter… 

"I'm glad you didn't destroy it, and even made such a wonderful job." School definitely did not leave a mark on her. She was so rude. Even I had difficulty keeping my smile.

The Commissioner could not hold back anymore and pointedly coughed. Luckily, the teen was not so indiscreet and remained silent after her father's prompt. 

"We're very happy with what you did." He addressed me. "Such a good job deserves to be rewarded. Here." He took out a bag of coins and gestured at me to take it. "This is extra from the price I already paid for the dress. Also, if you would be amenable to..."

"Thanks a lot for the reward, Mr. Commissioner! With this, I can finally marry and buy land in the village. My aging parents also needed medicine. You're a very good person!" I interrupted what the man was about to say.

I definitely did not want him to finish his words. I even tried to imitate the brother's accent and way of speaking to come off as a very humble person.

Luckily, the Commissioner caught my intention or realized what 'kind of person' he was offering his opportunity to and desisted from his idea.

"Well, then. Have a good day." He nodded to us and herded his daughter out of the shop.

As soon as we lost sight of them, Mrs. Priddy sighed, but then whirled in my direction. "You just rejrected the Commissioner's offer."

"I did." I replied, not affected by her accusative tone, bordering on patronizing, and put away the bag of coins 

"But, why?! You could have earned so much more working for them!" The older lady could not understand my reasoning, so I had no problem in enlightening her.

"Would you work for that girl, Mrs. Priddy?" I smiled at the woman who stiffened.

That was my point. With how condescending that girl was, a person with character (like me) would suffer working for the Commissioner's family. No matter how good the pay.

"What is the commission for this job?" I reminded her.

Mrs. Priddy reacted and took out the money that was paid for the dress. "The cost for the embroidery was of 60 coins, minus the materials and what the shop takes…"

She calculated as her hands moved to count the money given to her. She went to the back of the shop and returned in less than a minute.

"Here, 37 coins." 

I grabbed the money she extended to me and put it inside my handmade purse. 

"Thank you." I nodded at her and went back upstairs to finish putting the things away. 

When I arrived at the room, everything was in order: all the needles in their place, the threads in a box and even the floor was swept. Then, I noticed Jean was waiting for me with a suppressed smile. I immediately knew she wanted to talk about what happened downstairs. 

"Even you would say no to that." I helplessly said. 

Jean giggled, but nodded. She got closer and whispered: "Patricia, Amelia and I heard everything. They were very tempted, and would have accepted if given the chance. Amelia even lowly chastised you, saying you were stupid. But, after hearing your words to Mrs. Priddy, they silently went back to their rooms. You should have seen their faces!" 

I shook my head at Jean's way to entertain herself. Though, a smile did creep into my face just imagining the timid but upright woman scurrying away. I did not know who Amelia was, so I refrained from commenting on her labeling me as stupid.

"I do kind of wonder how her fiance will react to her." Not only I had the misfortune of interacting with the daughter, even the son looked like someone hard to deal with. If I ever worked for that family… Just the thought made me shudder. 

"Talking about fiance. Are you really going to make your future husband work at the restaurant?" Jean asked as we made our way down.

"Are you saying it is a bad idea?" I glanced at her.

She shook her head. "No, it's just… Working in a restaurant is really tiring. My dear husband always arrives home very tired."

I bet he does. Mr. Dodds really knew how to enjoy his married life. With how much of a shark he was, I would not be surprised if he also pretends to be tired to get some cuddles from Jean. 

But, well, that was between them. 

I just have to make sure my own witty fox does not learn bad habits from that man. I thought, looking at Ethan's figure waiting for me outside the shop. 

"I have to go. See you, Jean!" I waved her goodbye and walked towards Ethan. "Then? How did it go?" I asked as soon as I stood in front of him.

My heart skipped a beat when I saw him leaning down. Was he going to kiss me so publicly? I would not mind, but… "When we're alone, Isabelle, I'll show you my gratitude." He whispered in my ear. 

That was not any better than a public kiss, and it made me furiously blush just imagining all the things he would do to me when alone. Would he do it on our way home? At home? At any other place? My throat dried in anticipation.

"It went well, I guess?" I cleared my throat and inquired, though I already knew the answer. He smirked.

"Pretty well." He grabbed my hand and led me towards the town's exit.

"Wait!" I stopped him. "We have to go somewhere first." 

If my smile was a bit mischievous, he would soon know why.