Rescued By An Alpha, Complete Set (6 page)

They had all come in a cheerful mood to congratulate her. The evening turned out to be fun while they reminisced on all the little mistakes she had made in the beginning. They also praised her and told her how proud they were of her and how far she had come. She really enjoyed sewing, and felt proud to have come this far. It was a big step closer toward her goal.

She was always creating new clothes for herself, her mum or Pia and they were thrilled with their new wardrobes. She had been working as a fully qualified dressmaker for some time, and paid accordingly, so she was able to save up some money. That was easy since she still lived at home and the rent was cheap. Serena was beginning to feel comfortable in her world. She had gone through a time where she thought to herself, I have now got more money than I ever had in my life, it feels really good. Do I really want to move on and keep on pursuing my goal to go to Paris to become a fashion designer? I worked hard for four years learning the trade. Now that I have finished my apprenticeship and started earning a decent income, I have to admit to myself that I have second thoughts about leaving.

It was a nice feeling to have money. She was feeling very comfortable where her life was at the time and she wasn't quite sure that going to Paris was such a good idea. Maybe it was just a foolish childhood dream she had. After all, she had all the nice clothes she wanted now, and if she needed more, she could just make them herself in the latest fashion. She had not been sure if she wanted to take that next step to further her education to become a fashion designer. But now everything had changed, Tom had been missing for over a year, so there was nothing to hold her back from following her dream.

Serena looked down on the ground as the plane landed in the airport. "Oh my God, I'm here." Overjoyed as she stepped off the plane in Paris,

"I finally made it. I have to pinch myself to believe it. Now I have to find somewhere to live, but thank God I made some contacts before leaving home."

She caught a taxi to take her to the apartment she booked. Serena arrived at the block of apartments and found the landlord's office. He showed her what there was available. The apartment he had booked for her was not very big, and Serena was not very impressed.

"Would you like to share with someone? There is a very nice young woman by the name of Violet, who is looking for someone to share her apartment. It is a lot bigger and there will be plenty of room for the two of you. I can take you up to meet her if you like?" the landlord suggests.

"Yes, I would like that." Violet seemed to be a few years older than Serena and appeared to be a very nice person. She had a slender figure, long black hair and very dark eyes. She and Serena hit it off right away. The apartment was a lot nicer and quite big. There was a big living room and a kitchenette attached to it, a nice big bathroom and two good sized bedrooms.

"Are you interested in sharing your apartment with me for a while until I get myself established with some work?" Serena asked her.

"Yes, that will be great. I am looking for someone to share the rent with, so you are very welcome," Violet said with a smile

Serena went back to the office with the landlord to sign the paperwork and pick up her luggage. It all seemed to fall into place for Serena. She was happy and relieved to find a place to stay. She then got settled into her bedroom. There was already a bed made up, so she didn't have to worry about getting bedding.

"Serena would you like a cup of coffee or tea when you've unpacked?" Violet called out to her.

"Yes, please. That would be lovely." It didn't take Serena long to unpack and get into some relaxing clothes. She then joined Violet in the living room where they had a good chat and got to know each other a bit better.

Serena had learned to speak French. She studied over several years, and she could both speak and write French relatively well. Serena lets Violet in on her plans to get a job in the fashion industry and her goal to become a fashion designer. Violet listened to Serena's story and wished her luck.

"I don't want to discourage you, but it is a tough road you have chosen to follow. There are many others who have gone that way, but have had to turn around and go home again."

"But I'm a very determined person, and I feel very positive about being involved in the fashion industry.

CHAPTER NINE

Serena was a very determined young woman and not easily discouraged. She had her heart set on following this road and she was willing to work hard to accomplish her dream. The next day Serena caught a bus into the center of Paris and went around visiting the big fashion stores. She was excited. She loved the atmosphere of the fashion world and was confident that she had done the right thing by coming here. She just wanted to get started as soon as possible. She made some inquiry about where she needed to go to apply for a job in the fashion industry. When she arrived at the job agency, she talked to a very helpful lady. It seemed that they just got a job vacancy for a dressmaker in one of the biggest fashion stores, called Jean La Belle. The woman offered to set up an interview for the next day. Serena was thrilled about that and went back to the apartment to tell Violet about her good luck.

"That is wonderful Serena, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you."

"Thanks Violet, I need all the luck I can get." Serena unpacked some food she bought on the way home and put it in the pantry and fridge. Then she made a pot of tea and invited Violet to join her. Serena was very excited, and happy she had Violet to share it all with. It had been a very eventful week, she suddenly realized that she was very tired. After their cup of tea, Serena took a shower, and went off to bed where she slept right until 8.30am.

The next day, Serena looked at her wardrobe.

"What am I going to wear? I want to make a good first impression."

She settled for a blue skirt, a matching jacket and a lovely white lace top that showed off her nice slim figure. She looked very attractive for the interview.

"I wish I wasn't so nervous, but this is like the beginning of my dream coming true."

"You will be fine and you look stunning in your outfit." Violet assured her.

She arrived at her appointment and met the interviewer.

"Hello Serena, I'm Francine, please sit down."

Francine was very fashionably dressed. The clothes she was wearing and her makeup was perfect. Her hands were delicate and her long red nails matched her persona. She looked every bit the part of what this fashion store represented. She seemed to be a nice person with a strong personality.

"Thank you," Serena said politely."

Tell me a little about what you have been doing and what experience you have had as a dressmaker. "Serena listed her credentials and showed her resume. She had also brought her portfolio, which was full of the designs she had created. When Serena showed Francine her portfolio she was very impressed.

"Oh, you have created some beautiful outfit."

After the interview, Francine said that other people had applied for the job, but she would be in touch. Serena thanked her and left her mobile number. Serena was very excited. She was sure that she would get the job. She felt it was her destiny to make a name for herself.

She spent the rest of the day sightseeing around Paris and had a wonderful time eating lunch at one of the open air cafes watching all the many different people go by. She got back to the apartment late in the afternoon and told Violet all about her day. She was confident Francine would call her and tell her she got the job. Violet was delighted for her.

"Let us go down to Café' la Rouge and have something to eat. It's a small, inexpensive, very cozy cafe just around the corner.

"That's a great idea. I love those little cafes here in France," Serena agreed.

The next day, Francine called her and told her she had got the job and wanted to know if she could start the following day. Serena was delighted and excited. She reported for work the next day at 8 am. The workroom where the dressmaking was done was a busy place. They were getting ready for their spring fashion show Francine welcomed her and introduced her to the other women, then showed her to a table where she would be working. She worked on some beautiful dresses doing the finishing touches, which she enjoyed. It felt good being able to keep up with the speed of which they wanted the dresses finished for the models to wear. It all had to be finished for the fashion show, which was in a week's time, so there was a lot of pressure on everyone in the work room.

On the day of the fashion show everyone was in a rush, it was hectic. Then the boss, a man about forty to forty-five came into the workroom very upset - they were one model short. One of the models had called at the last minute to say she was sick and could not make it.

"Calm down Andre, we will work something out." Francine tilted her head and pressed her lips together as she thought for a little while. Then she suggested that they could put Serena in her place. Serena had told Francine that she had done a bit of modeling back in Sweden in her spare time.

"Let us go and ask Serena if she would like to stand in for the other model in the fashion show"

"Okay Francine, you are such a darling, you always find a way out." Andre knew he could always count on her to find a solution when things got out of hand.

"Serena, could you please help us out? One of the models called in sick. You said you had done some modeling before. We would like you to fill in for her."

"Yes, sure. I would be delighted to step in."

They got Serena into one of the dresses and did her makeup. She looked stunning. She was overjoyed to be walking the catwalk. What an honor to be involved in the fashion show. Serena enjoyed helping out at the fashion show, but don't give it much more thought to it than as a bit of fun for the day. However, she made such an impression on Andre that he wanted to use her for the remainder of the fashion show.

"Oh my God, I can't believe this is happening to me. I'm actually modeling for one of the famous fashion designers!" She clapped her hands and jumped up and down, then did a little dance, shaking her hips and humming a tune. Francine and Andre both laugh at her antics.

Some of the buyers from the other fashion houses were asking who the lovely new blond model was. She was making quite an impression on them. It was a whole new experience for Serena to be in the limelight, and she got caught up in the glamour of it all. Now she was really beginning to feel part of the fashion world in Paris. It wasn't long before she was offered more modeling jobs from the other fashion houses. Here she was a 22 year old young woman having the time of her life, which was just what she needed to drown her sorrow of missing Tom.

Serena was now in two minds what to do. She was having so much fun doing the modeling. She had adopted a taste for the glamour of it all, and the offers kept coming in. But, if she was going to pursue a modeling career, which had not been part of her plan, it would mean she would have to give up her day job, which she also loved. She was earning so much more money now from the modeling. That felt really good, but was that what she really wanted out of life to earn plenty of money? What about her creativity? Was that being fulfilled, and her dream of becoming a fashion designer? All those thoughts were in the back of her mind, and at times it really bothered her. She enjoyed working at Jean La Belle fashion store, and was learning new ways of doing things along the way. She had made friends with a few of the women that worked there and fitted in well with all the other employers as well. Was she ready to let that go yet?

Serena stayed with Violet, although she could afford to rent her own apartment now. She was earning plenty of money, but she enjoyed Violet's company. It was like having an older sister, and they had many heart to heart talks together. They often went down to the little cozy Café la Rouge for a meal or a quick snack. They had become regular costumers.

Serena had all those questions about her future turning around in her head. Maybe it was time to have a heart to heart talk with Violet. When she came home from work late that afternoon, she asked Violet if she had time to share a pot of tea with her. "Oh yes, that sounds lovely." They sat in the living room and Serena explained her problem.

"I am in two minds on what to do. Should I follow a modeling career, or should I keep my job and work toward becoming a fashion designer? I love my job, but at the same time, I'm also having so much fun doing the modeling, and I have to admit, I'm getting caught up in all the glamour of the modeling world, even though it can sometimes be hard work. What do you think I should do?"

"Oh my God decisions, decisions! I can see how it must be hard for you to decide. But it is so good to see you enjoying yourself after all the grief you went through over the last year. Couldn't you just keep going along with the modeling for a bit and see how you feel. You are obviously not ready to let go of that yet since you are having so much fun. You know the saying, 'When you are on to a good thing, stick to it.'

"If I were you, I wouldn't make any changes yet. Just go along with the way things are at the moment. If you feel later on you're not happy doing both things, then maybe you can talk to Francine and she may be able to advise you."

"Thanks, Violet, it is so good to talk to you, I truly value your suggestions. You always come up with sensible solutions for the problems I make for myself."

They laughed and chatted some more. Talking to Violet had such a calming influence on Serena.

CHAPTER TEN

The next day when Serena was walking down the street towards her work, she felt so lucky to be in Paris. Known as the "City of Lights," she felt that her dream was starting to happen for her. She was already beginning to feel at home in this beautiful cosmopolitan city whose influence on entertainment, the fashion world as well as the arts is felt worldwide. She knew she was going to have a love affair with this city. She felt in a romantic mood and she could feel her creativity opening up inside her. She experienced a sense of floating on air.