The Sewing Queen

Heartly Manor

Chapter 12 

Arranging to meet at a cafe on Saturday morning was a good idea at first but when I got there, there was no one there. The doors were locked and the windows were boarded up. I checked the address three times before checking the time, I was at the right place and was ten minutes early. So what do I do? Wait and see if anyone turns up or go wait for the next bus then go home. I went to text Link as a black posh car pulled on to the car park in front of me.

"Are you Miss Rose?" a man with black tinted sunglasses asked out of the window.

"Yes, how may I help you?" I asked confused. What's going on? Who is this man?

"I'm here to pick you up and take you to Heartly studio."

"I thought Link was coming?" I asked confused

"Were you not told about the change in plans?”

“Obviously not” i said, im a bit annoyed that Link didn't let me about the plans changing.

"I’m afraid it’s me or you go home"

"Okay"

"Get in then"

I did as I was told, and opened the door, expecting to see Link sat there laughing at me but the back seats were empty. I sat there in silence; only listening to the sounds that the car was making not really looking where we were going then my phone went off.

Link: Hope your journey is alright. Forgot to tell you the change in plans xx

Me: Thanks for that xx

Link: Don't worry, your nearly here. I can see the car xx

Me: great news :) xxx

There was sudden news of dragging in front of the car; I looked up from my phone. To see massive electric gates being opened and a long driveway that slowly went up hill. Either side of the drive way their way grass covered in daisies and buttercups, on top of the hill was a line of trees hiding whatever was on the other side, I have no idea how Link would be able to see the car unless there was cameras. Once through the tree line that surrounded a small steam, there was another field of grass and flowers as well as a massive tutor style house.

"Welcome to Heartly manor" the driver said. My jaw hit the floor; they lived here!

"It's --- it's"

"Breath taking?" the driver said with a laugh.

"Yeah"

"I hear that a lot!" he said as he pulled up outside the front of the building, "well here you go"

"Thank you” I said climbing out of the car.

In front of me was what looked like were once barn doors to this building but now two massive wooden doors with 'Heartly' embossed into metal and nailed onto them. I was too busy drooling over the outside of the building to notice the door had been opened and Link and his dad was stood there, watching me.

“Earth to Lucie?” Link said with a laugh.

“Sorry, I was just taking this all in. You have an amazing house!”

“Well thank you. But it’s not just our house it’s also where we work” Marcus said with a small smile.

“Are you coming in?” Marcus and Link asked at the same time.

“Oh… Urmmm…. Yeah, sorry” I said a little sheepish. I hadn’t realised I been stood there just being lost in my own thoughts while getting strange looks from the pair. I slowly stepped through the front door, expecting to see something magical and old fashioned to fit with the outside of the house but to my surprise everything was open plan and modern. To the left of the door was a staircase and beyond that was a living room. To the right was a dining room and I could see that the kitchen was just off that.

I was lead through the living room then through another door into another part of the building. This was where the design studio was. Two large rooms with everything you could imagine inside. Rolls upon rolls of fabric, the most modern sewing machines, an iMac stood on the side with a mass of paper lay around it.

“This is where Link works and hopefully soon you as well Lucie” That’s when I noticed one of the walls was painted in a shade of teal with big white letters that spelled out LINK &. Were they really going to paint LUCIE if I took the job? Marcus had said it was a family business and only himself, his wife and Link worked for them so there would be no one else to paint on there. The thought of having my name on the wall here was exciting.

“Lucie can we go through some label ideas?” Link asked as he picked up some papers off the side as his dad left the room.

“Yeah, but I haven’t agreed to the job yet?”

“I know but I know you so well I know you will” He was right I was thinking about taking the job.

“Alright, I just want you to be clear on that”

Looking at the ideas put in front of me the designs were basic and simple colours that looked really formal. The one I liked most was two large L’s that had an and sign (&) in the middle and a read underneath Heartly. L&L Heartly. I like the thought of that. We spent another hour or so going through all sorts of branding like simple t-shirt designs with the chosen label design on it, also bag designs for when people buy an item of clothing as well as cloth bags to buy. All of it was so exciting and I couldn’t wait to get designing. Seeing all of Link’s designs pinned up on a board and knowing one day I could have my work on there.

I need to talk to my parents and make sure they are happy with my decision before I tell anyone else. My parents might see things different to how I see it so my mind might change again but I truly believe I am making the right decision. Well let’s just hope I am.  

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Sorry it has taken so long to get this chapter up and I know it’s just a filler but it will all work out. Hopefully the next chapter will be better. I’m writing as I posted this chapter.

Hope you enjoyed it

Zo xx

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