City Of Love

2.

As I walked up the steps to my new work place I felt those goddamn butterflies from the plane journey return. It was normal to be nervous, but I was scared as well. I wanted this so bad, I've wanted this for my entire life, since as young as I can remember.

——

I ran down the stairs as fast as my tiny feet would carry me. It was Christmas morning 2003, I was nine years old. As presents were being given out, I couldn't wait to see what Santa had brought me. My mothers face glowing, my younger brother crying in the corner because he didn't get the barbie he wanted. My grandma stood at the front door letting all the cold air in so she could have a cigarette. I pulled open this giant box and inside was a doll, and tons and tons of fabric. I cried and ran to hug my mum.

"Thank you thank you" I cried, as my mother knew exactly what I wanted.

That Christmas holiday I must have made eight different outfits for that doll, and once I'd run out, I started dressing up my brother in my clothes, thinking of all these amazing different outfit choices.

It was from that moment I knew and my whole family knew, that I would do big things when it came to fashion.

——

I pushed the main door open and walked over to the reception desk.

"Hello, my name is Ragan Murphy, I'm here to see Patty Wilder" I smiled politely, and as the receptionist started tapping away at her computer I heard a voice I recognised call out from behind me.

"Ragan! It's so lovely to finally meet you. Tell me how are you? Settling in alright? Have you seen any of London yet?" Patty was even more lovely in person. She was not like your average boss, that made you run around after them, she called the company a family, and I was very excited to be part of it. 

We continued chatting as she showed me around the building. She stopped outside a room that had a glass door.

"And this my darling is your office" she said as she pushed the door open and led me inside.

"Oh wow, this is mine? This is more amazing than I dreamt" I was in ore of the office that I would be spending five days a week in. It had a giant window that I could see a small Big Ben out of, it was the perfect view, and it was all mine.

"I'm having a party tonight, all your co workers will be there, plus some long term clients, a few of my friends and my son will be there, I would love for you to come and meet everyone. It's a formal do, so I am excited to see what invention you come up with to wear. Be there for 8?" I was grinning like a chester cat, this was going to be my life from now on.

"Of course I'll be there" Patty then sent me a text with her address, kissed me on the cheek and told me she 'had to dash' how english.

Once I arrived back at my flat, I sat down on my sofa and sighed. I needed to think of what to wear, it was only 4pm, but I had to come up with something good to impress my new boss. Whilst I contemplated my different outfit choices, I received an incoming FaceTime call from my best friend back home.

"LANA" I screamed once it had connected.

"How's London bitch?" she said with her face ever so close to the camera.

"'It's absolutely incredible, I can't wait for you to come visit." we then chatted about my day, my new boss, and how things were back at home.

"I miss you so much Rae" Lana said as she started to well up. "It's not the same without you, your mum has invited me over for dinner because she misses you so much"

"I've only been gone like two days, Lana, what are you going to do for the rest of the time I'm here" She started grinning at me strangely. I didn't think anything of it because that girl always had her mind elsewhere.

"I'm just going to have to cope without you for this next month, and then soon i'll be there" Lana said smiling.

We said our goodbyes and I hung up. Lana was coming to visit me in about a months time, and I knew this would be the longest month of my life.

It was now 5pm and I think I've decided on an outfit.

I started to do my hair. I started by straightening it, and then putting it up in a high ponytail, sophisticated yet sexy. I then did my makeup and put on a nude orange lip.

My outfit consisted on a black sleeveless crop top, that had a black choker and belt piece to go with it. I wore black cigarette trousers, and some black strapped heels.

All the black was overpowering so I put on a long nude brown silk jacket, and it matched the colour of my lips perfectly.

I grabbed my clutch which was just big enough to store my cash, keys and phone in. It was now 7:45pm so I called a taxi, grabbed a bottle of prosecco that I had been given for moving. I wasn't going to drink it.

As I pulled up to the party, I looked at the incredible house that was in front of me. Wondering what the night was to hold.

I had no idea what was about to come, and I had no idea that it would change my life forever.