Page 26 of The One That I Want

‘Oh, yes, please.’ George bounces in his chair like an excited toddler – I guess that means his disappointment about the case name has been put on the back burner.

Greta stands and comes around to our side of the desk. ‘This way!’ She leads us out of her office, George scampering after her and me following.

Greta

I don’t know if I’ve ever been more relieved in my life. Okay, that might be a slight exaggeration, but an over-eager matchmaker who loves all things fashion is far better than meeting some random man I’m expected to fall madly in love with.

And a tour ofNouveau? The perfect procrastination tactic. The longer I can put off introducing Poppy to the team and orienting her as a (pseudo) new staff member, the longer I can put off the real reason she’s here.

Ninety minutes later, I’ve taken them to all the floors of interest, including the studio where we watched ten minutes of a photoshoot, and now it’s time for thepièce de résistance: The Wardrobe (capital letters intended).

‘Oh. My. God,’ says George breathlessly. He’s like a child in a sweet shop.

IfNouveauis the mothership, The Wardrobe is the engine room.

I look about with fresh eyes. The Wardrobe really is remarkable and it’senormous– you could fit my entire flat inhere four times over. There are dozens of aisles with racks of clothes on either side and all four walls are lined with floor-to-ceiling shelving. The Wardrobe showcases every aspect of fashion from shoes to bag to belts to jackets to trousers to dresses, and everything in between, and each season, everything but the museum pieces are rotated.

The mistress of this fashion wonderland is called Mimi and I spy her tiny form, dressed entirely in black à la Audrey Hepburn, way in the back, supervising a refresh of the nude shoe section, where three staff members buzz about her like worker bees doing her bidding. I have no doubt George would happily join them – he’s even wearing bumblebee cufflinks today, I noticed earlier.

I wave for him and Poppy to follow me, which they do – George with a lolling tongue and eyes like saucers.

‘Hello, ladies,’ I say as we approach.

Mimi turns to me, her bright-red lips stretching into a smile. Even though I’m five-foot-two, she has to lift onto her toes to kiss me on the cheek.

‘Hello, darling,’ she says, her eyes drifting over my shoulder towards George and Poppy.

I make the introductions and George steps forward as if he’s meeting royalty. Although, I suppose Mimi isn’t far off – at least in fashion circles. She’s been around almost as long asNouveau, and even pre-dates editor-in-chief and international style icon,theAmelia Windsor.

‘Oh, goodness,’ says George – he looks as if he’s about to curtsey. ‘I cannotbelieveI’m meeting Mimi Prouse. I have adored you ever since I can remember.’

‘Thank you.’ I can tell Mimi’s enchanted by him – she adores being adored.

‘No, honestly, I mean it. I’m almost positive that my first word was “Mimi”, not “Mama”.’

Mimi tosses back her head and laughs heartily. ‘Oh, Greta,’ she says through her laughter. ‘Where did you find this one? He’s delightful. And so well dressed!’ She runs an appraising eye over George’s outfit.

‘Oh my god,’ says George, fanning his face with one hand. He looks to Poppy with a wide grin and shrugs his shoulders.

‘Isn’t he just?’ I say, playing along to avoid explaining who George really is. ‘Right, we should leave you to it.’

George utters a deflated ‘boo’.

‘Come on, George,’ says Poppy, linking her arm through his.

‘But come back and visit us properly sometime,’ Mimi calls after him.

‘Really?’ he asks, spinning around.

‘Of course!’

We make our goodbyes and when we’re out of earshot, I say, ‘You know, George, Mimi doesn’t invite just anyone to come visit her.’

‘I am literally going to die,’ he replies, his hand pressed to his chest, and Poppy and I share an amused glance.

Once George left, still on cloud nine from his encounter with Mimi, I took Poppy to properly reacquaint her with Bex and meet the others in theNouveau Lifeteam.

Staff writer, Taj, who loves the idea for Poppy’s advice column, peppered her with questions and made suggestions for its look and feel. Editorial assistant, Lisa, was warm and welcoming, asking Poppy about her articles inPsychology Today, an Australian publication she’s written for in the past.

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