Page 55 of Made in Mumbai

“…my god! Who the hell let this happen here? Who is responsible?” Amber was in a fit, the ivory dress clutched to her chest. Maya walked up to the group, her intern standing scared in one corner, shivering more than she was before.

“What happened?” Maya whispered to her.

“I jus… turned… get the hanger… and when I came… the iron was on the dress…” she stuttered, tears in her eyes. “I’m so sorry, I don’t know what to do…?”

Maya eyed the commotion, then Sia behind them, smirking at her.The bitch.

“You?” Amber pointed to her. “Saya! You. Come here. They are saying you were working on this,” Amber threw the dress at her face. Maya recoiled, catching the fabric in time. It was burnished down the centre, the neckline completely charred.Shit.

“Who allowed you backstage?! Never worked in the fashion industry, thinking you can do as you please…” Amber began to blast, advancing on her. “Unprofessional bitches who think this is a park. Do you know that dress cost more than your three years’ salary? If you sold yourself right now you wouldn’t be able to repay me for that dress and now my fashion show is rui…”

Somebody stepped between them. Maya stepped back, focusing on the broad shoulders encased in a suit. A navy suit.

“Enough.”

“Your twat of an employee has…”

“I said enough,” his curt, final voice cut her off. “You will not speak to my employee like that.”

“She destroyed my dress!”

“I can see that. We will find a solution…”

“I have already called your studio to WeFast another dress, it’s on its way,” witchy-bitchy Sia eagerly joined them, squeezing Amber’s shoulder like she was at a funeral. Looking down at the burned dress in her hand, Maya contemplated it must be one for people like these.

“That does not mean I forgive this girl hiding behind you.”

Maya stepped out from behind Gautam’s shoulder. She had kept quiet because that was the professional thing to do, but she wouldn’t stand meek behind him if somebody implied she was a coward.

“Shameless, still standing here with the dress you burned.”

“I said that is enough. Another word from you Amber, and I will step back from our impending contract.”

“What?”

“You heard me.”

“For this twat?”

“That’s it. I will not be signing our three-year contract this evening. We can peacefully finish your show and go our separate ways.”

Gasps and murmurs erupted.

“Are you serious?! You are letting this contract go forher? What? She sleeping with you…?” She eyed her bump with disdain. “Looks like she’s got practise.”

“My employees, my office, nor my culture allow people to talk like this. In any setting. I will not work with somebody who does. Your dress will be here soon enough.”

“You are making a huge mistake, I can destroy every single chance for you to now come into this industry…”

“I have come here on the basis of my credibility. I am sure I will go on on that as well. Sahyadri?” He flicked his gaze to her. As if their private conversation had occurred, she rubbed Amber’s shoulders and turned her to chat up some more into her ear, no doubt abusing ‘Maya and everything she touched.’

“Get back to work now and make sure this does not happen again,” Gautam barked at the staff, then took her wrist and began walking.

“Where?” Maya tried to pull. But he kept going, out of the backstage area, to the hotel lobby and down the lift, until they were standing outside the concierge.

“Where are we going?”

“You should not stay close to her. It will create more friction.”

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