“You've got a fitting coming in at any time,” your supervisor acknowledges. You nod your head and make your way to the back to get your measuring kit and notepad. You aren't the biggest fan of how she runs the place. Being put on the spot to design a custom suit for someone you hadn't had a chance to sit down and get to know was always nerve-racking. “It makes you better,” she always assured you, “keeps you creative.” You take your things to one of the private rooms to set up. “I'll be in three,” you announce to the rest of the staff. You begin to get everything settled in, being sure that the aesthetic of the room is pleasing. “It's all about the experience,” you remember from your training days. You're laying everything out on the table beside the large freestanding mirror when the door opens. “Uh, hi,” you hear with a slight knock. You turn around to face the door and your brows immediately rise. “Oh.” You close your eyes for a moment to turn your work self back on. “Hi, yes, please come in.” You extend your hand, “Jessie.” “Harry.” Of course he was. “Please, have a seat,” you invite, holding your hand out towards the seating area. “You have so many options,” he remarks, looking around the room at all of the fabric samples hanging around the large space. “Yes, and we're going to figure out which one matches you best.” You begin with the basic questions: Where will he wear this suit? Will this be a one-wear suit? What message does he want to provoke with the look? How does he want to feel in the suit? “So tell me about your week,” you say to him, as you would any customer, before getting up and making your rounds to collect samples for him. It's another 'standard procedure' to make sure that “the customer always knows this experience is all about them.” “It's been crazy. I've been all over the place. This is actually the first time in a while that I've actually had time to myself.” You turn from making your selections, feeling sorry for him. He considers this time to himself, yet here you are alongside him. “I'm sorry to hear that.” “Oh, it's fine. I'm used to it.” It's at this point you would usually ask him what he does for a living. But since you obviously already know that answer and know that more than likely he would like to steer as far away from work talk as possible, you go a different direction with your question: “I'm trying to choose the centerpieces for my best friend's wedding, do you think I could get your opinion?” A bright smile comes across his face. “I love weddings.” You put the fabric samples down on the table, and pull your phone out. “I'm the Maid of Honor, lucky me, and she's asked me to decorate for all of it.” “She must trust your opinion very much,” Harry replies. “An extra responsibility with this job, I suppose.” You hand him your phone, showing him the options you have come up with. “Is this everything?” He questions, moving past centerpieces and onto table runners and flower arrangements. You nod, “It's everything I have been able to come up with so far.” As he looks over your ideas you get back to your job. “You did all of this in an app or what?” “Yeah, basically, it gives you individual elements and you select designs and colors and then place them wherever.” He continues to scroll through your creative mind as you begin matching suit patters and linings that you believe will match Harry's personality. “These are so good, I can see why your friend has trusted you in this. I'm not sure I can choose which one is best.” You smile at his polite words and take a seat in the chair beside him. “That's fine, why don't we take a look at what I've come up with for this suit.” You direct him over towards the displays you've put together. “Wow,” he remarks in astonishment. “I want them all.” You can't help but laugh, he's really laying it on now. “Well let's see which one works best for the situation.” He turns to you, “No, I really want them all.” Your eyes grow wide. “Oh, um, okay.” Obviously money isn't an issue for him so you shouldn't have been too surprised. “I just love it all.” “Well let's get you fitted and we will get them started.”
