A New Perspective

Chapter 1

“My dear, I cannot thank you enough for the wonderful job you have done in my parlour.” Madame Dashwood cooed into the phone. “My vacation American home is now more lavish than my main home in England.”

“Design is the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do with my life. The pleasure was all mine, Madame. ” Alyssa Ashmore said with a smile and meaning it.

Madame Constance Dashwood was the heiress to an enormous fortune of a top steel producer and was recognized as one of the wealthiest women in Britain. She was also one of the nicest ladies that Alyssa had ever had the pleasure of working with.

“Well it shows, dear. The walnut hardwood is divine and the green chenille sofa is lovely, not to mention comfortable. I can honestly say that I have never worked with a designer of your caliber. You have a great talent and I shall be recommending you to all of my friends, Miss Ashmore.”

“Thank you. That’s very kind of you to say.” Alyssa replied with a slight blush but feeling proud nonetheless.

“Not at all. I must insist you come to the house warming party, my dear. And bring your assistant Miss Hayes with you.” Madame Dashwood pressed.

“That would be lovely. Thank you.” Alyssa replied and adjusted herself more comfortably in her leather chair.

She heard a small noise in the hallway and turned slightly in her chair to see a smiling Bridget, her assistant, hovering in the doorway and waived her in.

“Excellent. Then you may meet my children. The invitations will be sent to your office, my dear. I will not detain you further, Miss Ashmore. Thank you again. Good day.” Madame Dashwood said.

“You are very welcome, Madame. Good day to you as well.” Alyssa said before hanging up and meeting her grinning friend’s brown eyes with her blue ones.

“What are you smiling at, Bridget?” Alyssa demanded.

“Were you talking to Madame Dashwood?” Bridget asked as she shook her blonde hair back and took the blue armchair on the other side of the desk.

“Yes. Why?”

“You do realize that your tone of voice completely changes whenever you talk to her, don’t you. You sound so well bred and proper!”

“It’s called manners. The woman is a prominent figure in British society. You can’t talk to her like she’s some schmo you met on the street.” Alyssa replied then added jokingly “Hey yo, Connie! Wassup?”

Bridget giggled. “No. That’s true. So what want?”

“To thank us for what a wonderful job we did on her living room. And to invite us to her house warming party.” Alyssa told her as she kicked her heels off and crossed her long legs under her oak desk.

“Really? Awesome! Can you imagine what kind of a gala a woman like that will throw?” Bridget exclaimed.

“I can’t even begin to imagine.”

“When is this party?” Bridget asked.

Alyssa looked sheepishly at her friend for a moment before admitting “You know, I forgot to ask. I got distracted when you came in.”

“Only you.” Bridget rolled her eyes and laughed.

“I’m an original.” Alyssa defended with a smile. “Madame Dashwood did say she was going to be mailing the invites here for us though.”

“Black tie?” Bridget asked hopefully.

“I’m sure.” Alyssa said with little enthusiasm.

Where as Bridget loved nothing more than slipping into a ball gown and going to a high society party, Alyssa hated it. She felt stifled, uncomfortable and like she was trying to be something she was not. She was beer and cheeseburgers not champagne and caviar.

Her job did include a number of these types of functions though and she had learned to make the best of it. But having to purchase a form-fitting dress that cost more than she made in a week, then squeezing into said dress where you could hardly breathe let alone sit down, then schmoozing with people who were typically on a whole other plateau of intelligence than you was hardly Alyssa’s idea of a good time.

“Fab!” Bridget exclaimed happily.

“Yeah. Fab.” Alyssa grumbled.

“Oh don’t start that already. You knew what this job entailed when you got into this business. The clients usually invite their designer to the house warming party. We haven’t had a black tie party in months. Besides, Madame Dashwood is hardly your typical highly wealthy woman. It’ll be great.” Bridget said encouragingly.

“No, she’s not. Maybe it won’t be too bad.” Alyssa agreed.

As she had told Bridget on many occasions, Madame Dashwood was not your typical heiress. Some may even describe her as eccentric but Alyssa had nothing but respect for the woman. She was nearing her sixties but still kept quite active. She did yoga and meditated daily, she cooked wonderfully and played the piano like a dream.

But her positive attitude and caring for others is what really struck her. Alyssa had never seen Madame Dashwood look down at anyone she had come in contact with. Not her servants, not her lawyers and certainly not her. She treated everyone as if they were her equal. So there was bound to be a wide array of people at her party.

Feeling a bit brightened by this thought, Alyssa smiled and began gathering her things. She glanced out the window and saw the beautiful orange sun setting over the clock tower on the Plaza.

“Do you want to go shopping for a new dress tonight? I’m thinking red. I’m thinking spaghetti strapped. I’m thinking slits on the sides.” Alyssa asked as she ran her hand through her auburn curls. She deserved some kind of treat for a job well done and such high praise.

“Sounds racy. Perfect. Are you ready?” Bridget asked as glanced at the clock.

“Yep.” Alyssa slipped her shoes back on, shrugged into her coat and flicked off her office light. For the first time she could remember she felt excitement for an upcoming party instead of dread.

“Posh Design. This is Alyssa Ashmore speaking.” She said breathlessly as she rushed in and answered her office phone the next morning.

“Did you get your invitation?” Bridget shrieked excitedly.

“I don’t know. I just got here.” Alyssa smiled and set her purse and portfolio down.

“Well look, damn it! It’s an absolutely stunning invitation.” Then she hung up.

Alyssa glanced at her in-tray and found a bouquet of brilliant white gardenias and lilies laying on top of a green envelope with a flower design pressed into it. She set the fragrant flowers on her desk and turned the invitation over and took it in from the front. It was scented of gardenia and the pure white card was edged in a silver and gold lattice work trim. Alyssa opened the invitation to read the beautiful calligraphy.

Miss Alyssa Ashmore’s presence is cordially requested by Madame Constance Dashwood on the evening of Friday, November the second at seven o’clock.

Please R.S.V.P. for this black tie affair.

“Isn’t it beautiful!” Bridget said as she burst into Alyssa’s office.

“Very pretty. So next Friday then. Have you R.S.V.P.’d yet?” Alyssa asked.

“Not yet. I was getting ready to.” Bridget said.

“I’ll do it. I need to call her anyway.”

“Thanks! I better get to work. See you later.” Bridget said before disappearing.

Alyssa sat down, ran a hand through her curly hair and gazed out of the window for a moment before pulling an envelope out of her purse and looking at it plaintively for a moment.

She had come home last night to find a messenger waiting at her apartment to deliver what she had thought was a letter. When she opened it, she was partially right but in addition to the letter there was a check for a ridiculously large amount of money made out to her with a note from Madame Dashwood wanting to give her a bonus for her work on the house.

Though Alyssa could definitely use the money, her sleazy ex-boyfriend had dumped her a year ago and left her with thousands of dollars in credit card debt, there was no way she could accept it. It was far too large for the amount of work she had done.

She picked up the phone and dialed the Dashwood home resolutely, trying to push her bitter thoughts back.

“Dashwood residence. This is Colin speaking.” Came the low smooth voice on the other end.

Alyssa felt her stomach dip then clench inexplicably. This man had the sexiest voice she had ever heard. Like silk and satin sliding over her bare skin. She closed her eyes for a moment to get her wits back.

“Good day. May I please converse briefly with Madame Dashwood?” Alyssa asked, summoning her manners and professionalism.

“Converse with her?” He asked with a teasing smile in his voice. “Certainly. May I tell who is calling please?”

“This is Alyssa Ashmore.”

“The designer?”

“Yes.” She said, caught a little off guard.

She knew that she had heard Madame Dashwood speak of someone named Colin but for the life of her she couldn’t remember who he was.

“Well, you’ve done fabulous work. I hardly recognized the place when I got in today.” Colin said genuinely.

“Got in? From where?” She asked with confusion.

“London.”

“Oh. Yes. Sorry. Thank you very much. It’s nice to be appreciated.”

“Not at all. I know she is most pleased too as she speaks of little else but you and your abilities. I have never seen her take a shine to anyone so quickly. You must have been very kind to her.” He said charmingly.

“How nice of you to say. She’s very easy to work for. She’s a very generous woman.” Alyssa replied cautiously, looking for his angle.

“Yes. She is. Well. I’ve detained you long enough. I will just summon Madame Dashwood for you. Good day Miss Ashmore.” He said in his silky voice.

“Thank you. Good day to you as well, sir.” She answered politely.

My goodness, what a sexy voice. I wish I could remember why I’ve heard her mention the name Colin. He was very nice. I wonder if he’s going to be at the party on Friday, she wondered idly.

“This is Madame Dashwood.” Came her voice and Alyssa was pulled from her revere.

“Good morning, Madame. This is Alyssa Ashmore.”

“Hello dear!”

“I just wanted to R.S.V.P. for your house warming party on Friday for myself and Bridget.” Alyssa said.

“Excellent, my dear. Most excellent indeed. I’m delighted to hear it.” Madame Dashwood exclaimed. “I’ll send a car round for you then on Friday at 6:30.”

“Oh, that really won’t be necessary.” Alyssa said.

“I really must insist upon this! You are my guest of honour.”

“Well...thank you. That’s very kind.” She relented.

“Till Friday then.” Madame Dashwood began.

“Pardon me, Madame. I did have something else.” Alyssa began tentatively.

“Yes dear?”

“I wanted to thank you for your letter and the bonus that I received last night. But I really can’t accept this.”

“My dear Miss Ashmore, that is yours and I will not hear another word about it.” Madame Dashwood said stubbornly.

“As much as I appreciate it, it is much too generous. I did nothing to warrant this kind of bonus.” Alyssa replied just as insistently.

“Child, you have done more than you think. It is yours. I am very pleased with you and your work. I hope you will not deny a woman the pleasure of giving you a gift.” Madame Dashwood said petulantly.

Alyssa could just see the expression on the woman’s face and she could definitely hear the finality in her voice.

“Thank you. Very much.” She allowed herself to be coerced into accepting it.

“Good. Well I really must dash. Lots of arrangements to make. See you Friday. Just a moment dear, my Colin needs to speak to you a moment.” Madame Dashwood said happily.

Alyssa waited in confusion for him to pick back up, wondering what on earth he could need to speak to her about.

“Miss Ashmore?” Came his low voice and again she felt her heart thump a little harder.

“Yes?”

“I need to get your address please.” He said smoothly.

“Why?” She asked, dropping her manners in suspicion.

“For the car to come pick you up Friday of course.” He replied with unconcealed amusement.

“Oh, right. Sorry.” She rolled her eyes in embarrassment before giving him her address and directions.

“Thank you. Well I look forward to meeting you.” Colin said.

“Likewise.” She said, discovering it was true. If his voice did this her she wondered what would happen when she came face to face with him.

“Goodbye then.” He practically whispered.

“Goodbye.”

Chiding herself, she sat there for a good five minutes telling herself that he was probably old, balding and just a gentlemen friend of Madame Dashwood.

It should be illegal for any man to have a voice like that, she told herself as she tried to distract herself with her work.