‘I know it’s boring, Gabriel, but I don’t see work as a fashion parade!’ Her face stung from the implied insult. ‘If you had told me that—’
‘You knew we would be entertaining this client,’ Gabriel pointed out flatly. ‘Surely you wouldn’t have assumed that your work suits would do the trick?’
‘Why not? They’re smart and professional—’
‘They’re bland and drab.’
‘I don’t think that’s fair at all!’
‘You get exactly the same clothes allowance as the rest of my employees on your level, yet you don’t appear to have spent a penny on clothes.’
Because she spent the money paying a professional to help her mother with her problem. Because, however much she was paid, by the time that money left her hands, given all the other bills, plus the little nest egg she was slowly accumulating, there was precious little left and none at all for jackets that cost five hundred pounds and designer shoes that could run to more.
‘How do you know I haven’t?’
‘Well, unless you’re throwing money at an exotic out of work wardrobe, it shows.’
‘I didn’t realise that there was a certain dress code to work for you.’ But it was apparent all around her. She had noticed it on day one. ‘And I don’t think I should be channelled into wearing stuff I don’t like because you say so.’
‘Before this conversation starts drifting into territory I know I won’t like,’ Gabriel informed her coolly, ‘I suggest you use what remains of the day to go shopping.’
Alice thought about the paucity of her funds and blanched. ‘I...I would have to dip into my savings...’
Gabriel waved aside her faltering objection with an impatient wave of his hand.
‘I will transfer money into your account today. Use it. Buy enough designer clothes to last the duration and feel free to make use of the spa centre here. Do whatever it takes.’
‘Do whatever it takes...for what?’ Alice said stiffly. If the ground had opened up, she would have dived in head first and emerged somewhere very far away from where this man was sitting, telling her in not so many words that she was an embarrassment.
‘Alice,’ Gabriel told her bluntly, ‘you’re a young girl in your twenties and I have yet to see you in something frivolous.’
‘I would never come to work in anything frivolous.’
‘Do you possess anything that isn’t sober? Serious? Grey?’ He knew he was being harsh but he had seen a hint of someone fiery lurking underneath the proper exterior and he wanted to see that person on the outside.
‘Francois and Marie are rich and they’re French. Put the two together and what you have is elegance. They will be startled if you appear at my side wearing off-the-peg cheap, ill-fitting grey suits. What you wear might not be a deal breaker, but it will help if you blend in. Do you really think that you can show up to tonight’s event in a suit?’
Cheap, off-the-peg, ill-fitting... The words reverberated in her head until she was giddy with anger.
‘I did think to bring my black dress.’
‘I’m imagining it’s along the same lines as the suit...?’
‘By which,’ Alice said tightly, ‘you mean cheap, off-the-peg and ill-fitting?’
Gabriel raked long fingers through his dark hair and sighed heavily. ‘I could have skirted round this,’ he told her bluntly. ‘I could have wrapped up what needed to be said in lots of pretty packaging, but that’s not my style. If you wear one of those suits of yours, you will feel desperately uncomfortable the minute you step through their front door. I’m sparing you that ordeal by being honest. They will wonder what sort of employer I am if I don’t pay my staff enough for them to afford decent clothing...’
‘Do you have any idea just how insulting you’re being right now?’ She was close to tears but there was no way that she would allow them to spill over.
‘Do you have any idea just how awkward you will feel if you arrive there and find that you’re not blending in? That you’re sticking out like a sore thumb?’ His dark eyes challenged her to continue an argument which he knew he would win.
‘And what exactly do you suggest I waste your money buying?’
‘You’re treading on thin ice here, Alice. I could suggest that you buy something dressy...colourful. Or else I could just tell you to—’
‘I apologise if you think I’m being ungrateful or rude, Gabriel, but I resent being told what I can and can’t wear!’ But when she thought about entering a room full of elegant French people who were dressed to kill, in one of her suits or her very simple black dress, she knew that he had a point.