Free All About Yves by Ryan Field Page B

called the showroom. He had been hoping to get the assistant who had handed Marco the garment bag. The only person who worked in the showroom with bushy brown hair was a hardworking young man named Sparky. Marco knew everyone who worked in the showroom, and this guy was one of his favorite employees. He had exceptional ideas and a promising future in the fashion industry. Marco caught him just as he'd been ready to leave for the day.
    "I was wondering, Sparky,” Marco said, “when you handed my assistant, Yves, the garment bag with my new formal, did you look inside the bag?"
    "Oh yes, Mr. Denny,” Sparky said. “I made sure I double checked. There were two garment bags hanging on the rack. One was the yellow experimental design, and the other was your new formal. I wanted to make sure they didn't get mixed up. Is there anything wrong?"
    "It seems I have the yellow experimental design,” Marco said. “I guess my formal is still in the showroom."
    "Ah well, Mr. Denny,” Sparky said. “I don't see how that could have happened. I distinctly handed your assistant the right bag, after checking it thoroughly, then ran to answer the phone."
    "Did my assistant see the yellow suit?"
    "Yes, he did. I opened both garment bags in front of him. I don't know how he could have taken the wrong one."
    Marco smiled. He knew how Yves could have taken the wrong bag. He'd done it on purpose so Marco wouldn't be able to wear the new tuxedo to the party.
    "I'm so sorry, Mr. Denny,” Sparky said. “I'll deliver the right suit to you immediately. I don't see it on the rack where it should be, but I'm sure it's here someplace. I'll go look for it right now. I can't imagine where it might be."
    "Don't bother,” Marco said. “It wasn't your fault, Sparky. My assistant must have had too much on his mind. I'll be fine. I'm sorry I bothered you this late."
    "Are you sure, Mr. Denny?” Sparky said. “I could have it there in a half hour."
    "Thank you, Sparky,” Marco said. “I'm fine. Don't give it a second thought. I'll see you soon. I've been so busy with this awful TV show I haven't seen anyone in the showroom for ages. I miss my gang."
    "We miss you, too, Mr. Denny."
    "See you soon, then,” Marco said.
    When Marco hung up, he knew there was nothing he could do at that point. If he went on a rampage with Yves, he would have looked paranoid and everyone would have thought he was overreacting to an innocent mistake. And he didn't want to put a damper on the party. He knew Frazier was looking forward to this and he didn't want to spoil the evening for everyone.
    On his way to the living room, he was even starting to feel better about everything. But he ran into Jane Francis in the hallway and asked where Frazier was. Frazier always came upstairs to see him when he returned from a trip. Jane Francis gave Marco a wise smile and said Frazier was in the living room with Yves. She said they were alone, laughing and joking about something.
    When Marco reached the center hall, just outside the living room entrance, he overheard Yves and Frazier talking. They were laughing about something to do with music, but Marco wasn't sure what it was. Then Yves complimented Frazier on his wonderful designs in his innocent, timid voice. He praised Frazier's innovative lines and his use of unusual fabrics. Yves told Frazier he wasn't just a clothing designer—he was an artist in the truest respect. Yves was laying it on so thick Marco felt like sticking his fingers down his throat and gagging on his beloved marble floor. Frazier was standing there, smiling and nodding, while Yves stared at him with pure adoration in his eyes.
    Normally, Marco would have laughed this off. Yves was clearly stroking Frazier's huge ego, and Frazier loved every minute of the attention from young Yves. Trash like Yves Marisano had never bothered Marco before; he'd always been better looking and young enough to compete with anyone. But when he stepped up to the living room entrance