for parking. The front had pan- oramic windows in which mane- quins were posed in high fashion settings showing the world the quality inside. The idea of pan- orama was carried on inside where cases holding several mo- dels were placed about the large lobby. Often when an appoint- ment had been made by someone who was important, the dummies were replaced by live models who would hold a pose until the customer neared the display and then would present an anamation that was intended to appeal to the customer. This was one way Vittor created interest in what he thought was right for the particu- lar person. He gave much time and thought to these displays. In the center of the lobby sat the receptionist, in a small railed off enclosure. To the rear were the business offices and on the se- cond floor was the workrooms.
The Haute of the Couture was all over the place. No one spoke above a whisper except Vittor. Vittor could not speak in a whis- per. He was a bundle of nerves. He was constantly dashing about with bolt of cloth over his shoulder with the trailing edges threatening to lash any tardy seamstress or laggard model. One could not help absorb a feeling of hushed hurry-up that in itself was a paradox. As I became ac- quainted there were other para- doxes that came to light. In a staff of about 35 people, design- ers, interpreters, seamstresses, models and others, all of whom appeared to be devoted to Vittor who could be a traitor? If styles were being pirated, how could they be taken out? After I'd been there for a week or two, I thought all thoughts of crime were imagined. These were some
of the things I mulled over as Vittor gave me instructions on my new job as receptionist.
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Vittor and Chief Harn decided that I could more quickly learn to know who came and went if I was given this job to start with. Val Nichols, the girl I replaced was given a promotion and was assigned to Mr. Harden, sales manager, as his assistant. This was good for her, after 5 years with Vittor's.
I was very self conscious at my desk. It was within a small railing in the center of the lobby. The railing was of modernistic metal work but I noted that I was on view from all sides and with spotlighting centered on this area I knew Vittor relied upon this to set the tone for persons doing business with us. I had intentionally put on a shorter than usual suit of pink cotton knit. The light hosiery and matching high heeled pumps were not lost to the world be- cause of the fence. My makeup included vivid eye treatment and I had added a little extra color to my face because I had an idea of the kind of place where I would be working and knew I needed all the boost I could get to carry off my roll I was going to play in this world of high fashion. A very trim waist- line caused by my merry widow kept me sitting quite straight and prim. I felt I did create a very fetching picture in my "goldfish bowl." All in all, I did not feel out of place with my costume and I tried hard to keep straight all the comings and goings of the various people, both those con- nected with Vittor's and the salesmen and others who called or had business with our concern I'm sure by now you are won-
dering who did it and I wish I could have known at that stage of the game. It would have saved a bit of suffering and much em- barassment if I could have just said so and so was responsible and come up with some convin- cing reasons for my believing this. I will however make it as brief as possible. We did finally find out the guilty party.
I thought Val was angry with me when I went to work the first morning but about 10 o'clock she stopped by my desk and ask- ed me to go to coffee with her. I asked, “Is it alright to go or do I need to wait for someone to come and take my place while I'm gone?" She replied, "No I had a little sign that I put on my desk when I went out and I moved it with my other things. I brought it back to you. Besides, anyone as pretty as you will cause no anger at waiting while you're gone!"
I put the sign up on my desk, powdered my nose, checked my hose and went with her. She directed me to Ciro's about half a block away and we sat and dis- cussed my job and her promo- tion just as regular girls would. She seemed reserved but still en- tered into the conversation with much animation. I could see the possible effect the the "goldfish bowl" had had on her and won- dered if it would cause me to over act also after a while. When we returned, she said to me, “go on in, I want to get something out of my car and will go in the back way."
When I entered, there was a group of visitors and employees around my desk and amid much agitation Vittor was talking at the top of his voice. "She's new here but she just cannot walk off
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