"Sometimes these parties are fun, but to be honest most of them are more than a little bit strange, Ethan," Natalie complained to her husband of a few months.
"Yes, well we do need to attend, you know we do meet new clients this way," Ethan responded to his younger spouse. "Who knows, this collection of timepieces was really quite a find."
Married a few months, the pair had established a successful import business where they located and delivered specific, if not odd, objects for their clients. Ethan, 9 years older than his bride, was a successful detective of items through art dealers, auction houses and the like, while Natalie, the former fitness model and instagram star, now retired, had a talent for developing business systems. She successfully created an app for the business that linked the business with people who were in possession of interesting things to sell or looking for such items. The app was also a gateway to connect those who have interesting things to sell with people who are in search of interesting things, with the couple collecting a finder's fee.
"Yeah, Ethan, I don't really understand people's obsession with things sometimes, but I hope this party isn't as weird as the last one, all those eyes...." Natalie stated matter of factly, noting that the last party was for a collector of taxidermied animals. "That was creepy."
"Yes," Ethan laughed. "But who knew taxidermied animals would be one of our best finds, and among our most lucrative."
Natalie shivered as they discussed that party, just as the married couple pulled up to the address they had sent the exotic timepieces to their latest client- one they had only met through emails and text messages and the collector's secretary was the only person they ever actually spoke with during the acquisition of the items. Through the black wrought iron gates the couple went, then up the long circular driveway and up to the front of what looked more like a 5-star hotel than a home, the home of Jordan Archibald, the collector who assigned them to find the timepieces from all over the world.
"Well let's see how eclectic Jordan Archibald is then," Ethan said as the car slowed to a stop as an army of formally dressed men and women in tight black and white uniforms approached the car. "Well it seems there is quite the full staff for this event, Nat."
Once the car pulled to a stop, men with perfectly fitted and pressed uniforms opened the doors for Ethan and Natalie, who exited the car and were escorted to the main foyer of the house where the guest list was to check in with security. Once at the check in desk, they were greeted by a pair of women also in perfectly fitted uniforms- black skirts, black hose, black heeled shoes, a form fitting white long sleeve top and a fitted black pocketed vest. Behind them stood more men, wearing the male version of the uniform- tight black slacks and shoes, a collared white shirt and pocketed vest- all form fitting and perfectly tailored.
"Look at how the help is dressed, Nat," Ethan said quietly as they approached the main area to check in.
"Yeah, every article of clothing is perfectly tailored for each staff member, it's very expensive and a nice touch," Natalie replied. "Getting everything tailored is bad enough, but for a work crew this size is impressive."
"Well I guess women would know," Ethan countered, inadvertently referring to his wife's prior career as a fitness model and instagram influencer, a life which she willingly gave up happily to be with the first man who didn't just see her as an object for her physical beauty.
It was a career and life unknown to Ethan- one she never talked about with her husband. Natalie's past in some areas was a blank to Ethan, and that was by design by the beautiful young wife who valued that her husband never saw her as only a physically beautiful woman, but as an incredibly intelligent partner. While he wondered how she was so savvy in social media and how she was able to infuse a reasonably large amount of money into the business, husband Ethan Davison had no idea that his younger wife Natalie was at one time the 'it' girl of instagram.
"But that isn't what I was talking about. Accessories, Nat..." Ethan observed.
Natalie looked at the staff and realized what her husband was discussing. Each male staff member had a pocket watch and chain attached to the vest, the timepiece in the pocket, all done in silver. All the women had dangle earrings, nearly reaching their shoulders, the earrings were silver chains with a mini pocket watch dangling below.
"Another job, another party, another theme," Natalie replied. "That's quite an expense to have made from scratch."
"Hello, welcome to the Archibald Estate, your names please?" the perky blonde with her hair pulled back in a ponytail asked, her silver earrings shining under the center foyer chandelier.
"Ethan and Natalie Davison," Ethan offered.
"Ah yes, wonderful, thank you both," the girl, who's name tag read Ashley, replied. "Mr. Davison, your presence is requested in the conference room, potential clients requiring your services. Mrs. Davison, you will be escorted for a preview of the central display for approval."
Before either of them knew what happened, Ethan was being escorted in one direction by a pair of lovely ladies, a brunette and blonde, each wearing the perfectly tailored uniform that looked sharp yet sexy, with the requisite silver dangle pocket watch earrings. Natalie was greeted by a third woman, who appeared about the same age as Natalie, also wearing the perfectly tailored outfit but with her dangle pocket watch earrings of silver being slightly larger than the rest of the staff.
"Wonderful to meet you, Mrs. Davison," the pretty redhead offered as she extended her hand. "I'm Britt Bolton, we have spoken by phone and through email."
"Oh, yes, of course, It is lovely to meet you, Ms. Bolton," Natalie replied. "I hope everything went well with the items and nothing was damaged in shipment."
"Call me Britt, Mrs. Davison," the woman leading Natalie by the arm responded. "Yes, everything arrived in perfect condition, everyone wanted you to be the first to see it since you did such a great job in finding these items and getting them here."
"Call me Natalie, Britt," Natalie answered. "But why just me, why not Ethan too?"
"Well, we have a few people here today who desperately want your company's services, so it was decided that your husband should handle those things before the official reveal," Britt offered. "We have some VERY pushy and wealthy people who are very impressed and literally hate waiting, Natalie. I hope you understand. But we wanted you to see the display before it was officially revealed."
"Oh yes well of course, thank you for the business and the explanation," Natalie replied. "I'm flattered."
Britt led Natalie up the stairway to a large room with curtains cordoning off sections, and most of the lights were turned off. Natalie was ushered to a comfortable looking chair, and was handed a glass of champagne poured by Britt, who also took a glass for herself.
"To a job well done," Britt said, clinking her glass with Natalie's. Britt set her glass down before taking a drink, saying "I will need to get things started for your preview, Natalie."
"Thank you, Britt," Natalie said, thinking this was just one more eclectic event.
Natalie found herself alone, sitting and sipping her drink as she waited, presumably to view the items she and her husband had procured from various sources for the event host Jordan Archibald. As she sat in the semi darkened room and sipped her drink, she began to feel the effects, feeling slightly lightheaded and a bit dizzy.
Britt soon returned with a statuesque brunette in a tight black, sleeveless, strapless dress and impossibly high red heels that matched her lipstick and fingernails. Her hazel eyes dazzled nearly as brightly as her smile behind her red lips as she entered the room where Natalie was seated.
"Natalie, this is Miss Jordan Archibald," Britt announced as the tall brunette held out her hand to Natalie as she tried to shake what she was feeling in her head and was beginning to rise to greet her wealthy, eclectic benefactor.
"Hello, Ms. Archibald," Natalie replied as she shakily stood and looked confusedly at her client.
"Hello Natalie, you were expecting an 82 year old man?" Jordan smiled and asked. "That is my father. Obviously I am not him."
"No, definitely not," Natalie replied in a soft voice as she looked up and down at the woman who owned the impressive estate and equally impressive collection of timepieces and even more impressive figure and clothes.
"Please, Natalie, a toast," Jordan said as she took the open bottle of champagne from the table and refilled the glass of champagne for her guest.
"To a wonderful collection, and the very pretty woman who secured it," Jordan said as she held her own spring water aloft. Natalie, feeling compelled, took a drink from her glass. "Britt, you may return to the foyer now. Natalie, finish your drink darling."
Jordan Archibald's assistant nodded, leaving the two women in the entry of the exhibit area as Natalie stood and finished her drink, then put her glass on the table, and put a hand to her head as Britt left.
"Feeling ok, Natalie?" Jordan asked as she held the arm of her companion and smiled.
Natalie just nodded her head up and down slightly, saying only "dizzy..."
"You must be tired from traveling," Jordan said more as a command than a statement. "Take my arm, Natalie."
