“The Guardian of Couture” Full-Length Chapter Preview: Chapter 12
Folks, I live by several usual maxims that my grandparents have taught me while they were alive. And in the chapters to come as I tell this story, I’ll be sharing them with you, starting with this one: “When you least expect it, expect it.” That has gotten me through my first four years in exile from Texas and also while in high school before.
And as Gio, Kumiko, River, and I took in the ballroom and how everything was decked out, I was living in that same maxim at the moment. Now, let me make a few things clear: I wasn’t surprised on how the way that the hotel’s large ballroom was decorated in the theme Heroic Figures in the similar styles of the Met Gala and the Academy Awards in all its grandeur finest with some of the designers showcasing various gowns and tuxedoes with subtle hints of superheroic glamour. And I wasn’t surprised on how all the celebrities, politicians, and social-media influencers who had been invited were dressed to the nines: Jimmy and Jey Uso in matching black Balmain tuxedoes while Jimmy’s wife Naomi was in an alluring old-Hollywood gown by Dior, George and Amal Clooney in matching Givenchy, the Trump family in various shades of monochromatics and reds by Michael Kors, Alicia Keys in a stunning red gown by Chanel, and more.
I wasn’t surprised by all of that.
No, folks. What took my breath away and put my soul on high alert was the general staffers- the same ones with athletic bodies whom were deemed very excitable and eager for newcomers like myself and my friends and how we were to stay away from them until tonight. And they weren’t in their monochromatic office-chic outfits.
And they weren’t wearing those retro-centric Coca-Cola glasses either.
No, sir. They were wearing superhero costumes, and not the ones you find in Halloween costume stores or the cheap knockoffs from Amazon. Real, authentic costumes that were straight out of comic books. And these people were showing off their superpowers and grinning at us four interns with a mixture of teasing, condescension, and eagerness.
“Surprise, guys,” Jorge Ramirez (the Hispanic general editor) said as he approached us, his gold-and-red costume in a blend of leather and spandex giving me the vibes of a fiery humanoid phoenix coming to life. “You just stepped into a world of comic books and haute couture.”
“Damn right,” Veronica Seeley (in a superhero costume similar to Wanda “Scarlet Witch” Maximoff, but in a tight bodysuit in purples and blacks complete with a headdress covered in elegant crystals) drawled as she stalked towards me, giving me a cat-eating grin. “This isn’t a game anymore, boys. This is real life, one that you’re now a part of.”
“I’ll bet,” Gio breathed, smiling with his eyes full of awe as a female photographer from Time sent him a saucy wink as she literally skated past him, her body now a walking ice sculpture. “And you think you can handle everything under the sun.”
“I am loving this,” River remarked as he saw both Ian and Vincent (in matching retro-centric blue-and-white superhero suits complete with blue brief-like trunks and matching boots) circled around him like jaguars stalking around their prey. “If my spiteful parents could see me now.”
“Mine too,” Kumiko added, nodding at a fire-manipulating general editor from Elle who was happily chatting away with Barack and Michelle Obama (both of them in Tom Ford reds, the designer himself nodding along and sharing a laugh).
I nodded twice before turning to Ellen. “Now I get everything,” I said. “And I take that this is part of my internship?”
“All that and so much more, Alcide Lancaster-Monroe,” she replied as Francis and everyone else from her circle surrounded me. “All the general staffers here are superheroes and antiheroes, all of which you and your cohorts will need to be familiar with for this summer. But as for myself, the other editors-in-chief and senior staffers, and administrative workers at our magazines are completely normal as well as the custodians and cafeteria workers. But of course, some of the IT workers and security staffers are superheroes themselves, so you’ll be getting to know them as well.”
“And the celebrities?” Gio asked. “Are they-“
“One-hundred percent normal, but we do work with them when the time comes,” Beyonce stated, she and Blue Ivy looking like ethereal beauties in white Reem Acra gowns while Jay-Z was dapper in a mob-boss Zegna tuxedo. “And that means you’ll be working with us as well.”
“Oh, wow,” River breathed. “And the other interns who don’t know about this? Do they know-“
“No, and they’ll only remember what transpired before tonight since they never made it,” Ja’Nisha commented with her husband standing next to her. “And in the years prior, those who don’t accept this are given other memories of the night.”
“Altered memories?”
“Just a precaution for them to keep what they saw to themselves,” Francis answered. “As for you boys, there’s still time for you to reconsider and walk out while you can.”
“That won’t be happening,” Gio interjected as his editor-in-chief came towards him with another copy of what looked like the NDA. He glared everyone down. “You guys saw a lot of potential in us when we approached the interview stage before getting the job. And you know our stories. My family wants me to work for what I have and tell me to never back down from a challenge. And you should be familiar with River, Kumiko, and Alcide’s stories by now- families rejecting them unless they assimilate to their conservative and hate-mongering ideals while Alcide’s hometown refuses to accept him and will likely shoot him dead if even returns for a day. We’re too invested to go back to what we know by now. So, you’re going to have to get used to seeing us until the internship is over and we face the unknown together.”
I then faced Ellen. “You saw a lot in me when we first met, ma’am. And you said that you wanted me to understand how my late maternal and paternal grandparents were involved,” I said. “And I intend to find out everything and see this summer internship through to the end. All I ask is for the tea, the whole tea, and nothing but the tea.”
“So help you me?”
I whirled around to see the one and only RuPaul looking like a true Glamazon in a custom-made gold-and-silver gown by Zaldy (the designer himself in shades of gold) that hugged her frame like a glove. My friends gasped as I took the drag queen’s hand and shook it. “Exactly, Mother RuPaul,” I said. “Thank you for getting me through my high-school years and showing what it means to be unapologetic through your reality show.”
“No, child. Thank you for not backing down and letting haters try to steal your glow,” the drag queen commented. “The same goes for your friends. All of you are going to be bringing a lot to the table, and everyone will try to knock you down. But remember to live without fear or regrets.”
We all nodded as Jim Nelson from GQ came to us. “All right, you four interns, this night will be all about you,” he said. “Remember that you’re to get familiar with all the supers and antiheroes here. And you’re still on the clock even though this night is about you. Don’t be surprised if you’re to run an errand or two by the celebrities.”
My friends and I glanced at each other briefly. “Looking forward to it all,” we said in unison.
You’ll never forget the first time! “The Guardian of Couture” returns with new chapters, available EXCLUSIVELY on Wattpad! Don’t miss it!
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Jarrick Exum, Author
