Michaels’ Flaming-Haired Old Flame

New business = New opportunity for trouble. There’s this woman Michael dated once or twice back in Manhattan, before we met. She was a model then. Just stunning, with gorgeous, naturally red hair. The whole idea is soooo unfair. Now she’s a restaurateur. Very successful too. In fact, she’s got six bistros on the east coast as stylish as she is. Everything she could want but a husband. So she’s probably thinking, why not borrow…Maddie’s?(!) She’s been emailing Michael and sending flowery little notes asking him to come meet with her, that she’s interested in having Red House provide her staff with uniforms. I have to say, it would be a coup for us. This would be a great chance to send the wine country ambience east. And the ex-model’s “rustic French” restaurants have an elegant yet casual approach to what they do – just like Red House. Here’s the thing: she wants to deal with Michael directly “because she knows him”. Hmmm, I’ll bet! I’m the one who goes out after new business while Michael crunches numbers and makes sure the place runs smoothly. I don’t want to sound threatened, but I bet this woman hasn’t aged since college! Michael may not be immune to such supernatural charms. What if their former flames rekindle over dinner in the bistro.? I picture champagne, monkfish ratatouille with the faux ingénue looking even younger by candlelight… Ok, I’m over-reacting. And I DO WANT that account! So, I decided it’s ok to for him to woo her in a business manner… and hope that she doesn’t want more than Red House pinpoint oxford shirts! But I wonder, how far will I (um, Michael) go to get the business?

The Natalie update:
Natalie continues to challenge us with her wandering. We have had her comparing dye lots and doing some basic filing. But when Kerin leaves for lunch, Natalie checks out for the day. Kerin and I came back from a client meeting today to find the reception area sofa pillows in disarray, and recently extinguished cigarette butts underneath – black lipstick on half of them. In the distance, the sound of a motorcycle speeding off. Stefan again! It looks like Natalie is not likely to become the Red House employee of the month any time soon.