Chapter 3 THE MAN WHO NEVER LOOKED TWICE

The applause slowly died down. Anne returned to her seat and placed her unusually quiet. Then the moderator looked toward the front row, his eyes settled on Lucas.    "Mr. Sterling," he said into the microphone,  "we would also like to hear from you".    A small murmur went through the room. Everyone immediately turned their attention toward Lucas. The moderator smiled politely.    "Perhaps you could share your thoughts on where you believe fashion industry is heading and what you think young designers should be focusing on."    Lucas remained seated for a moment, his expression didn't change, and then he slowly stood. The room became completely silent, not the kind silence that happened because people were bored. Everyone was waiting.    Lucas adjusted the button of his jacket, took the microphone from the moderator and walked to the center of the stage. He stood there calmly, straight, confident, his face was serious. He wasn't the type to smile unnecessarily, he looked across the audience once then he began.   "The fashion industry is changing"    His voice was deep and steady    "We are no longer in a market where having a good product is enough. Competition is global, customers have more choices than ever before, and technology has changed the way people discover brands, interact with them and spend their money."    He paused briefly.    "So if you're building a fashion company today, you cannot think like you're only building a clothing line." You're building a business, that means you need structure, strategy and need people who understand finance, marketing, production and distribution."   Several people nodded. He continued without rushing   "You can have the best designs in the room and still fail if you don't know how to turn those designs into a sustainable business."    The hall remained silent.    Lucas wasn't trying to entertain them. He wasn't trying to charm anyone, he was simply saying what he believed needed to be said.    Anne sat quietly in her seat, she was listening. But something about Lucas's way of speaking caught her attention. He didn't speak like someone who was trying to prove that he was intelligent. He spoke like someone who was used to making decisions. Someone who expected people to listen.    Lucas glanced briefly across the hall, his eyes passed over several faces then they stopped on Anne for a second. She didn't notice or perhaps she did, she quickly looked down at her phone. Lucas looked away and then he continue with his speech.    He looked toward the panel.    "Designers need to stop seeing business as something separate from creativity, your creativity gets people interested but your business keeps them coming back"    He looked around the room, he lowered the microphone slightly    "Thank you very much"    He handed the microphone back to the moderator. No smile, no dramatic gesture, no attempt to receive more applause, and then simply walked back to his seat. The audience applauded as he sat down.    The moderator smiled. "Thank you, Mr. Sterling."    The program continued. They moved on to another discussion about investment, emerging designers, international expansion and future of luxury retail. Panelists debated, questions were asked, answers were given, and the audience participated. Everything continued exactly as planned at least on the outside.   But Lucas wasn't completely focused anymore, part of his mind remained on the discussion and the other part kept returning to the woman (Anne) who had stood at the microphone earlier.    He didn't know her or her name until someone beside him quietly mentioned it,    "Anne", the person whispered.    Lucas said nothing, his eyes remained on the stage but the name stayed on his mind (Anne). He leaned back slightly in his chair, his fingers rested against the armrest; he listened to the next speaker. At least, he appeared to be listening but every few minutes his eyes moved toward Anne.    She was taking notes, then checking her phone and listening to the speakers again. At one point, she leaned toward the woman beside her and whispered something.    The woman laughed. Anne smiled.    Lucas looked away. He didn't understand why he was paying attention to her, he usually didn't. He had attended hundreds of business meetings, conferences and events, had met beautiful, influential women, who had approached him because of his name, his money or the opportunities that came with knowing him. He had never cared.    But Anne hadn't approached him. She hadn't tried to introduce herself and hadn't looked particularly impressed by him. That was unusual.    Lucas looked toward the stage again. The discussion continued. He listened to the speaker's words.   The program eventually reached its final session. The host thanked the speakers, the sponsors and everyone who had attended. People began standing, chairs moved across the floor, conversations immediately filled the hall. Some people rushed toward the speakers, while others exchanged contacts.    Anne remained seated for a moment, she checked her phone and noticed several new messages from clients, she signed softly.    "Work doesn't wait," she murmured.    She slipped her phone into her handbag and stood. As she adjusted the strap of her bag over her shoulder, she glanced toward the front.    Lucas was standing too. For a brief second, their eyes met. Anne stopped, Lucas didn't and neither of them said anything. Someone approached Lucas and began speaking to him.    Anne looked away and turned toward the exit. She had barely taken three steps when a staff member hurried toward her.    "Excuse me, ma'am. Anne turned.    "Yes?"   The woman smiled politely.    "Mr. Sterling's office asked that you wait for a moment"    Anne's eyebrows lifted. "My.... What?"    The woman lowered her voice.    "Mr. Sterling would like to speak with you" Anne stared at her.    For the first time that afternoon, she didn't know what to say. She looked toward the front of the hall but Lucas was no longer there. He had disappeared through the side entrance.    Anne slowly turned back to the staff member.    "Where am I supposed to wait?"    The woman pointed toward a private corridor.    "Someone will come for you."    Anne stood there for a moment, staring at the corridor. Then she looked down at her handbag. She could leave, or could simply walk out but curiosity won. She took a slow breath.    "Okay."    And she followed the woman. Neither Anne nor Lucas knew it yet, but the conversation waiting behind that door was going to change the direction of both their lives.