untouched wallets.
The profits for that six months were upagain, and the floor supervisor decided that the two girls obviously worked well together. Florentyna said nothing to contradict that impression. While other assistants in the shop were always complaining about how little work their partners did, Florentyna continually praised Maisie as the ideal workmate, who had taught her so much about how a big store operated. She didn't mention the useful advice that Maisie also imparted, on how to deal with over - amorous men.
TIle greatest compliment an assistant can receive at Bloomingdale's is to be put on one of the counters facing the Lexington Avenue entrance, the first person to be seen by cystomers coming in through the main doors. To work .on that counter was considered as a small promotion and it was rare for a girl to be invited to sell there until she had been with the store at least five years. Maisie had been with Bloomingdale's since she was seventeen,'a full five years, while Florentyna had only just completed her first twelve months. But as their results had been so impressive, the manager decided to try the two girls out on the ground floor in the stationery department. Maisie was unable to derive any personal advantage from the stationery department~ as she didn't care too much for reading and even less for writ ing. Florentyna wasn't sure after a year with her that she could read Pr write. Nevertheless, her new position pleased Maisie greatly because she adored being the centre of atten tion. So the girls continued their perfect partnersl ' lip.
Abel admitted to George that he had once sneaked into Bloomingdale's to watch Florentyna at work, and he had to confess that she was damned good.
He assured his vice - president that he was looking forward to her finishing the twoyears training, so that he could employ the girl himself. They had both agreed that when Florentyna left Bloomingdale's, she would be made a vice - president of the group, with special responsibility for the hotel stores. As Bloomingdale's was finding out, she was a chip off a formidable old block, and Abel had no doubt that Florentyna would have few problems taking on the responsibilities he was planning for her.
Florentyna spent her last six months at Bloomingdale's on the ground floor in charge of six counters with the new title of junior supervisor. Her duties now included stock checking, the cash desks and overall supervision of eighteen sales clerks. Bloomingdale's had already decided that Jessie Kovats was the ideal candidate to be a future buyer.
Florentyna had not yet informed her employers that she would be leaving 9hordy to join herlather as a vice - president of the Baron Group. As the six months was drawing to its conclusion, she began to wonder what would happen tD poor Maisie after she had left, Maisie assumed Jessie was at Bloomingdale's for life - wasn't everybody? - and never gave the question a second thought. Florentyna, thought she might even offer her a job in one of the shops in the New York Baron. As long as it was behind a counter at which men spent money, Maisie was a valuable asset.
One afternoon when Maisie was waiting on a customer - she was now in gloves, scarves and woolly hats - she pulled Florentyna aside and poizited to a young man who was loitering over the mittens.
'What do you think of him?' she asked, giggling.
Florentyna glanced up at Maisie's latest - desire with her customary disinterest, but on this occasion she had to admit to herself that he was rather attractive, and for once she was almost envious of Maisie.
'They only want one thing, Maisie!
'I know,' said Maisie, 'and he can have it.'
'I'm sure he'll be pleased to hear that,' said Florentyna, laughing as she turned to wait on a customer who was becoming impatient at Maisie's indifference to her presenm Maisi,e took advantage of Florentyna's move and rushed off to serve the gloveless young man. Florentyna watched them both out of the comer of her eye. She was amused that he kept glancing nervously towards her, checking that Maisie wasn't being spied on by her supervisor.
Maisie giggled away and the young man departed with a pair of dark blue leather gloves.
'Well, how did he measure up to your hopesT asked Florentyna, conscious she felt a little jealous of Maisie's new conquest.
'He didn't,' replied Maisie. 'But I'm sure he'll be back again,' she added, grinning.
Maisies prediction