When Delgado entered the wedding boutique, she was initially met with eye rolls and muttered criticisms from two saleswomen who immediately sized her up. Delgado was excited to find the right gown for her special day, but she was received with criticism from both of them. When Delgado was 55 years old and proudly Latina, she was well aware of the preconceptions that people carried with them. However, when Jonathan, the manager of the salon, intervened and exposed who she really was, the women were compelled to face the reality of how wrong some of their assumptions had been.

I was overcome with a mixture of excitement and nervousness as I entered the wedding salon. I was looking forward to the big day. Despite the fact that I was 55 years old, Latina, and unabashedly proud of who I was, I was also aware that there were some individuals who did not know what to do with women who were similar to me.

The very first time I had ever set foot inside of a bridal salon was right now. For the very first time, I would be looking at clothes for weddings. Additionally, I was genuinely enthused about something for the very first time in a very long time.

The beauty parlor lived up to the expectations that were set by the photographs that were shown on the internet. The atmosphere of the entire location was reminiscent of a palace, with gleaming marble floors, brilliant chandeliers, and beautifully crafted display cases. And the gowns, there are so many of them. Each one was more stunning than the one that came before it as it poured down from the racks like cascades of lace and satin clothing.

The time had come for me to locate the garment of my dreams.

However, when I proceeded somewhat further into the shop, I noticed a change in the atmosphere.

One of those rapid, hardly disguised once-overs that told me everything I needed to know was given to me by the saleswomen, who were all young, sleek, and dressed in black suits that matched each other. They had already decided where they stood with regard to me.

A woman of middle age with brown skin was observed, but there was no trace of a fancy bag in sight. It is not a bride. A simple case of someone playing dress-up.

Despite this, I managed to muster a grin, raise my chin, and proceed approach one of the displays.

As she approached, a tall blonde arrived with her red-lipped smile extended out and ready for practice.

She inquired with a tone that was dripping with contempt, “Am I able to assist you?”

In response, I smiled warmly and said, “Yes.” It is my intention to try on a few different gowns today. Despite the fact that I adore lace, I am also open to different styles.

It appeared as though I had said something foolish since her eyebrows rose.

While she was wiping away the invisible dust from the clothing that was closest to her, she commented, “Hmm… well, these gowns are extremely delicate.” You need to exercise caution and make every effort to avoid touching them with your hands.

I was taken aback and blinked my eyes. Is it my hands?

I looked the other way at them. She had worked hard for all she had, and her hands were strong, steady, and clean. She had toiled for everything she had.

“My hands are in perfect condition,” I stated in a calm manner.

Almost amused, she gave a half smile to the audience. “All I wanted to say was that these dresses are really pricey. Would you be interested in something that is a little bit more… approachable? A discounted portion can be found in the back of the store. However, there may be additional solutions available within your price range.

Just as I was about to respond, another saleswoman joined her. She was a dark-haired woman with a high ponytail that was pushed so tightly that it appeared to be painful.

It was with a sneer on her face that she announced, “We have some great clearance dresses.” “The styles from the previous season, but hey, it’s still white, right?”

My mouth was clinched, but I managed to muster up a decent smile. By pointing to a lovely lace gown that was displayed on a mannequin, I stated, “In all honesty, I would like to try on that one.”

It was a sweet laugh from the blonde. Over ten thousand dollars is the price tag on that dress. Do you ensure that it is… within your financial means?

My body did not flinch. Just like that, I smiled back. They had the belief that they had me figured out and that I was not a part of this community. It was a waste of their time to talk to me.

The fact that I had every right to be here was something that they were unaware of. Better than they could have ever imagined.

Jonathan, who was the manager of the boutique, came out of the back office at just the right moment. With his sharp black suit, he was able to pick up on the tension that was there in the room very instantly. His gaze fluctuated between the two saleswomen and me at the same time.

He posed the question, “Is there a problem here?”

The blonde spoke first, which prevented me from responding to her.

In a pleasant voice, she responded, “No, no problem.” Only a moment ago, we were ensuring that our merchandise is kept secure. Due to the fact that this lady was looking at the more fragile garments, we wanted to exercise further caution.

John carefully turned his attention to her. It was with a slightly elevated tone that he repeated, “This lady?” “You mean to say, Ms. Delgado;” Should we call her Mrs. Shepherd? Who is the new co-owner of this trendy boutique?

Both of the women became ice cold. Almost immediately, the arrogant looks that had been on their faces vanished.

“Wait… what is it?” The blonde stutteringly spoke. Who is the owner? I was under the impression that the proprietor was Mr. Thomas.

Jonathan responded in a caustic tone, “That would be Mr. Shepherd of course.” “The fiance of Ms. Delgado [Ms. And sure, the ownership transfer was just completed with the last touches last week.

After that, there was a lovely silence that followed.

With a chilly tone, he said, “If you paid attention to anything other than your own reflections in the mirror, you would come to that conclusion.”

Color had been drained from their features. It was evident that they were mentally analyzing the seriousness of their error, which was not just that they had been impolite to a customer but also that they had been disrespectful to their new supervisor.

Jonathan shifted his attention to me. “If you would like, I will immediately terminate both of them.”

After pausing for a while and watching them struggle, I shook my head.

It is not. We shouldn’t fire them. To be honest, not yet.”

Astonished, Jonathan blinked his eyes. Do you have any doubts, ma’am?

My head slowly nodded. It is true. A better thought has come to me.”

I decided to look at the blonde. Is that Ashley, right?

She exhibited a rigid nod.

As an alternative to terminating you, I would like to have you serve as my personal assistant for the next thirty days. Due to the fact that I am in charge of planning a wedding, I will require assistance in organizing appointments, fittings, and meetings with designers.

In utter disbelief, she opened her mouth. “Personal assistant?” you ask.

I responded with, “That’s right.” “In this line of work, you are going to gain an understanding of what it truly means to serve our customers. “You will treat every customer who walks through that door with respect, regardless of how old they are, what they look like, or how much money you believe they have,” you will say.

Ashley took a momentary gulp.

According to what I continued, “We’re not just selling dresses.” In this way, we are assisting women in realizing their ambitions. Remember that at all times.

The brunette caught my attention. “And you’re sure to be…”

“Matilda,” she whispered in a low voice.

It was then that I informed Matilda, “Well, you won’t be my assistant.” However, it will be your responsibility to learn everything there is to know about the gowns that we carry, including every style, every material, every veil, and every accessory. I would like for you to develop into an expert in this field, and not just someone who works behind a counter with a sense of superiority.

Eyes wide, both women nodded their heads.

“Am I giving you a clear picture?”

“Yes, ma’am,” they recurred in unison.

“Okay,” I responded. I would like to have a glass of champagne right now, Ashley. Following that, you are going to inquire of me, in a manner that is really courteous, what style of dress I would like to try on.

Immediately as Ashley made her way toward the back, Matilda proceeded to retrieve the lace gown that I had mentioned earlier in the conversation.

When she came back, I shifted my attention to her. “Matilda, share your thoughts with me. Do you believe that this would be appropriate for me?

She did not pause for more than a few seconds before responding, and her tone was genuine.

I am of the opinion that you would look stunning in any outfit, Ms. Delgado. On the other hand, a sweetheart neckline might be more flattering on you. It will draw attention to your shoulders and add harmony to your overall silhouette.

That is an appropriate response, by the way.

“Much better,” I remarked to her with a smile on my face.

I felt lighter than I have in years when I entered the fitting room with the gown that I had just purchased. There was, without a doubt, a lot of work to be done with those two women. They were not without promise, but more importantly, they had a lesson to learn from their experiences.

Also, what about me?

To be honest, I needed to locate a wedding dress. Not only would it be the beginning of a new marriage, but it would also be the continuation of a life that I had constructed with courage, dignity, and grace. It would also serve as a reminder that no one has the authority to judge who the right person is to feel beautiful.

Not while I am in charge.