Natalee and Corinne arrived at the Champagne Palace, taking it all in.

“Gorgeous!”

The Champagne Palace is a designer boutique right in center city. It is entirely pink and has a unique fountain

on either side of the entrance. Bright flowers adorn the walkways, and bright and colorful tables dot the patio area. Inside, racks and racks of designer label clothing! The jewelry counter is always buzzing with activity. A trendy restaurant attracts many during the lunch rush to sit and watch the models walk along the walkway around the patio area, wearing the designs for sale in the Champagne Palace!

Natalee and Corinne go their separate ways. Natalee looks through the racks to find the perfect idea that is similar to her own but that has a “twist” or that “certain something” that will catch the judges eye at the fashion contest! She soon spots a dress that is “perfect” for her plans. She quickly takes it off the rack and buys it, even though it is kind of expensive, she figures its worth it. And the money will come back to her...very soon...if all goes as planned...

Corinne enjoys this boutique very much. She finds a few dresses that look similar to her idea but she feels confident enough in herself. She cannot shake the feeling that Natalee is up to something. Natalee is not acting like herself and she can’t help being suspicious of her.

“Corinne, ready for a snack break?”

Corinne notices the bag Natalee is carrying. “What’s going on, Nat? We weren’t planning on buying anything! Just look around at the fashions, the material, the jewelry counter and accessories! Besides, have you seen the prices! Wow! Outrageous!”

Natalee waved her hand.

Nevermind that! I couldn’t resist! Natalee says as she and Corinne walk over to the patio restaurant.

As they sit down at their table, Corinne comments on the dress. “Nat, that sure is some dress you bought!”

“Can’t a girl buy a dress with out the Spanish Inquisition!”

“Sorry, Nat. Why are you being so touchy? You aren’t yourself. Come on! We came here to have fun! Don’t be like this! Something is up. Tell me. I am your friend. Can’t you trust me to help you?”

Natalee waved her off again. “Nevermind, Corinne. You would never understand! You are so perfect and everything goes well for you!”

“That’s not true , Natalee! I work really hard and spend alot of time making thing happen for me. It doesn’t just happen you know! And nobody is perfect, trust me Natalee. It’s an illusion. I like your design. Have a little faith

in yourself Nat! Do yourself a favor and relax!”

“Me, relax? I have to win! I just have to!”

“What? Why is that so important Natalee. It’s just a stupid contest. It’s not real life you know! I am your friend

Natalee. Please don’t forget that. Talk to me!”

“No! You don’t understand. I can’t stay! I have a million things to do. Can we go now, Corinne. I have to take the car home now!”

“Okay, Nat. I still don’t understand but I respect your feelings. “

Natalee drove Corinne home and kept driving for a while to think. She drove to the mall and went inside to the fabric store. She soon spied a fabric for her design. A silk blend in a cool amethyst hue. She took the whole bolt of silk and bought it on the spot. She calculated it would make about five “designer” dresses. Natalee also purchased sewing supplies and her “secret” weapon!

Blank labels!

Natalee planned to make an exact duplicate of the designer dress label she bought at the Champagne Palace. In turn, she would place the “Natalee” label for the dress she just purchased at the Champagne Palace. It was lucky that she just had her birthday party last week, the extra cash in her wallet is coming in very handy today!

Now, Natalee felt confident to go ahead with her plan.

She arrived home shortly after and went directly to her sewing room. She pinned the pattern to the fabric and started cutting. She worked non-stop for hours, sewing , cutting, pinning, measuring and re-working the dress design until it could pass for a “designer” original.

Only it was not!

Natalee kept pushing the deception out of her mind.

“I deserve this!”, she kept repeating to herself over and over.

Natalee attached a designer label to the five dresses she just put together and made a “Natalee” designer label for the dress she purchased at the Champagne Palace.

She planned to make a few more trips to the Champagne Palace over the next few weeks to see how her own dresses would sell under a designer label.

“It’s the only way!”, Natalee reasoned to herself as she drove toward the Champagne Palace and tried to ease her guilty conscience.

She parked her car a block away and kept the five designer dresses hidden underneath a raincoat so no one could see what she was up to.

Natalee was in luck! The stockroom door was unlocked for some unknown reason. She slipped inside quickly and as quietly as she could. The racks of the new shipment just arrived and were ready to be marked for the sales floor.

“Wait! There is someone coming!”, Natalee panicked as she hid.

Susan Peters, the manager of the Champagne Palace, walked into the stockroom and looked around.

Natalee was hiding behind a rack and held her breath.

Susan went inside an office and quickly retreated into some paper work.

“Too close for comfort!”, Natalee thought as she slipped out of the stock room as fast as she could.

She inched her way over to several different clothing racks to place her “designer” dresses on each rack.

Natalee placed an orange sticker on the hem of each dress so she could “track” how well her dresses would sell

under another designer label.

“Wouldn’t that be something!”, Natalee thought to herself, “But, I have to be careful not to get caught!”

Natalee remained a few minutes longer so not to look suspicious and then made a hasty retreat back to her car.

Over the next few weeks, Natalee made several “visits” to the Champagne Palace. She was very curious to know how her own dresses would sell under a Champagne Palace label.

One woman picked up the dress excitedly, “Would you look at this lovely dress! It seems so bright and festive! I absolutely love the color! I would like to try this dress on!”

Natalee was absolutely thrilled, but couldn’t show it. Her plan was starting to unfold...

After trying the dress on, the woman decided to purchase it.

Natalee posed as a customer and went over to one of the racks and made a big fuss over her dresses when out of nowhere she heard a voice behind her ....

“Natalee?”, the voice said.

It startled her, but she tried to be cool.

“Wait a minute, Nat. Is this your dress?”, the voice persisted.

Natalee turned around.

It was Corinne!

“Not at all! What makes you say that?”

Corinne grabbed the dress and examined it closely. She looked at the label. She let out a gasp and her eyes widened in shock. The look on Natalee’s face confirmed her suspicions.

Before Corinne could do anything, Natalee bolted out the door. Her heart was beating frantically.

“Strange? Where is Corinne? Isn’t she going to chase me out of the store?”, Natalee reasoned desperately.

Natalee didn’t calm down until she reached home. Another strange thing happened. There was a blue car in her driveway that she did not recognize.

“Who is that?”

Natalee walked suspiciously into her own living room. Her mother, Corinne and Susan Peters were there waiting for her. Natalee wondered how Susan Peters could possibly arrive at her home so fast when she just saw her there a half hour ago.

“Natalee?”, Susan said calmly, “Corinne suspected that something was up with you because you have been acting strange the past couple of weeks. I noticed the label switching early on, but I was hoping that you would not steal a design that was not yours. So, Corinne and I have been waiting for you to make your next move. You seemed to be caught up with your desire to win the design contest at all costs, even alienating your friend Corinne, as well as your family. Corinne had a talk with your mother last night and clued her in to what is really going on with you and the deception you think you could get away with at the Design Contest at the Champagne Palace. We needed to catch you in the act. So, I called Corinne and your Mom to come over to the Champagne Palace today. See, Natalee, we are not as dumb as you think we are. We are on to you!”

Natalee squirmed in her seat and looked down at the floor, saying nothing.

Your Mom was the “fake” customer who made the fuss over your dress and tried it on. I am surprised you didn’t recognize her! She was wearing a fake wig and wierd clothes. She pretended to buy your dress. I have the dress right here. This is really your dress, Natalee with a fake “designer” label, right?”

Natalee nodded, too shocked to speak.

Corinne sat by Natalee and said gently, “If you would have only come to me first, Nat! You have talent! Why don’t you have faith in your own gifts? Switching a design label is against the law! They call it copyright infringment you know!”

“Yeah, I know.”, Natalee whispered.

“You may not think it now, Natalee”, Susan Peters advised, “but Corinne is a real friend for trying to talk you out of switching labels just to win a fashion contest! Winning that way isn’t right! I am afraid that I will have to inform Ms. Quinn of you deceptive behavior and you will have to withdraw from the contest!”

“You can’t do this to me! You can’t!”, Natalee cried, pacing the living room floor.

“Face up to it, Natalee. You stole a design label and you cheated yourself! Now, hand over the original dress, now!”, Susan warned Natalee.

Natalee reluctantly handed over the “Natalee” design dress to Susan.

Natalee was furious!

“My own mother and my best friend! How could you both betray me like this?”, Natalee seethed with fury.

“Nat, it was the only way.”, Corinne responded.

“About a week later, the fashion design contest was underway at the Champagne Palace. Several department stores and buyers were present. The local news media was there. Several other student from the School of Fashion Design modeled their own fashion dresses themselves. They anxiously waited for the judges to make their decision.

Natalee could not be there. She had to stay home with her “designer” original patterns. She could not share in her friend Corinne’s success. Could she ever forgive Corinne?

Corinne wore her turquoise working woman’s dream suit and walked gracefully across the walkway with her head held high. The audience responded favorably and she felt proud of all the hard work and time she put into her creation. The sacrifices she made were well worth it to make her dreams a reality.

So unlike Natalee.

This Amethyst Twist is in fact a double twist...Natalee’s original design pattern dress was a smashing success in its short stay at the Champagne Palace, but it was under another designer label. She could not revel in the success any sale would have made...

So Unlike Corinne.