At this moment Frank had already calmed down. Having faced all kinds of difficult and nitpicking clients in the physical store, this was currently Frank's greatest advantage—he knew how to handle it. So while Hugo was conversing with other brands earlier, Frank had been carefully observing from the sidelines, even secretly taking note of Hugo's pleasant interaction with Givenchy.
When Hugo and Joseph finally came over, Frank revealed a smile. For a store manager, a simple smile could hold many meanings—detached, condescending, respectful, ingratiating, sincere… the implications a smile could convey far exceeded its literal form. And now Frank's smile was full of respect; he was treating Hugo as an especially important client.
"Good afternoon," Frank greeted first, then pointed to a row of suits behind him. "This time, for Mr. Lancaster's premiere, among the newly released winter collection there are many styles most suitable. These…"
Frank was just about to continue when Joseph interrupted, "New releases for the winter collection? Hasn't it already been over a month since the new line was launched?" Joseph's tone was somewhat stiff, making clear his dissatisfaction with Frank.
Standing beside them, Hugo instead chuckled and followed up, "Don't you know? Even new collections are divided. Many brands launch new items three times within one winter season." Hugo stepped in to ease the situation for Frank, which did catch Frank slightly off guard. Yet before he could even breathe in relief, Hugo went on, "Only not everyone gets to see these new pieces—some of them are only visible to select clients." The underlying meaning was clear: Armani's special releases were ones Hugo hadn't been qualified to view—sarcasm pointed at their last encounter.
Then Hugo turned his head toward Frank, "Is that so? I don't know much about fashion, I've only heard a few rumors."
Frank was pinned by Hugo's soft yet pressing words, and finally understood the bitter taste of being countered with polite remarks. Still, he had to maintain his smile as he answered, "The new styles I brought today are absolutely one-of-a-kind, and each of them will certainly suit you perfectly."
Frank quietly sidestepped the direct awkwardness of Hugo's question, instead giving a roundabout answer, and then smoothly carried on, "This season's new collection…" His transition was seamless—truly skillful. "We have maintained Armani's consistent style, with careful tailoring and exquisite fabric quality as always…"
Frank began introducing the garments behind him. Hugo and Joseph did not walk away, but instead studied them attentively. Compared to the other brands, Armani's suits were renowned for their understated and steady tailoring. Richard's choice of Armani for Final Analysis's premiere was in fact because the brand's style aligned so well with his presence.
Although Armani had in recent years made attempts at more youthful, unrestrained styles, compared to Gucci's bold innovations, their efforts lacked strength. Thus, Armani's suits were more often chosen by mature and steady business gentlemen, to whom it gave significant added value.
Strictly speaking, among the four brands presented, Armani's suits, while not as suitable for Hugo as Gucci's or Givenchy's, were the most fitting for the theme of A Few Good Men. No wonder Frank spoke with such confidence, "For the image of a lawyer, our suits are absolutely the perfect choice—solemn, dignified, professional, rational. This elite image can be seen in every detail of our tailoring." Frank seized upon Armani's strengths, displaying his abilities to their fullest.
Yet watching Hugo and Joseph listen so attentively, Frank still felt a sense of defeat. Hugo was indeed focusing on his explanation, but the problem was the smile on Hugo's lips—full of distance and detachment. There was no intentional hostility, only the superficial courtesy of social interaction. It was as though no matter what Frank said, Hugo had already made up his mind, and that decision could not be changed. Frank's effort at this moment was not just in vain; it resembled a dying struggle or a clown's performance. The humiliation was indescribable.
Often, in human interaction, there is no need for fists to make one feel pain, nor for ridicule to make one feel anger. A courteous smile could wield the same sharpness. This cold weapon could deliver a fatal blow when least expected, striking directly at the roots of one's confidence.
Frank was adept at this very method. As Armani's store manager, he had to maintain the basic etiquette of the service industry, for it was the face of Armani. Looking down on others was part of the business, but it could never be shown too overtly—it had to be skillful. If disdain were wrapped in a humble smile, that itself was an art. The last time Frank received Hugo, it had been the same: politely making Hugo retreat. If Hugo had chosen to make a scene, Frank would still have been in the right, and few could have faulted Armani. This was what it meant to swallow broken teeth down into one's stomach—Frank threw the punch, Hugo swallowed the teeth, yet no one would have believed Hugo's complaint.
But today, Frank finally tasted Hugo's counterattack—returning the favor with his own weapon. Now Hugo threw the punch, and Frank was the one swallowing the teeth. The worst part was that even though Frank's mouth was already full of blood, he still had to keep his spirits up and smile brightly to carry out his duty to the end. Otherwise, what he would lose was not only today's deal with Hugo, but also his chance of promotion, and even worse, the humiliation of failure before his peers.
Sure enough, after Frank finished his entire presentation, Hugo and Joseph did not respond right away. That two-second silence made Frank's scalp prickle all over. At last Joseph could not hold back and said directly, "Thank you for your explanation." His tone remained stiff, unable to hide his true feelings. It was clear that Joseph harbored deep resentment toward Armani; Hugo even suspected Joseph himself had once suffered humiliation there.
Standing beside him, Hugo picked up the conversation, "Such a wonderful presentation, I was so immersed I couldn't pull myself out." As he spoke, he lightly clapped his hands, his radiant smile shining like the blazing sun at three in the afternoon. To the others present, Hugo seemed nothing but perfectly satisfied with Armani. Yet Frank alone could see the faint haze veiling Hugo's clear eyes, which made Frank feel plunged into an icy abyss. "Heh, if I could wear Armani's suits, it would certainly be an honor."
Hugo was hinting at Frank's past rejection, for Frank had once judged Hugo unworthy of being compared to Richard. But today, Frank had brought an entire rack of suits hoping for Hugo's approval. This reversal echoed in Hugo's words, leaving Frank's mouth full of bitterness, unable to utter a single response.
"Thank you for your explanation, much appreciated. Please, have a seat." After the previous brands finished their presentations, Hugo would more or less flip through the garments and ask a few questions. But this time, Hugo did not, and instead, with decisive crispness, ended Frank's work right there. This made Frank realize—he had no chance.
To swallow bitter medicine without complaint, Frank now fully understood that taste. He could only tug at his smile, forcing himself to maintain composure, and then sat back down. Yet how could maintaining composure be so easy at such a moment? As Frank lowered himself into his seat, his body failed to remain taut, sinking heavily into the chair. His upper and lower teeth clacked together, nearly biting his own tongue.
Hugo and Joseph politely gave Frank a nod, before walking toward Gieves & Hawkes. Etiquette had to be carried out in full—this was a lesson Frank himself had once taught the two of them.
The garments Gieves & Hawkes had brought today were indeed highly anticipated. Due to its deep historical ties with the navy, military elements had always been reflected in its designs. This year, Gieves & Hawkes displayed such elements through the slightly rigid design of epaulets on the shoulders.
Normally, the shoulder lines of suits were shaped using padding to support the contour of the overall silhouette. But this time, Gieves & Hawkes used military-grade stiff cardboard in place of padding, weakening the "framed" effect of the suit's form, and instead relying more on highlighting the man's natural physique. In addition, the broad shoulders and elongated body of the cut brought the proportions into greater balance, lending the overall appearance more sharpness and firmness.
It could be said that Gieves & Hawkes suits were more rigid than those of the other four brands. Although not comparable to true military uniforms, the gallant and spirited effect was much more pronounced. Yet these suits were also more demanding; if a man's body proportions were not outstanding, it truly looked like a barrel wrapped around him—not only lacking beauty, but also wasting both the suit and the man.
Paramount had extended a special invitation to Gieves & Hawkes precisely for this reason, hoping to borrow its naval elements so that Hugo could shine brilliantly at the premiere. A Few Good Men, being a courtroom drama involving the military, aligned perfectly with the style of Gieves & Hawkes.
Naturally, Hugo did not make an immediate decision on the spot. After all five brands finished their presentations, the clothes were left in the conference room, and Hugo was the first to leave. Once he made his selection, the brands would be notified separately, and those not chosen would have their garments sent back.
Frank looked at Hugo, who was now bowing his head in quiet discussion with Joseph, his lips still carrying that same faint smile. Yet clearly it was worlds apart from what Frank had just seen moments before. Although Hugo had only just reemerged into the public eye with Scent of a Woman—far from being a top actor or at his peak, even still a distance away from being considered first-line—Frank nevertheless had a distinct feeling: Armani seemed to have just missed the most important opportunity of the next ten years.
...
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