The chapter opens with a conversation between Zillah and Zillah's college friend, the designer of the wedding dress. Zillah asks Zillah if he's able to handle the upcoming project at the company. He's off on a business trip, so he can't do the job himself. After Zillah leaves, Zillah tells Zillah that he has been hired as a fashion buyer at a company called Asaring. He wants to know why, but Zillah doesn't know where he can find the company's trade secrets. She tells him that her college friend is a "green hand" and lacks a "network" in the fashion world. She's also jealous that Zillah has been able to get into the company because of his college friend's background.