Page 85 - James Caan - The Real Deal

8 · Aisha

going to mention Mr Buyrite – but I just needed to keep her talking
for a few minutes while I came up with a strategy.
‘So are you thinking of manufacturing, or retailing?’
We talked for a few minutes but I wasn’t really listening because
I was collecting my own thoughts. How do I get control of the
situation again?
’You know, that’s very interesting; it’s really strange because
I’ve always been interested in fashion, my dad is a specialist in
leather garment manufacture. In many ways it’s the second love of
my life. To think that’s what you want to pursue, that’s incred-
ible!’
She started to tell me about her hopes and ambitions for her
career.
‘Ultimately, what I really want to do is have my own brand, my
own boutique. I’ve always talked about having a boutique called
the House of Aisha. It might be a bit far-fetched, but it’s actually
what I want to do.’
A boutique? A business! I was in.
‘When you say setting up your own boutique, how would that
work? Where would you have it?’
I can’t remember her answers, but I said something like: ‘I think
this could be really interesting, I know some people who might be
useful, so why don’t we meet for lunch and we can talk about it.’
She seemed a little surprised. ‘OK, well, I’m always in town, so
why don’t I give you a call when I’m next around?’
‘I’d really like that.’
We met for lunch the following week, and it was clear there was
a bit of chemistry between us, but I still wasn’t quite sure where
we stood because she was an Asian girl. I’d established by now
that she definitely was a Muslim and, as dating Asian Muslim girls
is traditionally a no-no, I wasn’t quite sure where the boundaries
were. I knew I couldn’t just ask her out on a date, so the
conversation was all about her dreams of opening a boutique. As

75