Will Andrew stood in front of the mirror, stiff in a grey suit that didn't fit properly on his shoulders. He tugged at the sleeves, which were a bit long. The lapels were excessively broad. The fabric felt uncomfortable and strange as if it belonged to someone else.
He gazed at his reflection uneasily, like a man observing something strange in a machine. The suit clung to him uncomfortably as if it belonged to someone else. He shifted, pulling at the fabric, hoping it would mould to his shape. Yet he knew deep down that it wasn't meant for him.
His seven-year-old daughter, Jill, lay on her back on the bed, her feet swinging in the air as she laughed at him.
Jill whispered, "Borrow, borrow, Daddy," her voice flowing like a song she had known for years.
Will ignored her, even as she sang 'Borrow, borrow, Daddy' like some strange lullaby intended solely for him.
"Dad, you look like a news anchor from the '80s," she giggled.
Will sighed and turned around, adjusting his tie once more.
"Thanks, honey. That's encouraging."
A soft knock sounded, and the door swung open.
Sharon entered elegantly despite wearing her house robe. With a half-smile, her eyes surveyed her husband, and her arms crossed as if attempting to hold back her emotions.
"Mummy, Daddy borrowed this suit—that's why it doesn't fit!" Jill laughed, jumping on the bed in delight.
"I think it looks fine," she replied, removing a thread from his shoulder. "You clean up nicely. It is not the suit. "It's nerves."
Will shook his head with frustration. "This doesn't feel right. I'm not sure... It's not me. And I cannot afford to be absent now."
"You aren't off. You are just terrified. "That is normal." She leaned down and smoothed his collar. "You're going to do fantastically. You've been preparing for this for months.
Will returned his gaze to the mirror. "This presentation is for a multi-million-dollar contract, and Cassian Global does not hand them out like candy."
"I know," Sharon said, her voice gentle but specific. "But you have something more than just a perfect suit—you have something to share." "That is what they will remember you for."
He breathed and turned away, tugging on the jacket again.
"It won't matter what I say if all they see is this wrinkled mess," Will said. "I'll lose every bit of dignity I have—and I can't afford to blow this presentation."
"Dad, just take it off already!" Jill shouted from the bed. "It's making you cranky."
Sharon smirked and walked away, giving Jill a wink as she left. "You handle him, soldier."
Will turned towards his daughter, arms flapping at his sides.
"What do you think, Jill? Be honest."
Jill sat up, crossed her knees, and squinted as if inspecting a science project.
"It's okay… but you can do better."
Will chuckled. "Now we're talking."
Will pulled off the grey blazer and hurled it onto the chair. He opened the closet and searched through the hangers. He had an old denim jacket, his college interview suit, a couple of sweaters, and a leather coat that hadn't seen the sun in years.
Nothing worked.
Jill watched him from the bed, swinging her legs slowly.
"You knew about this presentation for weeks," Jill said with a slight grimace. "Why didn't you just get a new suit?"
Will paused, resting one hand on the closet door.
"I wanted to," Will stated, almost to himself. "But money is tight. With what we had, I wanted to make sure you and your mother had everything they needed."
He didn't turn around.
Jill stared at his back, quiet for a moment. Then she stood, walked over to the bottom drawer of the wardrobe, and grunted as she tugged it open.
"Dad... what's this?"
Will turned.
Jill's little hands held a plastic garment bag containing a navy blue outfit folded neatly inside. It appeared untouched by time.
"That," he muttered, eyes narrowing. "That's a memory."
She unzipped the bag halfway. The suit inside was deep blue, almost black. It had clean lines and crisp stitching, and it looked virtually new.
"It's nice. Why don't you wear this one?" Jill said.
He walked over and took it from her, slowly and hesitantly.
Will stated, "I haven't worn this since our wedding day."
"Seriously?" Jill's eyes widened. "Then it must be lucky!"
He smiled faintly and sat on the edge of the bed with the suit draped over his lap.
"This was my dad's," Will said quietly. "The only thing I inherited from him."
Jill's head tilted. "Grandpa?"
Will nodded.
"He was a businessman—big time. He had offices in three cities, drove a silver Mercedes, wore silk ties, and chewed cigars instead of lighting them. But one day, everything fell apart—bad investments, loan sharks, and betrayal. I was sixteen when we lost our house. My sisters left with our mother. "I stayed with him."
He rubbed the fabric between his fingers.
"Even when he had nothing left, he still got up and shaved every morning," Will said. "He'd sit in the living room in that suit, just waiting for someone to call. No one ever did."
Jill climbed up beside him, listening closely.
"He fell into a deep depression," Will continued. "He had lost everything, but I still held out hope that things would improve someday. However, hope is also running out. He finally gave up and poisoned himself.
That day, I'd just returned from school and bought him lunch. When I returned, he was on the couch, barely breathing. I attempted to call for assistance, but he stopped me, looked me in the eyes, and told me to be strong and be a man.
"I will never forget that day."
Will's voice wavered briefly before returning to normal.
"Before his death, he handed me this outfit. He said that it was his lucky suit. He stated, 'Son, this is all I've got left. When the opportunity arises, wear it as if you've already won. Then walk in as if you owned the place.'"
"Wow," Jill said softly. "And you wore it when you married Mom?"
Will smiled. "I didn't have anything else. Sharon didn't care. She said I looked like someone who would give her peace, not just presents."
For a moment, there was silence; then Jill nudged his arm.
"Then why not wear it today? I mean, come on, Dad. It still looks great. No one will know it's old."
Will looked down at her. "You think?"
She nodded. "It's not just lucky, it's yours. That other one looked like it belonged to a mannequin."
Will laughed, shaking his head. "You're funny."
"I'm just being honest," Jill said.
Will stood, held up the suit, and exhaled.
"Alright. "Lucky suit it is," Will remarked, a confident smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Later, dressed in deep blue, he emerged from the bedroom. Sharon looked up from the kitchen and blinked.
"That suit?" Sharon asked, her eyes wide and astonishment engraved on her face.
"Jill's pick," Will said.
Sharon crossed her arms. "That thing's ancient."
"Still fits," he shrugged.
"It's risky," Sharon stated.
"So is this whole day," he replied. "But I trust her."
Sharon didn't answer. She pressed her lips into a line and returned to the sink.
Will looked down at Jill. She gave him two thumbs up.
"You look like you mean business," Jill grinned.
"Let's hope they go for it," Will stated.
"Trust me, Dad. Jill said quietly and confidently, "You've got this."
"Thanks, honey. I've got to go."
"Don't be late, Daddy," Jill said.
Will walked into the kitchen, kissed Sharon on the lips, and then stooped down to kiss Jill on the cheek before slipping out the door.
By the evening, the house had returned to silence. Jill was sitting on the couch, watching cartoons, when the front door creaked open.
Will walked in, dropped his bag, and stood at the entrance as if he had just passed through a war zone.
Sharon peeked from the hallway. "How'd it go?"
Will shook his head slowly, his face unreadable.
"I blew it," Will stated.
"What do you mean?" Sharon asked.
"I don't know." The words wouldn't come out right, and my slides kept skipping. I noticed people were staring at me, either because of my suit or my nervousness. I wasn't sure if they loved me or just wanted me to stop talking.
Jill's face fell. She ran up and hugged his leg.
"I'm sorry, Dad…"
Will ruffled her hair. "It's alright. I gave it all I had."
"I shouldn't have told you to wear the suit," Jill said quietly, her expression clouded with gradual, increasing sorrow.
"No, my dear, it's not your fault," Will said softly, running his hand through her hair. She clung to his legs, quiet and little. "I didn't feel adequately confident during the presentation. "I kept thinking everyone was staring at the suit as if they could see right through me."
"You look tired; let Daddy go inside and relax," Sharon said.
He disappeared into the bedroom.
The evening sank into silence.
Later that evening, the phone rang sharply and unexpectedly, piercing the house's silence.
Sharon took the phone up, her voice strained and wary. "Hello?"
There was a pause.
Her expression changed. She turned to face the hallway.
"Will, it's them. "Cassian Global!" she called, her voice packed with disbelief and enthusiasm.
"What?" Will rushed out of the room, eyes wild. "That can't be right..." Did you say "Cassian Global?"
"Yes, my love. Someone's on the line and wants to speak with you," Sharon said.
Will walked closer, his heart beating, and carefully removed the phone from her hand.
"Hello?" he said, attempting to keep his voice steady.
As the voice on the other end spoke, a gradual smile grew across his face, widening with each word. He said little but listened, nodding occasionally, his eyes gleaming.
When the call ended, he didn't speak immediately. He only looked at Sharon, speechless, the moment hanging in the air.
Sharon's voice interrupted the silence. "What did they say?"
Will turned to face Jill, who sat on the couch, staring at him, her small hands gripped in expectation.
"I got the contract," he said, his voice vibrating delightfully.
Jill shouted, pushed herself from the couch, and jumped into his arms, wrapping him in a passionate and breathless hug.
"Yes! I told you it was a lucky suit!"
He laughed through the disbelief, lifting her off the floor.
"Maybe it is," Will replied.
That night, they ate takeout burgers in the living room with the TV turned down low. Will pulled Jill into his lap, kissed the top of her head, and said the words she'd never forget:
"You didn't just save my day—you changed my life," Will said to Jill, his smile warm and his eyes packed with emotion.
Will's life changed completely after that. The contracts came in the form of vacations, awards, and possibilities beyond his wildest expectations.
But he never left the suit behind, no matter how far he travelled.