twelve
SOPHIE ENTERED MEAGAN’S Loft. Recollections swirled in. Nervousness. Awe. She’d experienced that and more when King had brought her to the store for the first time, and most of all, excitement. If only she’d known that living out her fantasy of being with him would come with a substantial price. She’d lost her job and peace of mind.
Meagan spotted her from the cashier’s station, where she and two sales clerks were checking out customers.
Sophie returned her wave. After spending time on her own at the office without King’s presence, she’d started to believe she could help Aiden, keep her promise to Robin, and leave unscathed. Working with King at the house, she’d glimpsed the joy of being around him again—but her reaction to hearing him on the phone with Tina that afternoon was a one-two reality slap. The night they’d shared had ruined their ability to work together like they had in the past.
Robin was right, though. She wasn’t ready for another office gig. She needed to place more attention on making jewelry. It had reawakened the dream she’d abandoned in college. The other day, as she’d sketched designs in bed, she’d allowed herself to imagine devoting her time to pure creativity. Owning a business and doing what she loved—the more she’d contemplated the idea, the more right it felt. The prospect was scary, but it wasn’t like she had to make a decision right away. She had at least four weeks while she worked with King to make up her mind. Honestly, contemplating such a major risk, like teaming up with Meagan, was a welcome distraction from what had happened between her and King.
As Sophie skimmed through a rack of colorful skirts, the charms around her wrist jangled. Her jewelry designs had a trendy vibe, but the fashions at the boutique were major-league swag. What if Meagan hadn’t been serious and only complimented her bracelet out of kindness? The apple Sophie had munched on during the car ride to the store churned in her belly. She still had time to grab a scarf, or some other accessory that wouldn’t empty her wallet, and sneak out before she made a fool of herself.
Meagan headed her direction. Too late.
“Shopping on your lunch break?” Meagan smiled and pointed to the dove-gray skirt in Sophie’s hand. “There’s a plum top that goes perfectly with that on the other rack. Let me show you.”
“Oh no, I didn’t come to shop.” Sophie hung up the skirt. “I was in the neighborhood. Remember the other night, when you complimented my bracelet and I said I’d make one for you? I thought I’d check in to see what type of charms you wanted, but I see you’re busy.” Not a complete lie. She’d already sketched a draft of what to make Meagan. A fashion-themed piece with onyx dress charms interspersed with jeweled purple stilettos and a single silver purse charm.
Meagan’s smile widened. “I can spare the time. Let’s go to my office.”
Sophie followed her to the back of the store. They went through a door next to the private fitting room, where Meagan and the stylist had dressed her that night.
Three faceless mannequins, swathed in red dresses in various stages of completion, stood in the middle of the utilitarian space. Fashion sketches hung on a corkboard wall to the left.
An image from childhood of her artist mom in the park drawing flowers on a spiral pad rose up. Her mother would pin the sketches to a corkboard on the wall near an easel in their tiny apartment when they’d lived in Toledo. She’d then use them for inspiration to create her paintings.
Meagan picked up bolts of red cloth from a purple suede couch on the right. She laid them on a metal work desk at the top of the room near a window. The desk was laden with more rolls of colorful fabric, books, and papers. “Sorry for the mess. I’m finalizing pieces for a new clothing line.”
A sketch on the board lifted softly with an air-conditioned breeze and fell to Sophie’s feet. She picked it up.
The drawing depicted a brunette woman wearing a midthigh-length dress with a cinched-in waist.
Meagan strolled over. “The designs for this line are set up for quick and easy transformations. For instance, with that dress, a pair of stiletto boots and a short leather jacket makes it perfect for a night of clubbing. Switch out the boots for pumps, exchange the jacket for a blazer, and you’re off to work. I’m curious to know, what type of jewelry do you think would go with those two outfits?”
Images of a necklace, earrings, and bracelets popped into Sophie’s mind. She pinned the sketch back on the board. “Something in gold. I’d also suggest something bolder and heavier with jeweled accents for the evening look, and pieces that are softer and more delicate for daytime.”
“Spoken like a true creative.” Meagan smiled. “Have a seat. Let me show you the rest.” She snagged a purple portfolio from the worktable, then joined Sophie on the couch. “The collection is called Golden Sun, Silver Moon. The pieces are not only easy to transform from day to night, but they fit together to create multiple ensembles. They’re also lightweight and made with wrinkle-resistant fabrics that can easily be tucked into a bag or even a sizable purse.” She winked. “Let’s be honest. Guys aren’t the only ones who go from a hot night in the bedroom right into the boardroom.”
In King’s case, it was the boardroom to his love nest with one woman, to a weekend at the beach with another. An endless buffet of sex with no meaning, where the operative words were next and as quickly as possible. Regret pierced Sophie’s heart. She breathed it away and focused on Meagan’s portfolio.
Swatches of fabric accompanied the sketches. The textures and colors inspired more jewelry designs to emerge in Sophie’s imagination. She itched to have a sketch pad in her hand. Stacked pearl bangles with diamond jewel charms to complement a dove gray. Rose gold to accent a rich green. Colorful, jeweled pieces that would make a sunny yellow ensemble really pop.
“I know what that look in your eyes means.” Meagan grinned. “You can see it coming together with the right jewelry. Can’t you?”
“Yes.” Nervousness dried out Sophie’s throat. “The other night, when you asked about my designs, were you serious about wanting to sell my bracelets in your shop?”
“Very.” Meagan closed the book and laid it beside her on the couch. “I’ll happily become your first customer if you’re planning on branching out into a business.”
“I’m considering it, but how can you be so sure that my jewelry is a right fit for your store? You’ve only seen one bracelet.”
“The detail and workmanship of your jewelry speaks to your creativity and skill. I also have a knack for spotting what works in my boutique. My customers would want other pieces along with your bracelets. You could do that. Right?”
“Well . . . yes.” Sophie laced her fingers together to keep her hands from trembling. “That’s a lot of jewelry. What if it doesn’t sell as expected?”
“I understand the fear. I’ve been there, but I believe if you want something bad enough, you can make it a reality. It’s all about what’s important to you. Tell you what—let’s test the waters. I need jewelry for my clothing line. You can create and produce the designs. It’s the perfect low-investment opportunity. This way, we can gauge the demand. If there isn’t any interest, you walk away with a check from me for your time and effort. If the pieces go over big, which they will, you can have something more.”
Her own jewelry line, just like Robin had said. Butterflies tumbled inside of Sophie. Meagan’s expression grew hopeful as she raised a brow.
Sophie’s heart beat faster with the urge to say yes. Collaborating with Meagan wasn’t a permanent move from the corporate world. She’d find another real job after she finished with Kingman Partners. In the meantime, though, she could use a distraction to keep her preoccupied while working with King. Even when she left KP International, she could still find a new office position and make a few pieces of jewelry on the side for Meagan. She just wouldn’t volunteer for overtime at her new job—at least, not at first. And she had made that pinkie swear with Robin.
“When’s the show?”
“In a little over two months.”
“I may have to expedite shipping on supplies to make the deadline. I would need a percentage up front to cover the cost.”
“Not a problem.” Meagan waved the concern away. “Just give me a budget estimate so I can draw up a contract with the terms. Does that mean we have a deal?”
Excitement fueled Sophie’s smile. “Yes.”
Meagan grinned back. “Let’s get started.”
They brainstormed until Meagan was needed on the sales floor.
Sophie drove from the boutique, anxious to start sketching.
She arrived home to a quiet apartment and Robin’s note about working the evening and graveyard shifts at the hospital.
Sophie got comfortable in a pair of yellow sweatpants and a cropped white tee. She sat cross-legged on top of the queen-size bed with a sketch pad on her lap and pencils spread on the salmon comforter. Finally, she released the ideas she’d held hostage on the way home.
First she drew a design of an autumn leaf–themed ensemble she envisioned made of copper. Pleased with it, she went on to the next. Hours later, a crick in her neck and hunger pangs forced her to take a break. She leaned back on the pillows plumped against the white headboard. The kitchen table would provide a better work space in the long term, but she didn’t want to crowd out Robin. She could buy a work desk for her bedroom and place it near the window.
She got up and pushed the small teal bench under the window farther down the wall. Lamp light reflected off of the glass covering the gold-framed watercolor of sunflowers, white daisies, and green poms arranged in a white pitcher. Her mom’s love, especially of the bright yellow flower, was echoed in the nuances of color in the arrangement. She’d captured even the smallest details, from the sunrays highlighting scratches in the polished wood table to the tiny chip in the flowers’ container.
Sophie traced the frame. Her mom had said she’d gotten rid of all her artwork years ago. Discovering this one tucked in the back of a closet had been like finding pure gold. As a child, she’d treasured the happiness that had radiated from her mother when she’d painted. It had never fully returned once she’d given up her art.
Sadness took hold. Is that what she’d experience once she finished the jewelry line for Meagan and made the necessary walk away from King?