Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 83180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Dexter, just like everything in London, was a whole new world.
“Move in this weekend,” he said. “And at some point, we’ll talk about what happens after the competition ends.”
I pretended not to hear him and headed out. Being with Dexter had me thinking about things in new ways, had me living a different life to the one I thought I was destined for. But the pull of home—of my sister—was a bond welded in hardship and struggle and wasn’t easily dismissed. Dexter was a dream come true, but at some point, I knew I would have to wake up and get back to the real world.
Twenty-One
Dexter
I prided myself on having laser focus at work, but today I was distracted. I had to approve the final bracelet for the competition, yet I was mulling over the brief conversation about my brother I’d had with Hollie this morning.
Hollie and Autumn were as close as two sisters could be. I wasn’t sure if it was because their parents didn’t seem capable of looking after themselves, let alone two children, that Hollie had taken on more of a mother role to Autumn. Maybe it was just Hollie’s intrinsically good nature. But listening to Hollie talk to her sister on the phone or talk about Autumn and how proud she was—I couldn’t help but think about David. Since he’d sold the business to Sparkle, I’d not only cut him out of my life but cut him out of my memories, out of my brain. I had done my best not to even think about him. But over the last few weeks, the unanswered questions I had for him were all clamoring for attention in my mind.
“Come in,” I called to the knock at the door.
Primrose came in together with Frank. I could tell by their expressions that the bracelet would be fine. If they’d not believed it to be perfect, they would be downcast and miserable. These two lived for their work just as I did. “You two look happy,” I said.
“Satisfied,” Primrose said. Frank just mumbled under his breath because Frank was never satisfied.
I sat back in my chair and Primrose set a black velvet tray in front of me that contained the fruits of all our labor. I took a breath in relief. The one thing I’d been worried about was the clasp on the bracelet, but I could see without touching it, it was perfect. I pulled out a pair of white gloves from my desk drawer and picked it up. “Very nice,” I said, seeing the changes we’d made to the setting of the diamonds. “It looks much cleaner.”
“I agree. This setting is the better option. But I thought we might put the original setting on the retail version.” If we won, we’d planned to do some limited-edition pieces inspired by the collection. We’d need to make them different but similar enough that people thought they were wearing something fit for a princess.
“Yes, that would work,” I said. “And we should bring in a different stone. Given that we’ve just gone with the diamonds and the Zambian emerald, we should steer away from that scheme and do sapphires and rubies with diamonds.” I checked over the bracelet—turning it in my hands, looking at it through my loupe—despite the fact I knew that Frank and Primrose wouldn’t have brought it to me unless it was perfect.
“I’m happy,” I announced.
Frank’s expression didn’t change. I swear if I told him he’d just won the lottery he would remain dour and serious. He was always focused on what wasn’t right and determined to make it better. That’s why I employed him.
“Good,” Primrose said. “Shall we go through our normal agenda?”
Frank stood and took the tray and bracelet from in front of me before leaving me with Primrose.
“I got your email,” she said as she closed the door.
“I can talk directly to the design consultants if that’s easier,” I said. I was surprised I hadn’t gotten a call from Primrose as soon as I’d sent her the email asking her to go and see a Knightsbridge property with some design consultants.
“No, I’m happy to go with Beck. From the brief, you want to know a rough outline of display space. To see if it’s financially viable . . . right?”
“Exactly,” I said, sitting back in my chair. I was waiting for the question Primrose would be dying to ask me.
“So come on, Dexter, why the sudden change of heart? Now you want to open in London? After all these years?”
“It’s time,” I said. I’d spent long enough trying to erase painful memories of my parents, and avoiding the city where they’d grown their business. “Being in this competition and seeing people my parents used to work with or compete against has been . . . Well, it’s not been as difficult as I expected.” I’d enjoyed hearing people’s stories about my parents. It was good to see familiar, if now older, faces.