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)
“It shows confidence,” Primrose said.
“That’s agreed then,” Dexter said and turned toward the door. “Work up several set-ups for each piece on its own and for the collection together. Different sizes.” I couldn’t wait for Dexter and Primrose to leave so I could high-five Jeremy. “Oh,” he said as he reached the door. “Work with Hollie. I want to see what you two create together.” He swept out and Primrose followed him.
“You saved me back there,” Jeremy said, collapsing back in his chair. “I felt so sure they would go with the first one. I assumed they’d love all the technology and the way it played into the theme.” I understood why he thought that, but Dexter wasn’t ever going to go with a presentation that didn’t focus on the jewelry. “I worked so bloody hard on it.”
“I know but just think—at least you don’t have to worry about setting up computers and screens and all that technical stuff before the judging.”
He nodded. “And we’re back to jewelry on velvet. Not very innovative.”
“But it’s classic. And very Daniels & Co—understated elegance,” I said. Jeremy had been trying to impress Dexter and Primrose, but he should have focused on the jewelry. “The pebble shapes add something unique, give a little bit of edge.”
“I guess,” he said. “Thank God you were here or I would have been sacked. You understood what they wanted more than I did and I’ve been here two years.”
“Lucky, I guess,” I said. Of course, I hoped it wasn’t luck. I hoped I was on track to see stones and design jewelry in the way Dexter and Primrose did. If I had only a tiny fraction of their vision, I might be able to create a new future for myself.
Every day spent in London felt like a step taken in the opposite direction of my life in Oregon. The only problem was I didn’t know what I was walking toward.
Sixteen
Hollie
“You saved Jeremy’s arse today,” Dexter said as we sat cross-legged in his bed, me in one of Dexter’s shirts, eating the cheese and crackers I’d brought over. I wasn’t sure how it happened but we’d gotten into a little routine. Most nights, I would arrive at Dexter’s flat about eight with some food, and he’d just be arriving home from work. I’d cook while he showered and finished up some emails. Today we’d gotten distracted and I’d ended up in the shower with him.
I was enjoying having a salary, and I’d splurged on some expensive cheese I was sure Dexter would love. I’d assumed men like Dexter lived on caviar and champagne, but he loved my grilled cheese and told me my chicken pie was the best thing he’d ever tasted. And then he’d said something dirty and I thwacked him with a tea towel.
“I just went with my gut,” I replied.
“What did it say?” he asked.
“That whatever the display was, it had to be all about the jewelry.”
“Exactly.” He sighed. “I was disappointed he didn’t get it.”
“We shouldn’t talk about this,” I said. I didn’t want to know what Dexter thought about his staff—didn’t want the responsibility of insider information in case it changed the way I looked at my colleagues, who I liked a lot. “Work is work and this is,” I said, pointing at the cheese, “delicious.”
“You’re delicious. Are you sure I can’t just have you for dinner?”
My insides shimmied at his words. “You’re going to need your strength for what I have planned for you later,” I replied.
“I can’t wait. Oh, that reminds me. I have something for you,” he said. He reached over the side of the bed and produced one of those thick paper bags with rope handles that you get from expensive stores.
“What is it?” I asked, eyeing up the orange bag with a big H on it. It looked a bit like the Hermes logo, but of course it couldn’t be. “My birthday isn’t for weeks.”
“Well, why don’t you open it and find out,” Dexter replied.
I wasn’t sure why, but suddenly I felt out of place, sitting on this bed, opposite the most handsome man I’d ever seen. If I was reading the room right, Dexter had bought me a gift. But why would he do that?
I fingered the corner of the bag.
“It won’t bite,” he said.
He was asking me to open a bag—not exactly a demanding request. I wasn’t sure why I was hesitating but if I’d thought I was on a different planet earlier in the day, now we’d rocketed to a different universe. I just felt uncomfortable.
Stop being ridiculous. I pulled the light package onto my lap and picked at the brown, monogrammed tape that sealed it shut. Inside I found a square, shallow box that felt lightweight when I balanced it on my lap. The game was up—the box had Hermes written on it, and I was pretty sure this wasn’t a knock-off. Regardless of what the box held, it was too much for me.