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I’m rambling, the thing that I do whenever I’m nervous like right now and waving my hands up in the air and then playing with the ends of my shoulder-length blonde hair.
Katie’s watching me as if I’m on something, but I can’t help it.
“I asked my parents for a loan, but I never knew that dad’s business was suffering and…”
She moves closer towards me and does the one thing that I never expected, she hugs me and makes me feel the way that I so need to feel right now.
Loved.
By a friend that can’t financially help me, but being that voice of reason goes a long way especially the way that things have been going lately.
I wrap my hands around her and close my eyes. I remember doing this every time we struck a deal. We would have a bit too much to drink, hug and congratulate each other for a new deal with a different store. My company, Glimmer & Dazzle was on the tip of everyone’s tongue when I had created a new design. That was back then, now I’m not even mentioned, and the store that I opened is empty most of the time.
Katie sighs, “I’m not an idiot. I can see what’s going on here. You don’t need to apologize to me. I know that you tried, but sometimes things are not as easy as they seem. My company, Glimmer & Dazzle ran away, and everything looked as if it was going in the right direction. I was shocked when other companies started up, and you got high big time. Not only because of the design but the prices too.”
“I still don’t understand how Silk Box have managed to sell their designs at double the price. Their designs are not that great.”
She laughs, “You would think that because you’re competing with them.”
I break away from her, “No! Seriously they’re not that great.”
I motion to show her their latest designs and the star that has made them sell out from the moment that it was launched.
“Do you see who’s wearing it?”
Katie asks, and I nod my head, sure Scarlett O Johansen just happens to be wearing their latest design.
“The key to their success is not the jewelry or even the quality. It’s all about the marketing. That’s the one thing that you never focused on.”
In my defense, “That’s because I never needed to do that. The moment I designed something and it was made, it was sold out of the door.”
She nods her head, “In a small market, things work out that way. But nothing lasts forever. Besides The Silk Box have a better website than us. Branding. They…”
“Are you trying to make me feel better?”
I stand looking at her earth eyes, knowing that this must be hard for her. I can’t believe that I’ve let things sink so low.
“No, but I want you to know that there’s a reason why it didn’t work out. I’m just telling you the reason, because you seem blind to it.”
I slump back in my chair and wonder what to sell next, just to make ends meet.
“Maybe, if you sell it, then you can go back to the way things were?”
“Walking around with a backpack asking boutiques to buy my necklaces and bracelets?”
That was when I was eighteen and more enthusiastic by sitting down all day and making my designs. Things were easy then, I was living with my parents and if I sold it was awesome. If I didn’t then there was always tomorrow. Now, I had my apartment, staff that I can’t afford to pay. Being a grown up sucks, even if it was only five years ago.
I shake my head, “I’ll think of something.”
She nods as she pats me on the shoulders and says, “You always do. I just believe that in this case, you make fantastic jewelry, but you needed someone to take over the business from you. That’s the part that you couldn’t let go off.”
I just sigh as I spin in my chair and look up at the ceiling. I’m not in the mood to divulge in a conversation, and that’s when she blurts out, “Good night.”
“Night Katie.”
As she shuts the door, the realization of what she had just said hits home. I’ve been trying to do something that I’m not equipped to do. And I need the money to do it if I’m going to save the last pieces of this company. I know someone that can help me.
My dad’s best friend Marvin, I need to take him on his offer, and I’m going to sweep away my pride and ask him for it right now. Before it’s too late and I do need to shut up the shop.
