Page 41 of The Best of Friends

There was something about the way she said the name. “You have a problem with the hotel?”

She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. “I’m sure it’s lovely.”

“It’s a place to sleep.”

“Oh, please. Do you even know what a room there costs a night?”

He didn’t have a room… he had a suite. “No. Do you?”

“I know if one has to ask, one probably can’t afford it. I’ll be fine.”

He held open the door to the conference room. “The Four Seasons is really close to the office.”

“You don’t have to justify yourself to me. I’ve heard they have the best turn-down service.” Her eyes sparkled as she spoke.

“Now you’re just mocking me.”

“Uh-huh.”

They entered the conference room. Peter, their marketing director, was there with the designer.

David took care of introductions. “Jayne is a friend of mine. I wanted her thoughts on the pieces.” He waited until Jayne took a seat across from the two men. “I discovered Élan’s work while I was in Spain last year. I asked him to submit a few pieces for us to consider for the stores. They would be exclusive, of course.”

Peter grinned. “Part of the Worden appeal. You can’t get our beautiful jewelry anywhere else.”

Élan put a small black case on the table and opened it. Inside were three rings, two necklaces, and two bracelets. Élan spread them out on a black velvet cloth, then slid the cloth toward David.

While Rebecca’s work was all about lush curves and the female shape, Élan preferred geometry. There was a sharpness to his pieces, a sophistication. He used only white diamonds with platinum, which added to the modernist feel.

David had already studied the diamonds and knew their quality. What he was most interested in was Jayne’s reaction to the collection.

She looked from the jewelry back to him. “What am I doing here?” she asked in a whisper.

“Telling me what you think. You’re our target market.”

She shook her head. “Not if these are real.” She touched the necklace. “Do you have a price point yet?”

Peter waved his hands. “Nothing’s been decided. We’re thinking we want a more mass appeal with this collection. A younger consumer, which will be reflected in the price. Maybe twenty or thirty thousand for the rings. Close to a hundred for the bracelets. Maybe one-fifty or two for the necklaces.”

“I will have earrings, yes?” Élan said. “There was a problem with the mold, and they are not ready.”

Jayne pressed her lips together. “Good to know.”

Élan spent several minutes explaining his vision, where he saw the line going, and what other materials interested him. David listened carefully while trying to figure out what Jayne was thinking. He couldn’t be sure, but she didn’t seem to love the work.

Forty minutes later Élan packed up his samples and left. David promised Peter he would stop by later and angled toward Jayne.

“What were you thinking?” he asked.

“They’re lovely. A little cold for my taste, but I can see a lot of women thinking they’re perfect.”

“And?”

“And… it’s been very interesting getting to see this side of the business. I’ve never been up in the offices or at a meeting like this. I wonder if it’s how companies decide on a new toilet paper.”

He stared at her, not speaking.

She rubbed her cast, tucked her hair behind her ears, then spun in her chair toward him. “What?”

---