Page 81 of Hard to Break

Elise settles into the remaining chair.

We order our drinks—an almond milk latte for me, an espresso for Elise, and a chai tea for Nova.

“All right, ladies,” I say. “While I genuinely wanted a chance for you two to meet, because you’re both incredible artists with a unique vision, I’m not going to lie. I thought there might be room for a collaboration.”

“Nova, why don’t you tell me more about your art?” Elise prompts. “What excites you right now? Fashion is a seasonal industry, and while we try to create products that are as evergreen as possible, trends do matter.”

Nova nods, sitting up straighter. “My new work is about color and space. I want to create pieces that make people feel confident, that tell a story.”

Her confidence grows as she speaks, passion infusing every word.

Elise leans forward, engrossed.

As Nova delves into her new ideas for how to get her work to a broader audience—a series of limited-edition prints, collaborations with up-and-coming street artists, plans for a small clothing line—I watch Elise's reactions carefully. The fashion mogul's eyes sparkle with interest, and I can almost see the wheels turning in her head.

“These are fantastic ideas,” Elise says. “What's holding you back?”

Nova hesitates, and I give her an encouraging nod. “Change is hard,” she admits. “I have a loyal following, but gallery owners don’t want me to deviate from what made me popular. I don’t want to compromise my values or artistic integrity.”

Elise nods thoughtfully. “I faced similar challenges when I was starting out. The key is to stay true to your vision while finding ways to make it accessible to a broader audience.”

As Elise shares her insights, I find myself furiously scribbling notes. The conversation flows from challenges to solutions, from broad concepts to specific strategies. Before I know it, we're deep in a brainstorming session about potential collaborations between Nova and Elise's brand.

“This might be crazy, but I would love to see my art on garments. What if we did a limited-edition clothing line?” Novasuggests, her excitement palpable. “Something that combines your styles with my aesthetic?”

Elise nods enthusiastically. “I love that idea. We could do a capsule collection, maybe tied to a specific theme or cause, and we could amplify it with a coordinated social media campaign, leveraging both our platforms.”

“Ooh, and what about pop-up events?” I chime in. “We could do simultaneous launches in key markets—New York, LA, London, Tokyo—make it a global event.”

The energy at our table is electric as ideas bounce back and forth. Nova and Elise riff off each other, their different perspectives and experiences creating a perfect synergy.

As I help them flesh out the details of their ideas, I'm struck by how natural this feels. For so long, I struggled with my identity, trying to be something I thought others wanted me to be. Helping people I care about, whose visions I believe in, succeed is way more gratifying.

“Well,” Elise says as the meeting winds down, glancing at her watch, “I hate to say it, but I have another appointment in half an hour.”

Nova nods, a mix of excitement and nervousness on her face. “This has been incredible. I can't thank you enough for your time and insight, Elise.”

“The pleasure was all mine,” Elise replies warmly. “I haven't been this excited about a potential collaboration in years. Brooke, can I trust you to draw up a preliminary agreement for us to review?”

I nod, feeling a surge of pride. “Absolutely.”

As we stand to say our goodbyes, Elise surprises us both by pulling Nova into a hug. “I have a feeling this is the beginning of something special.”

After Elise leaves, Nova turns to me, her eyes shining. “Brooke, I can't believe that just happened.”

I smile, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “I can.”

“But…” her face falls. “If this actually happens, it’s going to be a lot of work. Do you have more hours to help me? I have more than enough money from my sales, and obviously, I’ll compensate you like a publicist.”

My chest squeezes. “As long as it doesn’t get in the way of our friendship.”

As we leave the café, stepping out into the April sunshine, I feel a sense of contentment wash over me. This is what I want to do, not for the fame or the money, but for moments like this—moments when I can help talented, passionate people connect and create something meaningful.

I may not be the one in the spotlight, but I’m finding my place.

When I knockon the door of Chloe’s office, it takes her a second to glance up from her computer. “Look who it is.”

She gestures to the chair opposite her desk.

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