Caught Up in Us (Caught Up In Love #1)(26)
Author: Lauren Blakely

“Oh. Okay.” I took a drink of my tea and waited.

She placed her hands flat on the table, her diamond ring catching the light. “Is My Favorite Mistakes open for a small seed round of investment?”

I nearly choked on my tea. I coughed a few times, and I could feel my face turning red as I hacked at the fancy table in the fancy cafe in the fancy museum. “Excuse me?”

“I want to be an angel investor. Think of it as expansion capital to fund the new design work.”

“Right. Yes. Of course. Absolutely. I’ll do it right now.” I wanted to smack myself. I wasn’t making any sense. I was so bowled over I could barely form words.

“So is that a yes?” Claire seemed on the cusp of annoyed.

I collected myself. “I would be thrilled. I would be absolutely thrilled to have you as an investor.”

When she shared the amount, I did everything in my power not to holler and thrust a victorious fist at the sky. Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined an investor.

“Now, the money is to be allocated solely to the business. You can’t use it to pay your rent or anything like that.” She wagged a finger at me and narrowed her eyes. She was being playful, but she was also serious. Given her tone, I felt compelled to respond with a salute.

“Absolutely.”

“But I do have some stipulations.”

“Of course.”

“First, you need to finish your MBA. I’m a big believer in the value of education, and even if this helps your business take off, you must finish your degree. Or else I’ll need the money paid back.”

“Totally. I’m definitely finishing my degree. I’m so committed I’m beyond committed.”

“Second, after you finish your degree and can focus solely on the business, I’ll put another round into My Favorite Mistakes at the same multiple.”

My heart sang. Everything seemed possible.

“Great.”

“Third. When we first met and you mentioned the markets in Paris and all the little trinkets and charms to be had there for a steal, and when my buyers mentioned they preferred your European stylings, I started thinking…”

Chapter Fifteen

“Paris, Mom! She wants to send me to Paris. And it’s a requirement.”

I was on the steps of the museum, my hand cupped over my mouth even though I wasn’t truly trying to keep my voice down. How could I?

“That is so wonderful.”

“She’s like a fairy godmother. And she’s making me, Mom, making me, go to Paris as part of the investment. To find vendors to expand my designs. Can you please just pinch me now because I must be dreaming!”

A group of school kids chattered noisily as they raced down the sprawling steps to the hot dog carts and pretzel vendors on Fifth Avenue. A curly-haired guy in sunglasses gave me the once-over as he walked past me. I shifted away from him, but then tensed all over, thinking he was Wilco. I scanned for him quickly, but he was already pushing through the revolving doors. I hadn’t gotten a good look, but what were the chances the guy was Wilco anyway? Besides, for a big city, New York was the smallest of towns and you bumped into people you knew all the time. Or, as the case may be, people who simply looked like people you were avoiding.

I pushed him out of my mind and returned my focus to the call. “I’m going to use some of the investment for the trip and to buy the supplies. But if the buyers pick up my designs, then I’ll ramp up the business quickly and I can help pay off your loan for Mystic Landing with my revenues.”

“Katerina, I’ve told you to stop worrying about us.”

“Mom. I want to do this. Just let me help. I mean, I know I don’t have the money yet, but I will soon. And nothing could make me happier than helping you guys.”

“Pssh. Enough. Tell me more about your trip to Paris. That’s what I really want to hear.”

I shared more of the details, told her I’d come out to visit before I left, and then said goodbye. I looked around at all the people streaming in and out of the museum, then up at the darkening sky. I shook my head in amazement. I was still giddy, and didn’t think I’d come down from this high for a long time, nor did I want to. I wanted to share it with someone else. Someone special.

Bryan answered on the second ring. “Hey,” he said in a sweet voice he used just for me.

“I have amazing news. Where are you right now?”

“Just finished up a meeting on the Upper East Side.”

“I’m at the Met right now. About to do some work on a new expansion project for My Favorite Mistakes, and I thought perhaps my mentor might want to join me for a few minutes. It’s a business meeting, of course.”

“I’ll be there in ten.”

*****

The morning light reflected off Monet’s waterlilies. The brushstrokes from the Impressionist master made me think about shapes, colors and new ways of looking.

“So I’m thinking I should totally add a line of waterlily charms to My Favorite Mistakes.”

Bryan played along as we strolled past paintings. “While you’re at it, why not throw in some haystacks too?” He tipped his forehead to another Monet. “Your favorite painting, right?”

My eyes went wide with the realization that he hadn’t forgotten the last time we were here five years ago. From the caramel macchiatos to Hello Kitty to haystacks, he’d held onto so many details of me. My heart felt bigger and fuller. “You remember?”

He shot me a smile, then nodded. “Yes, I remember.”

I wanted to wrap my arms around him and kiss him, but I resisted. “Maybe I should even get some of those melty clocks from a Dali.”

“Or, how about just a bunch of drip mark charms from a Pollock? Because I would have to think drip marks would qualify as a favorite mistake.”

We stopped to sit on a blond hardwood bench in the middle of the gallery, keeping necessary space between us. Bryan wore slate gray pants and a green and white checked shirt with recycled bike chain cufflinks. A tie that I longed to unknot completed the look. He rested a hand on the bench; I did the same. Six more inches and we could have been holding hands. I glanced at his fingers, and restrained every impulse to lace them through mine. This beautiful place had the bars I needed. We simply couldn’t do a thing here. There were too many people around us, tourists and school kids, couples and families.

“So when do you think you’ll go to Paris?”

“Claire and I talked about it and even looked up flights during our chat. I think in two weeks. Over Veteran’s Day weekend. So I won’t have to miss too many classes.”