“Sophie! Come on let’s go, we will be stuck in traffic otherwise!” Emmanuel yells out from the kitchen.
“Just a second!”
I run around like a mad woman gathering all my things into my bag and ensuring my hair and make-up is just right. I know the buyers are not going to care how I look, but I’m so jittery with nerves, it’s making me do silly things.
I take one final look in the mirror and decide this was it.
I’m wearing a black wrap dress that falls just above my knees topped with my black Louboutins. I wear one of my most extravagant necklaces with my signature diamond studs. My hair is up in a ballerina style bun with of course, red lippy.
Emmanuel and I had arrived to New York late last night and today was the big day. We were staying at the very fancy Ritz Carlton hotel in New York. I’ve never been to a more luxurious hotel. My sheets probably had a million thread count to them and it was so cosy that I did not want to get out of my king size bed this morning. Even the bathroom and my own little private lounge area was a treat.
“Well hello sleeping beauty. You look gorgeous babe. Now come on, we have the town car waiting downstairs. Let’s go!” Em says with excitement.
We make our way downstairs into the car and I start to get really nervous. This deal is everything to me. I have worked tirelessly throughout my years to get here, but the last couple of weeks I really burnt myself out with numbers and figures and profit margins and stock and designing my new range and updating my site. I am totally exhausted and if this deal doesn’t go through, I have to admit, I will be crushed.
“Nerves?” Emmanuel asks noticing my fidgeting.
“You have no idea,” I reply staring out the window. I guess we could have walked since it was only fifteen minutes by foot to Barney’s head office but Emmanuel decided we should just get the car there and we can decide what to do with our time afterwards.
Driving through the streets of New York is surreal. I’ve never seen so many buildings, and people, and cars. It’s like a rat race. People dashing here and there, and mostly everyone is on their phones either talking or texting.
LA is so laid back compared to this place.
“It’s okay to be nervous Soph. Totally normal. Who wouldn’t be in your position! But I’m here and you’ve got the deal. I promise,” Em says squeezing my hand.
Within a couple of minutes we arrive at Barneys. We open the giant glass doors that lead into an extremely white foyer. In fact everything is white. White leather couches, white coffee table, white walls and white reception desk. On paper it would sound wrong, but it works. It feels so luxurious.
I am greeted by a young woman asking if we have an appointment.
“Hello, we have a 9 o’clock with Jonathon and Chelsea. My name is Sophie,” I say politely.
“Oh yes Sophie and Emmanuel,” she says staring at her computer. “Please take a seat. I’ll let Jonathon and Chelsea know you are here. Would you like something to drink?”
Emmanuel and I both tell her we’re fine.
My nerves are bouncing all around the place. Being stocked in New York would be massive. I have worked so hard for this. And I’m so close. Landing this deal would be a dream come true.
I grab my bag and check my phone and see a text from Mel.
Good luck Soph. Let me know when the deal is done! xx
I smile and place my bag back inside my bag and wait impatiently for the meeting.
Before I can start pacing and running my hands through my hair and before Emmanuel can give me another sideways look to calm the fuck down, a man and woman who I assume are Jonathon and Chelsea greet us.
“Hi you must be Sophie, I’m Jonathon,” he says politely while shaking my hand.
“And you’re Emmanuel?” He says turning to Em.
“Pleasure to meet you,” Em says shaking his hand.
Chelsea does the same and we make small talk to the meeting room.
“So this is your first time to the big Apple?” Chelsea asks surprised
“Well I actually came here when I was little so I don’t remember much. So it does feel like the first time,” I say excitedly.
“Yes she wants to do all the touristy things; she’s like a kid in a candy store,” Emmanuel remarks
Both Chelsea and Jonathon laugh.
As we sit down, Jessica –the receptionist walks in with several bottles of water and places each one down next to us before leaving.
Chelsea turns to Emmanuel and looks at him inquisitively. “Emmanuel, the Emmanuel who runs the very successful real estate business in LA, as in “Rodeo Realty”?
Now who looks like a kid in a candy store?
“Yes that’s me,” Em says with a smile.
“Impressive. When I head over to LA to buy a place I will be coming to you. You have an impressive reputation,” Jonathon chimes in. “How did you have time to come here today?”
Emmanuel looks over at me and smiles before answering, “I believed in Sophie’s vision so much that I invested in her. She made me her business partner, so in a sense, I have to make time because this is work and it’s very important to me and I take this meeting and the business Sophie and I share very seriously.”
Chelsea and Jonathon seem pleased and smile in agreement.
“Okay let’s get started,” Jonathon says business like now.
“Sophie, we’ve seen your designs and they are incredible. We have heard great things in our LA office and your stock seems to be selling really well. So we already know your background. At the same time New York is our flagship store. We only stock what we believe can sell and can increase our bottom line. Ultimately it is about the bottom line.”
He then leans forward and takes off his glasses and places his pen on the table.
“I know your designs are going to sell Sophie- no doubt about it. Our LA office practically re-stocks your designs every week as they can only hold so much stock. So consider this meeting very short. Because we want your designs in our office and if you can, we want you to get started merchandising your items first thing next week Monday morning. If you agree to let us buy your stock for 50% of the retail value, we will sign the documents today, and we will be buying one million dollars’ worth of your jewellery.”
Silence.
There is only silence. I can’t speak. Did he just say, a) they want my designs in their store, and b) they want to purchase over a million dollars’ worth of my items?
“Sophie?” Chelsea asks again, staring at me.
I look over at Em who gives me a beaming smile and a quick nod.
I swallow, trying to get some liquid in my throat so that actual words come out of my mouth.
“That would be probably the best outcome I could’ve ever have hoped for and so much more. Yes I agree and yes I will be here on Monday. Yes to it all, thankyou, I’m so happy that I can’t even find proper words!”
It’s true. I could literally jump out of my chair and kiss them both.
“Excellent, I’m so glad to have you on board at our New York office. It will be the beginning of a very beautiful working relationship,” Chelsea says excitedly.
Jonathon nods in agreement. “We always wanted you here Sophie, you’re an incredibly talented person. My wife buys your items by the droves.”
Jonathon then hands me a folder full of documents along with his and Chelsea’s business cards.
“If you could have these signed and sent so we receive them no later than Wednesday so we can get all your account details setup.”
“Sure thing. Thank you so much,” I say like I’ve just won the lottery.
I feel like doing my rocky Sylvester Stallone punch/dance right now!
Chelsea and Jonathon both stand up and walk Emmanuel and I outside.
“It was a pleasure meeting you both,” Jonathon says. “We will chat to you very soon.”
We all shake hands again and say goodbye before Emmanuel and I walk out the door.
The first thing Emmanuel does when we’re out of site from Barneys is pick me in a big bear hug and twirl me around.
“You did it Sophie, YOU DID IT!” he screams with joy
I laugh and laugh until I cry with joy. I’m so elated, like I’m walking on clouds; I never want to come down from this high.
When he finally puts me down, I look at him. “No we did it. If it wasn’t for you investing in me, believing in me and the support and love you and Mel gave me, I wouldn’t be here. I love you Em, you and Mel are everything to me.”
And with that I cry happy tears with Emmanuel who also is crying tears of joy.
“You know what this means, don’t you?” Emmanuel says excitedly
“What’s that?” I say only more excitedly back
“Tonight we are heading out girlfriend, and we are celebrating!” he screams again
*******
Emmanuel and I spend the rest of the day doing what a gay guy and girl would do if they’ve just struck a major deal in their careers. We shop.
I spend an absurd amount of money that day, but I enjoy the time and happiness Emmanuel and I have. It feels good to know that I worked hard enough to land this deal, it all finally paid off.
By the time I call my mum, and Mel, telling them about the deal I landed with Barneys I’m physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted. These past couple of weeks have been such a roller coaster that I’ve hardly slept and I have been working out non-stop to try and exhaust all my nervous energy. I feel like I could sleep for a week. I let Emmanuel know that I’m taking a nap and to wake me up an hour before we head out so I can get dressed.
I literally lay my head down on the pillow before I’m out like a light. I fall into a deep peaceful slumber.