There it is. The perfect gateway into telling her that I actually can fix it because I’m in charge now, but as I stare at her beautiful face while she does her best to eat without losing any of the melted cheese in her grilled cheese, I can’t do it.
The words don’t come.
They catch at the base of my throat and stay there. Being here with Calliope gives me a deep sense of peace and I can’t pinpoint exactly why.
It might be her warmth or her humor, or how when she talks, it’s like every single word is deeply important, or how when I talk, she looks at me like she’s utterly enthralled by everything I say.
A man can get addicted to that kind of attention.
“I can try have a word with Jimmy,” is my only response. “He’s kind of set about trying to impress me. I think he’s worried I’ll end up deciding that it’s not worth it and ensure none of my stones ever make it to his stores ever again.”
“Do you have any pieces in the Valentine’s collection?”
“I’d have to check, but I think a collection of our stones is sent into the engagement rings from Cooper’s.”
“Cooper’s?” Her eyes widen. “Wow. Talk about luxury.”
“I know.” I laugh softly. “But actually…” Leaning over my plate, I watch her with a soft smile. “I lied.”
She picks up her teacup. “You lied? About what?”
“I’m not actually here about stone quality.”
Her lips part. “What? If you’re about to tell me you’re undercover or part of the competition, this lunch might end.”
“No, no.” I laugh softly. “Nothing like that. I mean, the quality of my stones and gems is essential but I’m not checking up on them because of complaints or anything like that. I think… toward the end of my mom’s life, she wanted all of her jewelry cut up and sold off. Some of it was auctioned, but most of it was sold and the money donated. She kept telling me that it was all cold and lifeless and in the end, it meant nothing. The only thing she kept was an old locket that I think was made from brass, because my father gave it to her on their third date. That’s what held worth to her.”
Calliope nods along as she sips her tea.
“And I want a hand in that. That’s the kind of jewelry I want to create and sell. Not the elitist crap that has people thinking they’re better than everyone because they have a certain cut of diamond or a certain shade of garnet set into some precious metal. I want our jewelry to have meaning. To be that gift given on a date or at an anniversary that grows with sentimental value as the years go by. But currently, well, the only people we sell directly to are the aforementioned rich assholes.”
“Like yourself,” Calliope replies with a small smile.
I laugh as I nod. “Yeah, exactly. But with your website? And your subscription service? The care you put into each package, the themes you cover and the inclusion of gifts and the personalization that you dedicate to each box? Every single one is like a personal gift. You reach countless people and you make every single one of them feel important when that box comes in the post. That’s what I want.”
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you wanted my job,” Calliope says, and there’s a note of caution in her tone.
“It’s not like that, I promise. I just want to make gorgeous jewelry affordable and then get it into the hands of as many people as I can. I want my stones and products to be that cheap necklace gifted on the third date, to be worn every single day. And on the business side of it, reducing the cost opens our product up to a whole new, vast market.” As I talk, my heart flutters and passion floods my voice. “Selling a hundred cheaper bracelets makes more money than selling two to an elite. And more money equals more pay down the chain, more funds to improve the working conditions of miners and farmers around the world. From stone harvest to sale, everyone will benefit.”
“Wow,” Calliope says after draining her cup. “I had no idea you felt so passionately about all of that. Why haven’t you implemented it already?”
“Well, my board weren’t too keen on the idea because they feel our value lies in our brand and if we lose the Elite, we lose business. I disagree. And so I pulled some strings with Buster, my CFO, and secured a vote I needed to expand. And then I signed up for a dozen subscription services all across thecountry.” My smile widens as our eyes meet, and a slight flush creeps over Calliope’s face.
“Including ours?”
“Yours was the only one that made me feel like a person and not a number on an order form. So I put feelers out to see if there was a collaboration to be had. I just had to make sure that my delivery wasn’t a one-off. In hindsight, it was clearly fate.”
“You think so?” Calliope’s gaze remains down now as she pours herself another cup of tea from the pot on the table.
“I know so. I found you again. That can’t be a coincidence.”
She can’t hide the smile that sweeps across her beautiful face and instead rolls her eyes. “Sweet talk over lunch? It’s unheard of.”
“But very much deserved. I think my proposal will work. And most of all… I’m really glad I found you again.”
“Are you sure?” She carefully picks up her cup. “I did just spend the past almost seven years thinking you were a scumbag who cheated on his wife.”
A bubble of laughter escapes me quickly and I finish my own tea. “I don’t hold that against you. With what happened, there was no way you could have known. But I do know I’m eternally grateful that you’re giving me the chance to get to know you.”
