Or Emma could find out I made the call and see it as exactly the kind of interference she just left me over.
But I can't do nothing. Can't just accept that we're over, that she's going to let her dream die because Victoria decided to wage war.
I pull up Chelsea's number. Stare at it.
Then I hit dial before I can talk myself out of it.
The phone rings several times.
I'm about to hang up—maybe this is a sign, maybe I should just?—
"Grant Cross." Chelsea's voice is warm, surprised. "I was thinking about you recently. Saw that piece in the Journal about the Riverside development. Impressive work."
"Chelsea. Thanks. How are you?"
"Bored, honestly. Retirement isn't all it's cracked up to be." She laughs, and the sound makes me smile. Chelsea's never been good at sitting still. "What can I do for you?"
This is the moment. The point where I could ask for a favor.
But I don't.
"Actually, this isn't about me," I say carefully. "I came across something recently—someone, actually—and I immediately thought of you."
"Oh?" Interest sharpens her voice. "I'm listening."
I take a breath and choose my words carefully.
"There's a fragrance designer who’s building a line of natural fragrances using the kind of clean ingredients and ethical sourcing that's about to explode in this market. Young, incredibly talented. Her scents are exceptional and her vision for her brand is exactly the kind of thing you championed with your company."
There’s silence on the other end for a moment. I can practically hear Chelsea thinking.
"And you're telling me this because...?"
"Because I know you're always looking for new talent. The next person who's going to change the industry. And I think she might be it." I pause. "I'm not asking for a favor. I'm not even asking you to invest. Just... if you're interested, I think she's someone worth taking a look at."
More silence. Longer this time.
Then: "What's her name?"
"Emma Sullivan. Her company is called Essence."
"Sullivan..." Chelsea's voice goes thoughtful. "Not related to David Sullivan, by any chance?"
My stomach drops. I didn’t realize Chelsea knows David.
"His daughter," I say, nervous about how this will change the trajectory of the conversation.
But Chelsea just makes a thoughtful sound. "Interesting. I didn't know David had a daughter in the beauty space. What's her background?"
"Self-taught, mostly. She studied in Florence, worked with a master perfumer there. Built Essence from the ground up. She's been bootstrapping the whole thing, developing formulas in her apartment in Brooklyn."
"No investors?"
"She's been pitching. Had interest from Vance Capital, but that fell through."
"Vance." Chelsea's tone goes dry. "Not surprised. Lawrence has been making questionable calls lately."
I think of Victoria at that luncheon, her hand on Vance's arm.
