Page 182 of Fixation
Mmm.
Who would’ve thought I’d think about him every chance I got? I definitely didn’t.
Too soon, Octavia ends the call. Her assistant is there, taking the device off her hands and rushing back to the corner, tapping on her tablet.
“Again, I apologize.”
“No worries.” I sit up straight, bracing myself to lie. For him.
“I won’t waste much more of your time.” The sincerity in her voice should relax me. Regardless, I keep my guard up. “My last question is the one that intrigues me the most, and I’m sure our readers as well. What can we expect from your summer collection? Your press release yesterday mentioned they’ll go live on your website and be available in selected stores in less than three weeks.”
My collection. Not my limp.
Okay, that’s good. Better than good.
Pride and excitement swell in my chest.
Before Anderson turned my life upside down, I wasn’t sure what would become of this collection. I wasn’t sure there’d be a new one at all.
I wasn’t joking when I told him my inspiration was severely lacking.
My spring collection felt like a cliché. An assembly of flowery pieces that I hated. Sure, the flowers were beautiful. Who doesn’t love flowers? Thing is, it felt…lacking.
More of the same, I scolded it, throwing one piece of paper after the other into the trash can.
When I finally gave up, I let Emersyn know that I was officially available for new custom orders. My inbox blew up, and I was busy creating rings, bracelets, and hairpins from other people’s visions.
No more of that. At least for the time being.
My summer collection is everything I ever wanted it to be and more.
And yes, it’s finished.
This morning, after Anderson left and I squeezed in a one-hour nap at his request, I devoted myself to truly perfecting the last piece in my collection and sent it to LA. A two-piece silver ear cuff.
It’s my favorite one to date.
One of the cuffs is bejeweled with tiny diamonds and one ruby stone in the center. The other looks the same, just with a black onyx gemstone instead of the ruby.
They could pass as diamond rings.
Anderson’s and mine.
Two people who couldn’t be more different and yet are inseparable.
I can’t wait to tell my family everything about him.
The moment Anderson wraps up his business with the mafia, I’ll have them come over to meet him.
“Harper?”
“My new collection, yes.” I tuck my hair behind my ear and instantly regret it. Heat floods my neck. Fuck. I drop my hand and clear my throat. “I won’t ruin the surprise or give too much away, but…”
“Yes?” Octavia’s eyes glimmer.
Her fingers play absentmindedly with a silver necklace from my latest winter collection, the one with the rose pendant and white metal leaves.
“You should expect the unexpected.” I clasp my hands together. I’m sure Octavia notices that they, as the rest of my body, are bare of jewelry. As a rule, I don’t wear any. It isn’t fair to my babies, to pick a favorite. “A dark and gritty collection that will be all wrong for summer, yet it’ll be timeless.”
