Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Dexter
I prided myself on having laser focus at work, but today I was distracted. I had to approve the final bracelet for the competition, yet I was mulling over the brief conversation about my brother I’d had with Hollie this morning.
Hollie and Autumn were as close as two sisters could be.
I wasn’t sure if it was because their parents didn’t seem capable of looking after themselves, let alone two children, that Hollie had taken on more of a mother role to Autumn.
Maybe it was just Hollie’s intrinsically good nature.
But listening to Hollie talk to her sister on the phone or talk about Autumn and how proud she was—I couldn’t help but think about David.
Since he’d sold the business to Sparkle, I’d not only cut him out of my life but cut him out of my memories, out of my brain.
I had done my best not to even think about him.
But over the last few weeks, the unanswered questions I had for him were all clamoring for attention in my mind.
“Come in,” I called to the knock at the door.
Primrose came in together with Frank. I could tell by their expressions that the bracelet would be fine. If they’d not believed it to be perfect, they would be downcast and miserable. These two lived for their work just as I did. “You two look happy,” I said.
“Satisfied,” Primrose said. Frank just mumbled under his breath because Frank was never satisfied.
I sat back in my chair and Primrose set a black velvet tray in front of me that contained the fruits of all our labor.
I took a breath in relief. The one thing I’d been worried about was the clasp on the bracelet, but I could see without touching it, it was perfect.
I pulled out a pair of white gloves from my desk drawer and picked it up.
“Very nice,” I said, seeing the changes we’d made to the setting of the diamonds. “It looks much cleaner.”
“I agree. This setting is the better option. But I thought we might put the original setting on the retail version.” If we won, we’d planned to do some limited-edition pieces inspired by the collection.
We’d need to make them different but similar enough that people thought they were wearing something fit for a princess.
“Yes, that would work,” I said. “And we should bring in a different stone. Given that we’ve just gone with the diamonds and the Zambian emerald, we should steer away from that scheme and do sapphires and rubies with diamonds.
” I checked over the bracelet—turning it in my hands, looking at it through my loupe—despite the fact I knew that Frank and Primrose wouldn’t have brought it to me unless it was perfect.
“I’m happy,” I announced.
Frank’s expression didn’t change. I swear if I told him he’d just won the lottery he would remain dour and serious. He was always focused on what wasn’t right and determined to make it better. That’s why I employed him.
“Good,” Primrose said. “Shall we go through our normal agenda?”
Frank stood and took the tray and bracelet from in front of me before leaving me with Primrose.
“I got your email,” she said as she closed the door.
“I can talk directly to the design consultants if that’s easier,” I said. I was surprised I hadn’t gotten a call from Primrose as soon as I’d sent her the email asking her to go and see a Knightsbridge property with some design consultants.
“No, I’m happy to go with Beck. From the brief, you want to know a rough outline of display space. To see if it’s financially viable . . . right?”
“Exactly,” I said, sitting back in my chair. I was waiting for the question Primrose would be dying to ask me.
“So come on, Dexter, why the sudden change of heart? Now you want to open in London? After all these years?”
“It’s time,” I said. I’d spent long enough trying to erase painful memories of my parents, and avoiding the city where they’d grown their business.
“Being in this competition and seeing people my parents used to work with or compete against has been . . . Well, it’s not been as difficult as I expected.
” I’d enjoyed hearing people’s stories about my parents.
It was good to see familiar, if now older, faces.
“I’m so very glad to hear it,” Primrose said, shuffling forward in her seat. “You would make them so proud. Everything you’ve built—it’s quite extraordinary.”
“I did it for them,” I said.
Silence settled between us. Their death had been so raw at the beginning, the only thing I could do to survive was to push it away.
But the edges had softened, and although I still missed them and wished I’d spent the last fifteen years being able to seek their advice and see their smiles, now I could just be grateful for what they’d given me.
“I want to ask you something and I want you to tell me the truth,” I said.
When Primrose and I first started working together, she’d made a number of attempts to try to talk to me about my brother.
I’d been very clear if she ever brought him up to me again, not only could she no longer work for me, but I couldn’t have anything to do with her.
I hadn’t wanted to hear any excuses about what he’d done.
The actions he’d taken were unforgivable.
Nothing could be said or done that could undo his betrayal, or even justify it.
She’d agreed and from that day, had never mentioned him.
From time to time I did wonder if she’d stayed in touch with him, whether they swapped Christmas cards or saw each other at all. “Are you in touch with my brother?”
She sat back in her chair as if I’d hit her.
My heart began to thud as I waited for her reply. I wasn’t sure what I wanted her to say. Did I want her to have stayed in touch with David? What did it mean if she had? Would I be pleased he still had a connection to our parents through Primrose?
Primrose’s gaze was in her lap. “Dexter, I don’t want this to be an issue between us.”
“It won’t be,” I snapped. Primrose could make her own decisions. “I never asked you not to see him. It’s none of my business. I just specified that you were never to speak to me about him. I was wondering whether you saw him—whether you see him still.”
She cleared her throat. “I do.”
I wanted her to elaborate but she stayed silent, no doubt honoring the request I’d made of her.
It said something that Primrose had maintained a connection.
I couldn’t help being curious as to what kept her in contact with David.
“Okay,” I said, changing the subject. “I’m not in a rush to open in London, but if the Knightsbridge property works, we should be ready.
Let’s work up what Daniels & Co would look like in London. Are you okay to liaise with the team?”
“Certainly,” she replied. “I’m really happy you’re—”
“It makes good business sense,” I said, shattering any kind of emotional lens she wanted to see this through.
“How are you and Hollie?” she asked. “She’s getting on very well in the role. She’s got a real eye—an instinct.”
I tried not to grin and agree too readily. “I’m pleased. No special treatment though. She’d hate that.” Hollie never expected anything she didn’t work for, and it was one of the things I liked most about her.
“No, she gets treated like an intern. But I like her. That’s all.”
“Good,” I said. “I like her too. In fact, she’s going to be staying with me for the rest of her time in London.” We’d not talked too much about the future, but I couldn’t see a time when I didn’t want to be with Hollie. “It makes sense.”
“I think that’s wonderful, Dexter. You deserve someone worthy of you.”
It was an interesting phrase to use. “I surround myself with good people, Primrose. Same as you do.” I just wasn’t sure how her relationship with my brother fitted.
“I just wonder if historically, there’s been a gap,” she replied. “Things have shifted for you in recent months, Dexter. You’re thinking about opening in London. You’re facing things from your past and investing in your future.”
I’d opened the door to this conversation but it was getting drafty. I wanted to put my shoulder to the wood and press it closed.
“I’m pleased for you,” she continued. “You might want to consider whether it’s time to hear the whys of the past.” That was cryptic.
“Good people don’t suddenly turn bad, Dexter, but sometimes they’re put in a position where they have to make a choice and every option is dreadful.
” Without saying his name, she was talking about David, trying to make excuses for his betrayal.
She stood, leaned across the table and pressed her hand over mine before heading out.
I wasn’t about to accept he was a good person, but lately I’d become more curious about the why.