Chapter 29
Sky
I didn't summon Lil to my father's office. Instead, I'm on my way to her, hoping she'll recognize my goodwill. I've swapped my high heels and business attire for sneakers and boyfriend jeans. I'm sweating under the snug wool sweater even though it's too thin for early January.
My steps echo through the hallway, and the documents in my left hand are getting damp.
By the time I reach her office, I'm so out of breath that I need to pause and catch my breath before opening the door.
"Hey," I say softly upon entering. "Happy New Year."
Lil looks up from her computer. Her desk is cluttered with folders, loose papers, and magazines. There's hardly a free spot, and the corners of individual sheets are wedged beneath the keyboard.
"Can I disturb you for a moment?" I close the door behind me and smile openly at her. The rustling sound of the documents, which my fingers keep fidgeting with, fills the modernly furnished room.
"What's up?" She swivels her chair to face me, her expression conveying sober professionalism.
I gesture to the chair beside her desk. She huffs in annoyance but at least nods. As I sit down, I search for the right words. I had them on the way here, but now my mind is blank.
"I'm sorry," I say meekly, my shoulders slumping.
She raises an eyebrow and crosses her arms. "Oh really? What exactly are you sorry for?"
"That I was such an idiot." My attempt at a shrug is as unsuccessful as my apologetic smile. "I've made so many mistakes, and I know I can't undo them. But I'd do anything to start fresh with both of us."
Lines form on her forehead as she tilts her head to the side. "Is that your New Year's resolution?"
Summoning all my courage, I stand and crouch down in front of her. "Tell me what I can do, Lil. What do you need to forgive me?"
She gazes at me. She doesn't respond for minutes, and I endure the silence. "Why did you leave me alone?" she finally asks.
I can't answer that question.
Only the truth matters , Kjell's deep voice whispers, and his words resonate within me now, just as they did back then.
What if I'm at least honest with her?
Lil used to be not only my only friend but also my best friend. We shared everything with each other. What will she think when she learns I've been lying to her today?
Kjell's stories about his parents' lie flutter through my thoughts. His disappointment, anger, and the painful experience of being stripped of his reality in an instant.
It's a new year. A fresh start.
That's what I've committed to.
"My father wanted it this way," I confess. It feels strange to reveal this to her, but it's good. It allows me to breathe a little easier. "He banned me from any contact."
She shakes her head in disbelief. "But why?"
I set the documents aside, sit on the office floor, and lean against the cabinet behind Lil's desk. Then I nod toward the spot beside me, and to my surprise, she takes a seat.
I tell her everything, from the drugs and the fashion show to therapy, dancing, and the dance academy I secured a spot in with my father's money. I share about Paris and about Aurora, to whom I've never revealed a word about my past.
"I kept my promise," I say meaningfully as I look at her. "Until now."
Lil nods thoughtfully and then pulls me into her arms. "I'm so sorry," she breathes into my hair.
I shake my head against her shoulder. "No, I'm sorry," I reply and let my tears flow freely. An overwhelming sense of relief washes over me. I inhale deeply, and my chest rises without resistance.
Lil strokes my back. "You have to tell the others too. This will change everything."
I can't. Telling her or Kjell the truth and breaking my father's instructions is already a big step. I can't go any further. "Please don't tell anyone, Lil. My father would..." I stop myself, not wanting to articulate what could happen.
"Yes, he would," Lil responds, having apparently experienced firsthand in recent years how uncompromising he can be and how stubbornly he clings to his principles.
I dry my cheeks. "As for the employees, I had a different idea." And with her support, it might actually work.
"Tell me more," she says with an attentive gaze.
I quickly get up to fetch my documents. "I've been searching for something that could make up for the mistake in Milan since I returned to Stockholm last week. I've been researching, thinking, and playing out different scenarios." With the printouts in hand, I sit back down beside her. "This is what I found."
I hand her the documents, which she immediately opens. "A job posting?"
"It's more like a competition," I say, pointing at the text. "Chloe Morrigan will wear the winning dress at the Oscars. Right after her nomination, her management released the competition."
Lil's eyes widen. "Chloe Morrigan? Wow, that's..."
"An incredible opportunity!" I feel the same excitement bubbling up inside me as I did when I discovered the announcement on the internet earlier this morning. "Chloe is incredibly popular. Imagine the publicity if she wears a Touch av lyx dress. It would bring more prestige than any fashion show."
This competition is my chance to get the employees back on board. It's an opportunity for me to show them that I care about them, that I want to fight for the label with them and not against them.
"The submission deadline is on the fourteenth of February. If we make it to the shortlist, we'll get to showcase our design as part of a show, and that's where the decision will be made," I explain while shifting around on the floor, unable to find a comfortable sitting position. "What do you think, Lil?"
She reads the competition details for a second time, then finally nods tentatively. "It won't be easy. No entry requirements exist, so even the smallest labels will seize this opportunity. The competition will be enormous, but it could work."
That's exactly what I wanted to hear. I let out a joyful shout and hug her, swaying her back and forth. My thoughts then turn to the next step. How do I tell the employees? And how do I get them on board?
"Could you organize a staff meeting?" I ask Lil with excitement. "Early tomorrow morning?"
She pushes away from me and looks at me with an expression that holds not only friendship but also pride and admiration. "I'd be more than happy to."
"Thank you, Lil," I say, touched, blinking away the tears that threaten to well up in my eyes once again. While I had hoped for this conversation to go well, I hadn't dared to expect it. At the same time, I realize who I owe all this to.
Kjell.
He was the one who first made me think that I don't have to pretend to be understood or respected. He's the one who got me thinking about the truth and its significance during my time on ?land. While his suggestion for the interview was wildly exaggerated, he was partly right.
Telling Lil everything has lifted a weight off my shoulders. I feel liberated, and at the same time, a new sense of hope is kindling within me: Lil and I might become friends again someday.
After a long hug, I bid farewell to Lil and head back to my father's office. Fueled by what just happened, I make my next decision.
I'll also confide in Aurora. She's been my best friend for years, and I don't want to keep lying to her. Since I can't reach her, I leave her a message asking her to call me back, and then I enter the office.
I look around thoughtfully. This ostentatious CEO office doesn't suit me. I'll move to another office, one that's available. Once that's done, I'll call Kjell. Until now, I wasn't sure if it was a good idea to see him again. After his suggestion to talk to the press, I had doubts about whether the thing with him was right. I was afraid of falling in love with him all over again and thought that it might make me blind and foolish once more, albeit in a different way.
But what just happened has shown me that the opposite might be true. Being with him might be exactly right, and tonight, I want to find out if he feels the same way.