Chapter 39
CALLUM
Istood at the front of the store, watching through the glass doors as the line of people stretched down the block.
The energy was electric even from inside.
Women in designer outfits with their phones out to document every minute of it.
We had the press posted out front as well.
I was surprised by how many men were in line.
This was it—the day we’d been building toward for months. What started as an idea and then a dream was finally becoming reality.
Victoria stood beside me and took my hand. “Look at them,” she whispered. “They’re practically vibrating.”
“They should be,” I said, squeezing her fingers. “This is going to be something special.”
My family had gathered in a cluster behind us.
Cleo kept smoothing her dress, her nervous energy practically visible.
She had several appointments lined up for the day.
Brides that wanted a Blackwell original.
She was already talking about opening up a separate store just for our wedding business.
I told her I was on board as long as she handled all the construction and design, which she seemed excited about.
“Thirty seconds,” Adrian called out, checking his watch.
I felt a surge of pride mixed with something close to panic. We’d done everything right. Every detail had been planned and executed perfectly. But standing here, about to open the doors to the public for the first time, I couldn’t help but wonder if it would all be enough.
Victoria leaned close. “You ready?”
I looked down at her and into those eyes that made me feel like I could do anything. “With you here, hell yes.”
Adrian called out the final countdown, and at precisely ten o’clock, he turned the key in the lock and swung the doors open. He had asked me if I wanted to do it, but I thought it made more sense for the CEO to do it.
“Welcome,” he announced as the first customers streamed in, their eyes widening at the space.
The reaction was immediate. Gasps, excited whispers, phones raised to capture the moment. The store came alive with energy as people spread out, exploring every corner of the carefully curated space.
I stepped back, Victoria still beside me, and watched as the store filled with people. It was finally happening.
“Not bad,” Victoria said, nudging my shoulder. “Not bad at all.”
I pulled her close and kissed her temple.
Adrian and my cousins approached, looking around with obvious satisfaction. My father stood nearby, talking to my mother, both of them beaming with pride.
“Impressive,” Adrian said, clapping me on the shoulder. “Very impressive.”
“You did well,” Briggs added.
Sebastian and Dash nodded their agreement.
I felt a swell of pride at their approval.
My cousins had built an empire, and now we were expanding it to the West Coast with this flagship store.
I was glad I could help them make it happen.
Adrian had been pretty nervous about not overseeing the work himself, but with Bucky around, he wanted to spend time with his family.
“We wanted to talk to you about something,” Adrian said.
I glanced at Victoria, who gave me an encouraging nod before drifting toward Cleo to give us space.
“We’ve been discussing the management structure,” Adrian continued. “With the store opening, we need someone here in LA who understands the business, the family values, and has the vision to keep it growing.”
I nodded, waiting for him to continue.
“None of us are planning to leave New York,” he said, gesturing to his brothers. “So we’ve decided we need someone local to run the West Coast operations. Someone we trust. Someone who’s family.”
The implication hung in the air between us. There had been a lot of discussion about who would run things. I was willing to help get it off the ground, but that was the extent of my involvement.
“We want you to take over,” Adrian said simply. “Run the store. Expand as needed. Make this the cornerstone of our West Coast presence.”
I looked at the store, at the beautiful space we’d created, and the customers already making purchases. It was everything I could have hoped for when we started this project.
I shook my head slowly. “I’m honored, but I can’t.”
Adrian’s eyebrows shot up. “Why not? You’ve done incredible work here.”
“This was your dream,” I said, gesturing toward the brothers. “Your vision.”
“But you’re the one who made it happen,” Briggs insisted. “You’re the business mind we need here.”
“I appreciate that,” I said. “But I have a wedding business to run, and now Cleo is already branching off into a separate retail space for the wedding stuff. So get ready for that conversation.”
I looked across the room at Victoria, who was chatting with Bernadette. She caught my eye and smiled. I felt that familiar surge of emotion. I knew what I wanted now, and it wasn’t running a store, even one as beautiful as this.
“Have you considered Drew?” I asked.
Adrian looked at me as if I’d suggested he hire a golden retriever to manage the floor.
“Drew,” he repeated flatly.
“He was here every step of the way,” I said. “The construction, the vendors, the setup. He knows this space better than anyone besides me. And he actually seemed to enjoy it.” I paused. “When’s the last time you saw Drew genuinely enjoy something work-related?”
Adrian was quiet for a moment. I watched him turn the idea over.
“He’s not exactly known for his discipline,” Adrian said carefully.
“He’s not known for being given real responsibility either,” I said. “He made a lot of smart investments and has been playing the market these last few years. I think he’s looking for a different kind of challenge.”
Another pause. Longer this time.
“That might actually work,” Adrian said slowly, like the idea surprised him. “He knows the brand. He knows the family.”
“He knows how to talk to people,” I added. “You’ve seen him in a room. Put him in a store full of beautiful things and point him at wealthy customers and see what happens.”
My brother Beau laughed, overhearing the conversation. “He’d be insufferable about it.”
“Probably,” I agreed. “But he’d be good at it.”
I could see Adrian working through the logistics in his head.
“I’ll talk to him,” Adrian said finally.
Before I could respond, my father appeared. “You’re not trying to hire more of my children away from me, are you? I think there’s some confusion about our family business versus your family’s business.”
Adrian held up both hands. “Max, I want you to know this was entirely your son’s idea.”
“Which son? I have several and they’re all trouble.”
“Callum suggested Drew,” Beau offered helpfully.
Dad looked at me. I shrugged. “I don’t want to do it. I have enough on my plate and I don’t want to work all the time.”
“Drew,” he said, mulling it over. “You know what, that’s not the worst idea I’ve ever heard. The boy needs something to sink his teeth into.” He shook his head slowly. “Although I reserve the right to say I told you so.”
“Adrian, your wife is trying to get your attention,” Beau said.
“Excuse me,” Adrian said.
Beau drifted away as well, leaving me with Dad.
He put his hand on my shoulder and looked me straight in the eyes.
“I’m proud of you,” he said. “I want you to know that. Not for the store, though the store is extraordinary.” He glanced around the space briefly, taking it in. “For who you are. For how you did this. I know it was a lot, but I never doubted you could handle it.”
I nodded. “Thanks, Dad. It’s no movie production, but it was a hell of a circus.”
He clapped me on the arm and moved back into the crowd. My mother appeared at his side almost immediately. The two of them were like magnets. They always found each other. Even after all the years, they had defied the Hollywood odds and made it work.
I watched them for a moment and imagined myself at their age with Victoria.
I was pulled back into the chaos. The store was humming. Every corner of it was occupied, every display case drawing someone close. I could hear Cleo’s voice walking a woman through the details of a gown. Drew was near the entrance charming a group of women who had arrived together.
I moved through the crowd until I got to Victoria’s side. She had a glass of champagne she wasn’t really drinking and was watching the room. Bernadette had moved on. Victoria was alone for a moment in the middle of all of it, just taking it all in.
I came up beside her and kissed her cheek. “What do you think?”
“I think you’re going to need a bigger store or another location.”
I slipped my arm around her waist and she leaned into me. Her head came to rest against my shoulder. I pressed my lips to her hair. “Let’s go,” I said.
“Go? The doors just opened.”
“The store is open,” I said. “My work here is done.”
She thought about it and then laughed. “I suppose you’re right.”
“Let’s go upstairs,” I said. “We’ll still be on site but not in the middle of this chaos.”
I led her to the stairs leading to the second floor, where the office was. This floor wasn’t open to the public yet, but that was something for someone else to figure out.
The quiet took over. I pulled her into my arms. We swayed back and forth. “I love you,” I said.
“I love you.”
She tilted her face up to mine. I kissed her slowly. Her hands pressed against my chest as she leaned into me. I forgot all about the people browsing through the floor below us.
I walked her backward a step until her shoulders met the wall.
She made a soft sound against my mouth that I felt everywhere.
I hadn’t thought about anything but a little peace when I brought her up here, but I was thinking of a lot more now.
I pulled back just enough to look at her.
Her eyes were still closed for half a second before they opened and found mine.
“Damn, I want you,” I said.
“No way. There are way too many people around.”
“Probably,” I agreed, and kissed her again anyway.
She laughed into my mouth.
“Okay, we clearly had the same idea,” I heard someone say.
I pulled back. Victoria’s eyes went wide.
Dash was standing in the room with Krista beside him. Krista had her hand pressed over her mouth. Her shoulders were shaking with laughter.
“Unbelievable,” I said.
“We were just looking for somewhere quiet,” Dash said.
“I’m sorry,” Krista said. “We didn’t realize the space was occupied. Should we take a number?”
Dash was grinning like a damn fool. I rolled my eyes.
“Give us a second,” I said.
“You don’t have to,” Victoria said. “We were just headed back down.”
“Sure you were,” Dash teased.
I took Victoria’s hand and led her to the stairs. I shot Dash a dirty look. “Not cool and I will remember this.”
They both laughed as I led Victoria downstairs and back into the crowd. It was probably for the best. If Dash and Krista had walked up two minutes later, they would have seen way more than me kissing Victoria.