Chapter 33 Complete #2
She stepped aside as I walked past, and I didn’t look back. And that was the last time I made space for Hope in my life.
The moment I returned, Johanna handed me a bottle of water and gave me a subtle nod. Esther was pretending not to stare over my shoulder, clearly itching for the recap.
But I just turned to El and tucked myself under his arm.
“Everything okay?” he asked, his voice quiet.
“Yup. Just need a second.”
He pressed a kiss to my temple, his hand tracing small, soothing circles on my shoulder.
London peeked around the booth wall, eyes wide and urgent. “You good? They’re calling for our set in five.”
El and I exchanged looks. “Of course, ready when you are.”
He grinned and kissed me again, softer this time, just a brush of lips before he let me go.
I moved toward the small backstage area and peeled off my oversized hoodie, revealing the tank top I had deliberately picked for today; the new logo El designed was branded on the front.
My nerves fluttered, but not as badly as I expected.
I’d already weathered the worst part of my morning, emotionally speaking.
Everything else was just hair. And hair? I could handle.
I stepped out onto the small stage space set up in front of the booth. Chelsea and London were already there, lights warming their skin as they talked through their live demo with the mic.
“Okay,” London said with a wide smile, “our next demonstration is by the woman who makes all of this magic happen. The owner, founder, and formulator—Elliot Sawyer-Greene.”
She winked as she passed me the mic. The girls didn’t care that El and I weren’t married yet, and I wasn’t mad at it. Sawyer-Greene felt right.
I took the mic with both hands, steadying myself before I spoke. “Hi,” I said, blinking against the lights. “Thank you for being here. I know there are a million booths and hairlines you could’ve visited today, and I’m so grateful you chose to spend time with ours.”
The crowd quieted. I looked out across the sea of faces—stylists, naturals, mothers, daughters, girls with big curls and bright eyes—and took a breath and placed the mic back in its stand.
“After my father died,” I began, “I moved to Thailand. Not because I had a plan. I didn’t.
I was grieving. Angry. Lost. I didn’t want to be in a city where every corner reminded me of him or what I didn’t get to say.
There, I studied hair care. I learned about herbs and oils extracted directly from fresh ingredients.
I studied my own texture and found pride in it. ”
I held up a jar from the table beside me.
“This product is inspired by that chapter of my life. I made this in my apartment in Phuket. Not because I had a dream of owning a business back then, but because I wanted to prove to myself that I could. I wanted to shake up the beauty world and make a name for myself.”
I unscrewed the lid and scooped out a dollop, rubbing it between my palms. I began gently applying it to my own hair, working the butter into each curl with slow, deliberate motions. The crowd leaned in, cameras at the ready, and people watched like they were witnessing something new.
And maybe they were.
I paused once the product was in, with curls that were soft and full, and set the jar back down.
“And I did,” I boasted slightly as I twirled to show off the refined curls.
Applause rose, warm and growing. “But this isn’t just a hair product.
It’s a love letter. To every girl who grew up being told her hair was too difficult.
To every mother trying to learn how to care for her daughter’s curls.
And especially to women who are trying to start over and love themselves again. ”
I set the jar down and leaned forward just a little. “Which brings me to something I’ve been dying to get off my chest. I chose to debut this new formula here because I’ve been keeping a secret,” I grinned. “One that not even my team knows about.”
A ripple of whispers moved through the crowd. My team, now fully alert, exchanged curious looks. The suspense built. I let it simmer for a moment, my heart beating against my ribs like a drumline.
“We’re expanding! I’m opening a new salon. A full-service natural hair salon and treatment bar… here in Atlanta!”
Cheers erupted like fireworks.
I laughed, covering my mouth, tears threatening the corners of my eyes. “We’ll still be based in L.A., of course, but I’ve been wanting to expand and was too afraid to take the risk, but thankfully, my amazing fiancé convinced me to. And the timing just felt right.”
God, it felt good to finally get that off my chest. When I joked about the idea to El, he was all in.
He suggested we fly in a few days before the expo to look at some spots, and we found one.
I fell in love with the space and the area.
It was definitely what I wanted for our new location.
And, of course, he signed the lease on the same day.
I stepped away from the mic and held my arms out toward the crowd. “Well, it’s time for me to get out of here! Thank you for being here. And thank you for reminding me that even when you’re falling apart… something beautiful can still grow from the pieces.”