Chapter 19 - New York State of Mind
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Four months later, I was standing on the second-floor balcony of my brand-new flagship store on Mercer Street in SoHo, New York.
The store was breathtaking. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows, polished concrete floors, minimalist brass fixtures, and rows of midnight-blue silk suits hanging under warm architectural lighting.
Outside, a line of customers stretched halfway down the block waiting for the doors to open for our grand opening event.
My parents had flown in from Omaha for the opening. My dad was wearing a custom navy blazer I had made for him, standing near the entrance beaming with pride, taking photos of every person who walked through the door. My mom was chatting animatedly with Madame Laurent near the main display.
Marcus Brody walked up the balcony stairs holding two glasses of champagne, handing one to me.
“Look at this, Sullivan,” Marcus chuckled, gesturing toward the bustling street below. “Not bad for a girl who threw a ring at a millionaire in a hotel ballroom.”
I clinked my glass against his. “The ring was platinum, Marcus. It had good weight.”
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We both laughed, looking out over the crowded store. My brand, Catherine Sullivan, was now a recognized international name. I had a team of twelve tailors working under me, an executive assistant, and full creative control over my destiny.
I was no longer the quiet fiancée standing in the corner of someone else’s ballroom. I was the master of my own house.
