Chapter 180
“They’re six months old. They move like greased lightning.”
“Which is why we make a good team. You handle strategy, I handle execution.”
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Elara finally got Catherine dressed and sat back with a sigh. “Remind me why we’re bringing babies to a wedding reception?”
“Because Mimi specifically requested their presence. Something about them being good luck.”
“Mimi said that while drunk on champagne. I don’t think it counts.”
But they loaded the twins into their car seats anyway and drove to the venue where Mimi and Dante’s reception was already in full swing. The newlyweds were on the dance floor looking blissfully happy while guests mingled around them.
“There they are!” Mimi rushed over and immediately tried to steal Catherine from Elara’s arms. “The most beautiful babies in New York. Yes you are. Don’t tell your mother I said that.”
“I’m standing right here.”
“You’re beautiful too but these two are in their formal wear looking like tiny CEOs. It’s unfair.”
Marcus spent the next two hours making small talk and keeping one eye on the clock. At exactly nine-thirty he caught Elara’s attention and jerked his head toward the exit.
“We should get going,” he said when she came over. “The twins are getting fussy.”
Elara looked at Alexander who was perfectly content chewing on his own fist. “He seems fine.”
“Trust me. He’s about to have a meltdown.”
They said their goodbyes and headed to the car. Marcus drove toward home but took a detour down Spring Street, watching Elara’s face to see when she’d notice.
“This isn’t the way home,” she said after a few minutes.
“I know. I want to show you something.”
“Marcus, it’s almost ten o’clock and we have two babies who need to be in bed.”
“It’ll take five minutes. I promise.”
He pulled up in front of the boutique and parked in the loading zone. The space looked even better than he’d hoped, the interior lighting creating a warm glow that spilled onto the sidewalk.
“What is this?” Elara asked.
“Come see.”
Marcus got out and came around to help Elara with Catherine while he grabbed Alexander. They walked to the door and Marcus handed her the keys.
17:10 Mon, May 11 M
Chapter 180
“This it it, open it.”
“Marcus. I don’t understand….”
“Just open it.”
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Elara unlocked the door and pushed it open. The motion sensors triggered the lights and suddenly the entire space was illuminated, showing every perfect detail.
Marcus watched her face as she took it in. The way her eyes widened. The way her hand came up to cover her mouth. The way she just stood there frozen in the doorway.
“What is this?” she whispered.
“It’s yours. Your boutique, I told you I got you one. I bought the building three months ago and had it designed to your specifications.”
“My specifications? I never gave you specifications.”
“You did. Every time we walked past a boutique and you’d point out what you liked or didn’t like. Every time you showed me fashion magazines and talked about what made a space feel luxurious. I was paying
attention.”
Elara walked slowly into the space, her heels clicking on the hardwood. She touched the custom shelving, ran her fingers over the display cases, stared at the chandelier like it might disappear if she looked away.
“Marcus, this is too much. This must have cost…..”
“Don’t. Don’t think about cost.” Marcus set Alexander down in the stroller they’d brought and went to stand beside his wife. “You gave up everything for this family. Your independence, your career trajectory, your entire life plan. You married a stranger and had his babies and dealt with corporate sabotage and murder trials and everything else we’ve been through. You never once complained or asked for anything in return.”
“That’s what marriage is. We’re partners.”
“Exactly. Which means it’s time I invested in your dreams the way you’ve invested in mine. You’ve been talking about fashion and design since I met you. About wanting to create something beautiful and meaningful. So here it is. Your space to do exactly that.”
Elara was crying now, tears streaming down her face as she looked around the boutique. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you’ll use it. Say you’ll build something amazing here.”
“I don’t know the first thing about running a boutique.”
“You’ll learn. And I’ll help. Mimi will help. We’ll hire people who know what they’re doing. But this is yours, El. Your dream, your business, your success.”
Elara threw her arms around him and kissed him hard enough that Marcus forgot where they were for a
moment.
17:10 Mon, May 11 M…
Chapter 180
“Thank you.” she said against his lips. “Thank you for seeing me. For believing in me.”
“Always.”
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They stayed for another hour while Elara explored every corner of the space, already planning where things would go and what she’d stock. Marcus had never seen her this animated, this excited about something that was purely hers.
When they finally left she couldn’t stop looking back at the building.
“Three months,” Marcus said. “I’m giving you three months to plan everything. Then we’re having a grand opening that’ll make every fashion editor in New York show up.”
“Three months? That’s insane. I need at least six to source inventory and hire staff and….”
“Three months. You work better under pressure anyway.”
Elara laughed and squeezed his hand. “You’re going to regret giving me a blank check for this.”
“Never. This is going to be incredible.”
Three months later Marcus stood outside the boutique watching a line of people wrap around the block waiting for the doors to open. Fashion bloggers, magazine editors, celebrities, socialites who’d heard about Elara Thorne’s new venture and wanted to be first through the door.
Elara stood inside looking nervous and beautiful in a dress she’d designed herself, her hands twisting together as she watched the crowd.
“You ready?” Marcus asked through the glass.
She took a deep breath and nodded.
Marcus unlocked the door and stepped aside.
The crowd surged forward and Elara’s boutique opened for business.
17:10 Mon, May 11
