Chapter 17

• Eloise
• The crisp December air stung my cheeks as I hurried into the bustling café, clutching a portfolio of sketches close to my chest. Inside, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mixed with the hum of conversations, but the warmth of the room did little to settle the knot in my stomach.
• My calendar was packed with meetings, pitches, and endless hours of designing. Starting a jewelry business sounded glamorous in theory, but the reality was grueling. Every conversation seemed to end in rejection or a polite, “We’ll think about it.” Every blank stare from potential investors felt like a personal failure.