THE NEXT MORNING, Elena peeked through the shutters, which were closed at Stefan’s request. “Are you sure the photographers out there didn’t come with Stefan? They weren’t there yesterday.”
“Neither were those pictures that were posted online.” Penelope shoved a pair of running shoes she’d bought at an airport boutique into her suitcase. Their idyllic visit had come to an abrupt end when shots of her and Elena shopping in Illum, a popular department store, and riding the roller coaster at Tivoli were posted online and members of the press began ringing the apartment at six a.m. As soon as she’d awakened she’d seen the images, which sent chills through her.
She could only imagine that regular people must have posted photos from their phones, which in turn tipped off the tabloids. Grabbing loose clothing from the bed, she stuffed it hastily into the open case, angry over the invasion of privacy.
In the past, she’d always handled recognition graciously, though she’d never felt stalked or cornered before. Copenhagen had always been her refuge. She wondered if there was any place she’d ever feel safe again. “Are you ready?”
“Almost.” Elena flipped the shutter louvers closed.
Stefan waited at a table near the front door. He’d set up his computer and was speaking to his team in California. Penelope could hear him arranging the transportation from the airport to her home, and she was relieved that he was managing this task. The last time she’d tried to go home, she couldn’t even get near it.
Stefan leaned back in his chair. “We need to get to the airport soon.”
Penelope snapped her suitcase shut. “I’m ready.”
Once they were outside, Stefan guided them through the media that was camped outside the door to her apartment and cleared the path to the airport.
As they drove, Stefan checked his phone. “Did you know that another threat has been received?”
Penelope turned in her seat in the car and stared at him. “A threat? Where?”
“It was mailed to your home.”
“I don’t understand, who received it?” Penelope was trying to make sense of what was happening, but she had a lot on her mind. Her housekeeper was away, too. She would have normally checked the mail.
“Evidently, someone got to your mailbox and opened the mail.”
Penelope was horrified. “But I have a locking mailbox.”
“Wait a minute,” Elena spoke up from the backseat. “Isn’t that a federal offense?”
Stefan grinned grimly in the rearview mirror of the black sedan. “Sure, but who’s going to prosecute? Tabloid reporters will risk it to get the story.”
Once they were safely ensconced on the plane, Penelope slipped on headphones and watched movies, though she was unable to relax. The pressure she felt building from canceled jobs was weighing on her mind, and she had to come up with another career plan fast.
She glanced to her side where Elena slept soundly. Across the aisle sat Stefan, who’d remained on relaxed alert throughout the long flight. Penelope wondered how he did it.
Penelope began to pencil out ideas while she formulated a new plan for her future. By the time the flight attendants were serving breakfast and Elena woke up, Penelope had come up with several ideas she thought might be viable.
“Elena, would you be open to producing a private label jewelry line?”
“Depends,” Elena said, sipping her coffee. “Are you talking about a line with your name on it?”
“That’s right. It’s one of the ideas that I’ve been thinking about.”
“Where would you want to sell it?”
“Possibly a shopping network. I’d like to pitch it as a collaboration with you.”
Elena shook her head. “I appreciate that, but with your name you would probably be better off pitching it as your own line, though I can handle the production.” Her brown eyes flashed as she thought about it.
Penelope stretched in her seat.
“What else do you have in mind?” Elena pinched off a piece of a warm croissant.
“Possibly something for television.”
Elena jerked her head up. “You mean, like a reality show?”
“No way. I’ve given up enough privacy. Maybe a contest for new models. I could involve Fianna and have some of her designs showcased on the show.”
“That would be interesting.” Elena appeared thoughtful. “You’ve mentioned diversification in the past. You think it’s time now?”
“At the rate my cancellations are going, I could easily lose the rest of the year. Or more. Once designers and companies start replacing you, it’s hard to get back into the game. I’ve seen it happen to others.”
Elena nodded thoughtfully. “Have you thought of working with Fianna on a fashion line?”
“I have. And I’m already working with Dahlia on a fragrance and with Olga Kaminsky on a High Gloss color line.” Frowning, she made a note to talk to Dahlia about the fragrances she’d created for her. The negative media attention could have adverse effects, and she wanted to warn her about her production quantity.
“Sounds like you’re pretty busy already.”
“I need to get serious about it now and figure out how to increase volume.” What she was concerned about, but didn’t say, was that Olga could discontinue the line if the negative press began to affect sales. She would also try to limit exposure in some way for Elena. “I have a lot more to learn about entrepreneurship.”
“I’ll help you as much as I can,” Elena said. “It was a struggle to make the first few sales. Then, it was a battle to produce enough inventory. Now, I’m concerned about the turnover of the inventory, and taking the line to a higher artistic level.”
Penelope nodded, listening. “That’s a lot to consider.”
“And I’ve done it all on a shoestring budget. Now I’m at the point where I have to consider growth and distribution. For example, do I continue to sell exclusively in my store, or do I begin to sell into department stores?”
“Why wouldn’t you sell to department stores?”
“There’s plenty to think about, such as lower margins, increased advertising and sales support, higher inventory costs, and less control over sales.” Elena laughed. “And that’s just the beginning.”
“Then there’s a lot to think about before we start talking about designs.”
“That’s the part I love most. It’s why I do what I do. I feel like there’s this wellspring of creativity that comes bubbling out of me and I have to serve it in order to feel complete as an artist. Does that make sense?”
Penelope had observed this in her other friends, from Verena to Fianna to Dahlia. Each of them envisioned and created things they loved—skincare, fashion, and perfume. They put their own unmistakable stamp on their creations. It was the authenticity, excellence, and point of view that attracted women to their products.
Could she do the same? From working with designers, she knew success often came down to branding, so it was up to her to determine what her personal brand would be. That was the vision she needed to develop first, and then she could decide where to go with it.
Penelope stirred her coffee. “You’ve been a great help, Elena. You’ve given me a lot to think about before I take the plunge.”
She sipped her coffee and eased back in her seat. From the corner of her eye, she could see Stefan watching her. He’d been listening to her conversation with Elena, yet he showed no sign of interest. Is this the way it’s going to be between us? Then she remembered that Stefan was arranging a female bodyguard to work with her in Los Angeles. With a jolt, she realized she would miss him.
Then she wondered what it would take for him to stay.