Leona, on the other hand, shot Robin a disapproving look. “You worthless thing!” she scolded. “All you ever think about is money. Don’t you realize that this isn’t as simple as it seems? You just might end up shooting yourself in the foot.”
Despite her words, she, too, began to fantasize about the life of comfort that this plan would give them.
Meanwhile, Robin’s release left Stella in a state of turmoil the entire day. It bothered her so much that she could barely focus on work. When she couldn’t take it anymore, she clocked off work early and headed to Bella’s place.
To her surprise, Alissa was also there.
“Stella!” Bella exclaimed in astonishment. “What are you doing here at this time? Didn’t you just launch your fashion brand? You should be neck-deep with work right now.”
Stella mustered a smile and said, “Please. No matter how busy I am, I can still make time to see you.”
Bella laughed. “You’re better off spending that time with Matthew instead. The man lost his memory. Sticking to his side might help him recover it sooner. Just like how spending more time with Alissa has helped me remember some of my past.”
Stella said nothing, and only then did Bella notice the odd look on her face. “Stella, did you have a fight with Matthew?”
Stella quickly denied it with a smile. “Not at all. We’re both just really busy these days. We don’t have much time to talk, let alone fight.”
But Bella was not convinced. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
“Don’t Lie to me, I know you too well. Something is definitely up with you two, Just tell me the truth. If Matthew did something to upset you, I’ll help you get back at him.”
Stella sighed. “It’s really nothing. I’m just a little stressed about the new product launching. It’s my first time managing a brand, after all. I feel a bit overwhelmed, so I’m not exactly in the best mood. It has nothing to do with Matthew.”
Bella still didn’t buy it, but seeing Stella’s firm stance on the matter, she decided not to press further.
“What were you guys talking about just now?” Stella asked, eager to change the subject.
“We were talking about Carly,” Alissa replied. “She’s planning to start an embroidery class, and is looking for a commercial space.”
Then, suddenly thinking of Stella’s brand, she added, “Stella, have you thought about opening a physical store?”
Stella grew quiet. In truth, she had never considered putting up a physical store just yet.
“Most of my orders are made online,” she said after a while. “The studio is mainly for meeting important clients and consultations about the designs. The bulk of the production process is handled by the factories.”
“Your studio is in a rather remote location, and isn’t very spacious at all,” Bella pointed out. “If you want to market your brand to upper society, you will need to have a physical store. Trust me, it will do wonders in boosting your business’s image and consumer awareness.”
Stella listened intently, realizing that Bella’s words held some merit. When Stella had originally chosen her studio, her primary focus had been on creating a peaceful and undisturbed environment.
She hadn’t imagined that one day she would be building her own brand.
After a moment of reflection, Stella said, “I’ll ask Doreen to check if there are any suitable commercial spaces available.”
Alissa’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she replied, “Carly has already scouted some properties. There’s one that seems perfect, and as luck would have it, it’s owned by Prosperity Group. You could reach out to Matthew and ask if it’s reserved. If not, it would save you a lot of hassle.”
Bella chimed in, eagerly listing the property’s advantages. “The location is prime-close to your studio and surrounded by affluent shoppers. There’s a decent amount of foot traffic too. It’s ideal for a high-end brand’s physical store.”