Chapter 3 Chapter 3

"I figured you'd be tired of making drinks for everyone else." Tony pushed a small paper bag toward her. "Blueberry scone too. You mentioned once that they're your favourite."

Iris didn't remember telling him that. Had she? The conversation at the table weeks ago had been brief, focused on her designs. She took a careful sip of her latte, buying time to study him. He seemed genuinely at ease, no hint of the calculated charm she'd grown to recognise in others who wanted something from her.

"So," she said, pulling out her laptop, "I've drafted a preliminary business plan. I'm focusing on launching the online store first, using the prize money as startup capital."

Tony nodded, leaning forward slightly. "Smart move. Lower overhead, wider potential audience. May I?" He gestured toward her computer.

Iris hesitated, her instinct to protect her work warring with the practical need for guidance. After a moment, she turned the screen toward him.

"This is... really thorough," Tony said after scanning through several pages. "Most people miss half these considerations when starting out."

"I've been planning this since I was sixteen," Iris said, breaking off a piece of scone. "My parents couldn't afford design school without the scholarship, so I taught myself business basics from library books."

Tony's expression changed slightly, a flicker of something she couldn't quite read. "That's impressive." He pointed to a section of her financial projections. "You might want to reconsider your initial inventory quantities, though. These numbers are conservative, which is good, but they might be too conservative given the recognition from the competition."

For the next hour, they discussed supply chains, marketing strategies, and website development. Tony never spoke down to her or explained concepts she already understood. Instead, he asked thoughtful questions that made her reconsider certain assumptions and offered suggestions that built on her existing framework.

"What about applying for a small business grant?" he asked, pointing to her startup costs. "There are several programs specifically for young entrepreneurs, especially women in design."

Iris shook her head. "I've looked into those. However, in most cases, you need to be older, and I’m only 19. I think that most need you to be 25. That’s not going to work. There’s a new competition next month, but it's not just jewellery design this time, it’s a full collection. The Lawson family is running it in recognition of their missing daughter for her 20th birthday, The Love and Longing.”

Tony's eyebrows shot up. "The Lawson competition? That's major. The prize is what, fifty thousand?"

"And a mentorship with their design team," Iris added, trying to keep her voice level despite the excitement bubbling inside her. "But the competition will be fierce. Every design student in the country will be submitting."

"After winning Metropolitan, you've got a solid shot," Tony said, leaning back in his chair. "Your aesthetic is unique; it stands out without trying too hard."

Iris felt her cheeks warm at the compliment. She wasn't used to hearing praise for her work from anyone outside her family. "I'm still working on the collection. It needs to be cohesive but showcase range."

"When's the deadline?"

"Three weeks," Iris said, pulling up her calendar. "I've been sketching between shifts, it's just the designs in this competition, only one left to finish, although those who place will go into a new competition for later in the year to show off the completed pieces at a fashion show run by the Lawsons later in the year. The Lawsons are bigwigs in shipping, but I think this is to mark 20 years since Roxanne Lawson was born and then just disappeared. I believe the case has gone cold.”

The irony wasn’t lost on her; she shared the same birthday as the missing heiress, but she was found on the doorstep of a fire station.

Tony's eyes widened slightly at the mention of Roxanne Lawson, his fingers suddenly still against the rim of his coffee cup. "Right, the Lawson case. Pretty tragic."

Iris nodded, not noticing his change in demeanour as she pulled up her sketches for the competition on her tablet. "I've been researching the family's aesthetic preferences. Their style tends toward classic elegance with unexpected modern elements."

"You've really done your homework," Tony said, his voice sounding slightly strained to Iris's ears.

She glanced up, wondering if she'd bored him with her detailed analysis. "Sorry, I tend to get carried away with the research part. Habit from growing up without connections, I guess."

"No, it's impressive," Tony said quickly. "Most designers just focus on their own vision without considering what might appeal to the judges."

Iris shrugged, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "My parents taught me to be practical. Dreams are great, but you need a strategy to make them happen."

“Why is the 24th of January highlighted on your calendar?” Tony asked.

“It's my 20th Birthday, ah, I don’t talk about it much, being adopted and all. I know the same day as the competition is drawn and the missing heiress's birthday, sorry, I’ve heard it like a million times. So are my four brothers.”

Tony stared at her, his coffee forgotten. "You were born on January 24th, too?"

Iris felt a prickle of discomfort at his sudden intensity. "Yeah, and left at a fire station with nothing but a blanket and a little iris flower pin, hours later. Hence the name." She shifted in her seat, wondering why this detail seemed to affect him so much. "It's not that unusual. Lots of kids get abandoned."

"Right, of course," Tony said, his expression smoothing quickly. "Sorry, just a coincidence that caught me off guard."

Iris studied him for a moment. There was something different about his posture now, a tension that hadn't been there before. But she had more important things to focus on than Tony's strange reaction to her birthday.

"Anyway, back to the business plan," she said, tapping her screen. "I've calculated that if I win the Lawson competition, I could potentially open a physical storefront by next year instead of my original three-year timeline."

Tony nodded, but his eyes seemed distant. "That would be amazing."

"Are you okay?" Iris finally asked, her patience wearing thin. "You seem distracted."