Chapter 48: Demanding Ruby

"Hello," Emily said, entering yet another clothing boutique, "Is Ruby around?"

The chimes rang out cheerily as she opened the door, but the woman behind the counter was not so cheery.

Emily was on the hunt for a buyer. Since her website brought no customers, she took some of her best pieces with her and showed them to smaller clothing stores around the city.

Byron had offered to help her, and she could have let Byron give her another good deal on some store space, like he had with her art studio, but she didn't want to completely be propped up by him. If boutique owners liked her designs, she could let them sell the stuff on commission and work her way up to the big stores, or having her own business with a store front one day.

"I'm Ruby," said the woman behind the counter. She had a girlishly pretty face with big eyes, but her mouth was set in a stern line. "Are you the one who contacted me about some dresses?"

Emily had visited a few boutiques already, and none of them were inte