The collection was called Gilded Butterfly, a celebration of precious metals and their versatility in conveying design. Every piece could be personalized, and some necklaces could be mixed and matched. The pieces ranged from affordable (a chunky sterling silver necklace chain) to extravagant (a twenty-four-karat gold cuff bracelet). Gemma’s favorite pieces were the stacked rings, sleek and modern in brushed metals. Here, too, they had affordable single rings that could be collected over time for the dramatic look of half a dozen on a finger. On the higher end, customers could buy pave diamond versions with upcycled stones. The important thing was, there was something for everyone. A philosophy cemented by the company’s first new tagline in seventy years: “Treat Yourself Like Gold.”

Gemma’s decision to work for Pavlin & Co had, ultimately, been a simple one. It was what she wanted. And then, one night over drinks with Elodie at the Carlyle, she learned she wasn’t the only one who wanted it all along. “I finally realize why my mother made you one of the signatories on the private collection,” Elodie said.

“So you couldn’t sell?” Gemma said.

“No. She wanted you to be at Pavlin & Co. She knew it was your rightful place, even when I didn’t want to see it.”

Yes, GEMMA the brand had been her own. But Pavlin & Co was bigger than herself. And she knew she had the vision to bring it into the future and ensure that it was around for many generations to come.

The door opened again, revealing a frazzled-looking Celeste.

“Goodness. That was . . . challenging,” she said, leaning against the closed door as if warding off a tornado. “Jack’s looking for parking.”

“Are we ready, Gemma?” asked security. She glanced over at Elodie and she gave a nod.

With that, the front doors were opened and the press flooded in like weary travelers discovering a roadside all-you-can-eat buffet. She knew Sanjay would have loved to be taking photos himself. But tonight, he wasn’t a photographer. Tonight, he was her fiancé, and she needed him by her side.

He proposed just two nights earlier. She didn’t see it coming. Sure, they’d been living together for the past year, and he photographed the new ad campaign for Pavlin & Co, and they were madly in love. But that evening, she was so stressed about the impending launch, she barely mustered the enthusiasm to go along with his idea to take a walk.

They strolled the East River promenade past Carl Schurz Park. It was one of those perfect spring evenings, with the tulip beds in bloom and the sunlight hitting the river in a way that made it look as dazzling as a Swiss lake. They were almost at Gracie Mansion when Sanjay got down on the ground. She thought at first that he’d dropped something, but then he looked up at her with those deep dark eyes that had become her home.