“It’s clearly not, but also, you must be deranged if you think you can pull this off.” She crosses her arms over her chest and leans a hip against the counter. Sophie’s always been more tightly wound and risk-averse than I am. Design is her release; she relaxes when she sketches out a new piece. I can see her gearing up to slip into big sister mode. “Have you called Mom and Dad? Have you thought ahead to what’s going to happen when you don’t actually wind up getting married to anyone? Are you just going to string people along forever? And how, exactly, are you planning to take that ring from the shop without paying for it? Because if you borrow it indefinitely, we’re losing out on money there.”

I put up my hands in defense. “I’ll figure it out. I’ll call Mom and Dad back. It’ll work out somehow.”

She slumps over the counter, rubbing a hand over her face. Her own (real) engagement ring, an Art Deco, emerald-and-diamond piece she sourced at an estate sale, glints back at me. She and Liv got married three years ago on the coast of Maine.

“I’m worried this could backfire on us,” she says. “You know, hurt the business.”

That’s a more legitimate concern. But there are certain entrepreneurs—Whitney Wolfe Herd of Bumble, Emily Weiss of Into the Gloss and Glossier, and Leandra Medine Cohen of Man Repeller—whose businesses are bolstered because the founders have enviable lives. Maybe I can be one of those. Maybe that’s the reason today is already one of the most successful days in our company’s short history.

“I’m going to make this work,” I say. “I promise.”

Sure enough, it’s a shockingly good day at the shop. Three more online orders roll in; though none are as big as the first, combined, they pay a month’s worth of rent for my apartment. Sophie busies herself by packaging them up and shipping them out. Two more blogs pick up my “news” and write fawning stories about me and the company. The @brooklynjewels account blows up with new followers. The energy in the shop is frantic but hopeful.

At noon, a girl about my age wanders in. Jess is supposed to take the lead with customers, but Sophie and I are equipped to handle sales in a pinch. That’s the reality of running a small business like this one—everyone has to wear a million hats. Jess greets the customer first, but the customer gives me a shy look and approaches my side of the counter.

“I’m on my lunch break, and I just wanted to pop in and check out your pieces,” the customer says. “You came up on my Instagram Explore page and I just love your work.”