Filed to story: Outplayed Story (Brooklyn & Ethan) Book PDF Free
Brooklyn Diaz sat in the waiting area, clutching her portfolio bag way too tight in her lap. She’d just finished pitching her idea to yet another small handbag company, and now they were inside “discussing it.”
Even with her limited experience, she knew exactly what that meant.
Being asked to wait outside while they talked it over? Yeah that was never a good sign.
Not that she actually knew what a *good* sign looked like.
This was the third company she’d pitched to this month. When she’d first decided to start her own business, she’d honestly thought it would be a lot simpler. She had years of experience as a project manager, plus a pretty generous redundancy package. In her head, that meant she’d be up and running in no time.
Instead, six months later, she was running low on time, money and if she was being completely honest, motivation.
Her fingers were starting to ache from gripping the bag so hard. She forced herself to relax her hands and shifted the bag so she could rest her arms on top of it.
Clearly, she was doing *something* wrong.
Her business plan had looked great on paper. But somehow, turning that plan into reality was a completely different story. Normally, if she needed business advice, she’d just call her dad or one of her older brothers. They were always happy to help.
Except they still thought she was working her old job.
If they found out she’d quit to launch a start-up instead of immediately finding another stable position, they’d probably lose their minds. She could already imagine the lectures-hours of them-about being irresponsible with her future.
Her dad would call it *gambling*.
Brook sighed softly.
Maybe he wasn’t wrong. She *had* gambled on this whole thing working out. In her mind, she’d imagined proudly showing up one day with a successful business to prove she could do it.
So much for that plan.
Around her, the office buzzed with normal activity. Staff hurried past with phones pressed to their ears. A woman rolled a trolley full of tote bags that looked like they’d just come straight from the latest collection.
Brook quickly tucked her feet out of the way and leaned forward to get a better look.
Handbags had always been her weakness. That obsession was actually how this whole idea had started in the first place. After accidentally leaving her wallet in the wrong handbag for the hundredth time, she’d started using a small inner pouch that held all her essentials. That way she could just move the pouch instead of switching everything individually.
It made life *so* much easier.
And that’s when the idea hit her.
Why not design removable inserts for handbags? Something women could easily swap between bags without the hassle.
If just one company partnered with her-just one-and started designing their bags with her inserts built in, she’d finally be on her way.
The office she was sitting in wasn’t huge. This brand wasn’t exactly a giant in the industry. But it was busy, and clearly doing well enough.
Brook glanced up at the large posters of their newest designs hanging on the walls.
Her inserts would work *perfectly* with those bags. She could design matching ones in the same seasonal colors. Women could change bags whenever they wanted without the usual chaos of moving everything over.
It was such an obvious idea.
At least it felt obvious to her.
Sometimes it seemed like she was the only one who could see it.
She straightened in her seat and forced herself to sit up taller.
Okay. Enough negativity.
She needed to look confident. Alert. Enthusiastic. Just in case.
After all, it only took *one* yes.
Maybe-just maybe-this would be the company that said it.
A few seconds later, the man who had interviewed her walked toward her.
Brook quickly stood and gave him her brightest smile.
The sympathetic look on his face made her stomach drop instantly.
Oh great.
Another no.
“I’m very sorry,” he said gently. “It was an interesting pitch, but it’s not something we can commit to right now.”
Brook kept the smile firmly in place, even though it felt a little stiff.
“I understand,” she said. “Thank you for your time.”
He nodded politely.
‘You have my card, so if anything changes, do give me a call.’