Chapter 122: sTray

[Chapter 122: sTray]

Ryan stood in front of the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooking Central Park in Manhattan. From this vantage point, he had a sweeping view of a good portion of New York City, and even the incessant noise of the city seemed to vanish for a moment. He found himself in the renowned Skyline Apartments.

These high-rise buildings lined the edge of Central Park, featuring apartments that ranged from modest layouts to sprawling penthouses. The top floor boasted a duplex measuring over six hundred square feet, where the phrase "billionaire" seemed almost trivial. By Elizabeth's own words, she claimed her two sisters were among the "poorest" of the neighbors.

"They'll be here soon," Elizabeth's voice chimed from behind Ryan.

Turning around, he saw her standing in the vast living area -- though "living area" hardly captured the spaciousness of what looked more like a grand hall. The ceiling soared two to three times higher than a regular home, and the sheer size provided an incredible atmosphere. Decorative elements enhanced the lavish space, from a waterfall of crystal cascading down the staircase to towering modern art pieces hanging on the walls, and meticulously crafted furniture that Ryan had no names for -- exquisitely understated luxury.

Ryan felt like he had just stepped into a whole new world, feeling slightly out of place as he realized how far removed he was from true wealth.

Having visited Elizabeth's bedroom, he couldn't reconcile the ordinary space with the opulence surrounding him.

"I only stay here occasionally," Elizabeth shook her head.

She had once helped Ryan and had worked under him, but they had a falling out, only to reconnect later. The scandal that had emerged about Scooter was managed by a lawyer her sister had referred to him.

...

At that moment, the elevator doors opened.

Two women entered the room and tossed their handbags on the table, while an older Mexican housekeeper stepped forward to assist them with their coats.

"You're Ryan? Welcome!" Ashley Olsen approached him warmly.

Ryan had done his homework; he knew that the twin with longer hair was Mary-Kate Olsen.

He exchanged pleasantries with both of the twins.

"I heard from Ashley that you're looking to start your fashion brand?" Ashley gestured for Ryan to take a seat.

"Not a brand, just a fashion line," Ryan clarified.

He had a vision in mind, influenced by a music video he had seen, showcasing a distinctive array of outfits worn during a live performance. The Olsen sisters were well-established in the fashion world, so he sought their guidance.

"Do you have any design experience?" Mary-Kate surveyed Ryan.

The answer was evident; his casual attire lacked any hint of "celebrity" glam.

"If you want to sell your line, you need to establish yourself first as a fashion icon. Take notes from Kanye West," Ashley said thoughtfully, resting her chin on her hand.

The term "icon" referred to those who set the trends in fashion; their clothing choices influenced others, such as Ashley's current penchant for deliberately messy styles -- ragged fishnet tights, scuffed sneakers, and slightly unkempt hair. This look would later be dubbed "homeless chic" by some fashion editors and would be popularized by a certain female artist, who would adopt Ashley's style wholesale. The style's origins could be traced back to Kurt Cobain of Nirvana.

Kanye West, on the other hand, emerged as a different breed, coming from a background less traditional for black rap artists, being the son of a college professor and having studied fine arts. He was the first black artist to embrace prep-school aesthetics in rap, creating a unique niche.

But for Ryan, "fashion" was like the abstract paintings on the wall -- totally perplexing and uninteresting. He was motivated purely by profit potential.

"So, to have influence in the industry means you need to be a fashion symbol?" he ventured.

The twins exchanged glances; Mary-Kate nodded. "You've identified the core issue."

In the fashion world, the most powerful voice was that of Anna Wintour -- the "devil" from The Devil Wears Prada. She was known for her discerning eye, with even the slightest frown potentially resulting in a designer's downfall, and she held an immense amount of sway.

Earlier, Karlie Kloss had graced the covers of the Asian version of Vogue, which had included cultural elements, while the photoshoots in stadiums aligned with the Olympic theme.

"Okay, I'll try to change my style and image," Ryan nodded, planning to mimic the looks seen in that music video, potentially dying his hair a light blonde to reflect a true "golden boy" persona.

"So, do you have specific design elements in mind?" Ashley continued.

"Of course," Ryan replied confidently, snapping his fingers at his assistant, who brought out several sheets of paper.

Showing them his sketches, Elizabeth leaned in but had to stifle her laughter, covering her mouth.

The drawings resembled the hasty scribbles of a first-grader -- figures only vaguely recognizable as people.

"Did you draw this?" Elizabeth inquired with amusement.

Ryan nodded, "It's rough, but it captures my ideas."

Aside from the music video shots, Ryan had gathered inspiration from several live performances where the lead singer wore several "streetwear" outfits, which he aimed to portray on paper.

While the Olsen sisters initially viewed his art with curiosity, they soon gleaned something valuable within the crude sketches, taking the sheets to examine closely.

Back in 2004, they had starred in a film titled New York Minute, which received a Razzie nomination, leading them to pivot careers and dive into fashion. While they might not have been outstanding designers initially, they'd earned professional acclaim through various awards.

They quickly recognized the unique perspective that Ryan's seemingly haphazard drawings possessed.

"Did you come up with this on your own?" Ashley asked, her tone more serious now.

"Absolutely," Ryan confirmed.

"Let's discuss further collaboration details," Mary-Kate added.

The sisters' denim line and light tops sold in the hundreds of millions at Walmart, with last year's sales reaching $750 million.

They later launched The Row, a luxury fashion label seen as America's answer to designers like Loro Piana and Phoebe Philo's Celine, distributing globally in thirty-seven countries.

No wonder Jay-Z and Kanye West referred to them in their joint track Niggas in Paris, hinting, "In my opinion, Prince William chose the wrong woman; if it were up to me, I'd marry both Mary-Kate and Ashley."

With their vast business empire -- designing, manufacturing, distributing, and retailing -- they had Ryan onboard not just as a designer but as a partner willing to share in the profits.

"To differentiate this line from our previous series, we need a brand new name," Ashley suggested.

"How about calling it Stray?" Ryan proposed suddenly.

The term meant "to deviate, get lost, or go astray," and in a world where lofty names fell flat, a unique and edgy title was necessary to cater to their audience's desire for exclusivity, while also cleverly aligning with Ray's stage name.

"That sounds pretty good; today's youth love that independent vibe," Ashley noted.

"We could capitalize some letters in there," Elizabeth chimed in.

While Ryan found the capitalization suggestion a bit childish, he didn't dismiss it outright.

"By the way, what exactly was the deal with you and Elizabeth?" Mary-Kate shifted the subject back to Ryan and Elizabeth.

*****

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