By this point, Luv Luxe had officially outgrown the original Optima. Business was growing fast, inventory was increasing, and I needed more room to keep building the company.
Around that same time, my boyfriend had rented an office in the newer Optima building closer to Fashion Square Mall. He also leased one of the apartments upstairs while he was getting settled, and I thought it would be fun if Luv Luxe rented an office right next door. It seemed like the perfect next step. There was just one tiny problem. The leasing agent. I’d never met her before, but I happened to see a few of the text messages she was sending him. They weren’t exactly what you’d expect from someone helping with a commercial lease.
“Hey babe, your keys are ready for pickup.”
“Hi darling! Is your unit working out okay? Are you happy with everything?”
Now, to be fair, my boyfriend wasn’t encouraging it. His replies were polite, short, and strictly business. But that wasn’t the point.
If you know me, you know I’m fiercely loyal. I will go to the ends of the earth for the people I luv. My family, my friends, my team they’re my people. Mess with them and you see an entirely different version of Syd. So one morning I put on an outfit that made heads turn, Louboutins and all and walked straight into the leasing office. She definitely wasn’t expecting me.
I introduced myself and calmly said something along the lines of, “I’d rather keep this between the two of us, but I need to tell you something. The personal texts to my boyfriend need to stop. They’re inappropriate, and one of those office spaces you’re discussing is actually for my business.” That was it. Just a very direct conversation woman to woman and she got the message. I never told my then boyfriend I did that till years later. He said “I wondered why that lady never spoke another word to me, if I saw her around she’d completely go the opposite direction."
Ironically, despite all of that, I only stayed in the unit a couple of months it just wasn’t my vibe. I was fortunate to then find the location where Luv Luxe is still today! Looking back now, the story always makes me laugh. Was I a little overprotective? Maybe. One thing entrepreneurship teaches you is that confidence isn’t just about negotiating deals or growing a business. It’s also about protecting your peace, setting boundaries, and being willing to have uncomfortable conversations when something doesn’t sit right. That leasing agent probably still remembers the girl in the Louboutin's.
Thanks for being here.
Xx
Syd