Chapter Two
Tessa arrived at work the next morning with book club on her mind.
She’d spent a sleepless night hoping the sudden downpour that had interrupted their meeting and driven them inside wasn’t some kind of cosmic warning.
So far, the new day was right on track, but she had a strange itching at the back of her mind, and she couldn’t seem to let go of the storm’s unexpected surge. Especially given its timing.
Maybe it was how they’d responded that bothered her most, far more than the rain itself.
An unexpected rooftop soaker was the kind of experience that would’ve ended in fits of stunned laughter a few years prior.
Last night, however, they’d just given up and gone home, too exhausted by life to see the disruption as anything other than par for the course.
They’d texted to confirm everyone made it home safely. Then each woman had eaten leftovers from her fridge, put on pajamas, and called it a night without protest.
Hallie’s final message deemed the evening “a series of supreme bummers.”
She wasn’t wrong. But when had they all lost their oomph and given up their fight?
Hopefully, the storm, her ruined girls’ night, and her mediocre dinner weren’t the real-world equivalent to foreshadowing.
Or some sort of cosmic introduction of more supreme bummers to come.
The loss of a major account, for example, or impossibly longer work hours following her promotion.
If the latter came true, she’d have to move into the office full-time. But at least that would save on rent.
The elevator doors parted, and she raised her chin by a fraction, pushing her shoulders back and fixing a smile on her lips. Today was a new day, and this was not a novel.
Hello, Marketing, the boutique advertising firm where she’d worked since college, filled the third floor of the historic mercantile building downtown.
In generations past, river access made this a prime location for transport and trade.
These days, majestic waterway views made the spot perfect for inspiration and creativity, a.k.a. the crux of her job.
Millie, the forty-something receptionist and company co-owner, nearly vibrated with enthusiasm as she watched Tessa approach. “Good morning,” she sang. Her bright-blue eyes glowed against the contrast of her short platinum hair.
“Hi, Millie,” Tessa said. “You look fantastic.”
The large glass desk between them did nothing to hide Millie’s hot-pink designer heels and bubble skirt, or her megasize personality.
“Tonight’s the night,” Millie said. “Are you dying? Because I’m dying.”
Tessa set a tray of iced coffees and a bag of assorted rolls on the desk, then passed a shaken oat milk espresso to Millie. “I love event nights,” she said, deftly avoiding the implication Millie had made. “Try the latte. Hallie added brown sugar and a pump of vanilla syrup.”
Millie sipped, then took a seat behind her desk. “She’s a genius with these drinks.”
“You should see what she can do with some fruit and twenty minutes.”
Millie grinned. “I know you’re avoiding the subject of the gala, probably because you don’t want to jinx anything, but can I just say I feel like a proud mama?
Not that I’m old enough to be your mother,” she clarified.
“But I can remember the day you first stepped off that elevator, like it was yesterday.” Tessa had come in completely unannounced and asked to check on her résumé.
The timing was perfect because Xavier was trying to handle everything, except the phones, all by himself to save a dollar.
The company was growing, but not fast enough to afford help.
Tessa wrinkled her nose at the memory. She’d been nervous to drop by without an appointment, but she needed a job, and she had to get experience to find one. Hello, Marketing had just opened its doors. Back then, she’d only expected to work there for a short while, for free, and as an intern.
Millie rolled her eyes and barked a laugh. “You got to see us at our worst.” Xavier and Millie were still married back then.
“I think you did okay,” Tessa said. “How many people do you know who can work with their ex?”
“How many couples have their entire retirement wrapped up in one business?”
Tessa smiled. “And he’s still blessed with your presence every single day.”
Millie laughed. “You know it! Look for me tonight in my purple Balykina.” She patted Tessa’s hand where it rested on the desk. “We’re finally getting a woman in charge around here, and I’m dressing for the occasion.”
Tessa bit her bottom lip, trying not to ask the question that came out anyway. “We don’t know that yet. Unless Xavier said something to you about his decision?”
Millie’s eyes widened. “Are you kidding? He knows I’d tell you in an instant, but who else could he promote?
You’ve already been passed over for too many other opportunities.
Silly reasons too,” she added, almost as an afterthought.
“You were too young or too inexperienced, yada yada, but not anymore. You’re our best account rep.
Everyone knows it, and everyone loves you. ”
Tessa’s heart fluttered at the praise. Millie really wasn’t old enough to be her mother, but she loved the motherly attention and affection more than Millie would ever know. “Thank you.”
“I can’t wait for you to get your hands on that Lilacs and Lace account,” she said more quietly. “Female indulgence and empowerment? That’s you and Nina all day. This account is huge. Given tonight’s announcement, I’d say the timing is perfect.”
Tessa’s smile returned. She’d thought the same thing, and timing was everything, wasn’t it? “Is Nina in yet?”
“Not yet. I saw her downstairs at the gym.”
Tessa checked her watch. Seven thirty. “Okay. I’ll be around if you need me.”
She crossed the glossy white tile floor into the hallway behind reception.
Miles of circular mirrors in every size covered a lime-green wall to her right.
An enormous neon sign spelled the company’s name in script letters on her left.
Millie personally handled every detail of the office’s interior design, a vibe she lovingly called Cyndi Lauper chic.
Tessa stole a peek in the mirrors as she passed, appreciating the sleek black pantsuit she’d chosen for the day.
In a company that clearly favored men, she did her best to look the part of a confident, steadfast partner.
At five foot seven, she found that her three-inch heels raised her to eye level with most of her colleagues, humbling the group of five-ten men who claimed to be six feet tall or taller.
Peyton, her office nemesis, was a five-nine recent frat boy who hated to see her coming in anything other than flats. The mashed toes and occasional heel blister were more than worth the reward.
“Morning!” a familiar voice trilled behind her.
Tessa turned with a smile. “Good morning, Nina.” She pulled the nonfat, no-whip, iced vanilla sugar-free latte from her tray and offered it to her coworker.
“Bless,” the older redhead said, accepting the coffee with one hand while stealing a hug with the other. “I hoped to catch you before the big day got started. Is there a straw?”
Tessa’s heart clenched nonsensically as she scanned the tray and checked the bag for signs of a straw she hadn’t asked for. “You don’t usually use a straw.”
Nina sipped from the spout on her cup. “No worries. I had my teeth whitened after work, and I’m trying to avoid staining them again. The effort never lasts, but let the record show I asked.” She looked at the ceiling, as if making a case with some higher power. The god of white teeth.
Tessa forced the tension from her features and led the way to the small conference room. Tomorrow, she’d get straws and leave extras in her bag or desk. “Any chance you want to go over some pitch ideas for the Lilacs and Lace account?”
Nina sipped her drink with a satisfied sigh. “Let me log in and drop all this stuff off at my desk. I’ll meet you back here.”
Tessa removed a laminated page from her bag and taped it to the door.
Occupied
She took a seat and opened her laptop, then navigated to the file with all her unvetted brainstormed concepts to see if anything would work for the new account.
She’d suspected Peyton of accessing the file once, after a series of his pitches sounded a little too much like her ideas.
She’d moved the file off the company network after that and saved it to her laptop.
She renamed the folder Menstrual Cycle Tracker in an act of due diligence.
She kept her Lilacs and Lace file on her computer as well.
Everything about the woman-owned and -operated company appealed to her.
Their female hygiene products were chemical free.
No aluminum or other nonsense known to cause breast and cervical cancers in their deodorants, detergents, soaps, or organic cotton tampons.
Their menstrual cups and personal massage devices were made of top-quality medical-grade silicone.
Health for the consumer was their number-one goal, followed closely by the best interest of the environment and global community.
The opportunity to work with Lilacs and Lace would boost her career to new heights and make all the long hours and missed social events worth it.
Nina returned with a notebook, pen, and tablet. Beyond the glass conference-room walls, other employees came into view, filling cubicles and desks, starting their workdays and raising the office volume.
Tessa nudged the door shut with her foot. “What do you have?”
“Color palette ideas,” Nina said. “Some refreshed designs for packaging and a few new looks for the company logo. I’d like to create a strong brand for this account. Something consumers can easily recognize from afar. Something as unique and powerful as L and L itself.”
“That gives me goose bumps,” Tessa said. “Big yes to all of that.”
“Good. I really want this.”
Tessa met Nina’s determined eyes with a conspiratorial grin. “Me too.”