Chapter Two #3
Hazy images of Grant returned in a steady flow.
His face had aged a little. His jaw seemed sharper, and small lines had formed at the corners of his eyes and mouth, but his smile and carefree disposition were utterly unchanged.
Grant had been a client during the five minutes she was married.
No wonder she hadn’t noticed him then, the way she did now.
“Sorry,” Grant apologized. “Is it weird that I remember your reading preferences? I swear I’m not a stalker, just a big fan of readers. It’s why I came back here, I think.”
The comment returned Tessa to the moment.
“Time for a new campaign?” she asked. “Expanding the shop?”
“I sold the shop,” he said. “Franchised is probably a better word.” He waved a hand between them while wrinkling his nose. “There are two more Clues and Brews in Virginia now. One on the coast. The other is inland by an hour or two.”
“Impressive.”
His right cheek lifted slightly in a small self-deprecating smile.
“I learned pretty quickly that I love seeing new businesses take shape and lift off, but I’m far less excited about the daily humdrum.
Stocking shelves and taking inventory. Balancing the books for a thousand thirty-dollar sales. ” He shook his head and shrugged.
“It’s a good thing you came in,” Tessa said. “I hate to say it, but a marketing plan based on your distaste for sales probably won’t work out.”
He laughed. “This is why I’m here. You make me laugh.”
“I am hilarious,” she agreed.
And was she—flirting? With a client?
Potential client.
Still, maybe she’d been struck by some of that lightning last night, and the impact had fried her brain.
“You’re real,” Grant said. “You’re direct without being mean, and you’re kind without being false. The last time I came here, I was new to business, unsure, and insecure. You never once made me feel as if this was a used-car lot in disguise.”
She grinned.
“You wanted what I wanted,” he said. “And it was magnificent.”
“What is it you want now?” she asked.
His gaze flickered to her left hand, then back to meet her eyes. He cleared his throat and shook his head on a chuckle while heat climbed her cheeks.
Was he looking for her wedding ring?
“I’ve branched out from Clues and Brews, and I want to advertise the new business.”
“Steamy romance bookstore?” she guessed.
“No, although I’m sure that would be an excellent money move.” His smile widened, and lord help her, she felt butterflies take flight in her chest. “I’ve moved into the investment arena. I want to help more people with dreams and limited funds see their visions come to life. Think you can help me?”
“Absolutely,” she said. “Would you like a roll?”
Thirty minutes later, Grant left Tessa with his newly signed contract and hope in her heart.
Xavier wouldn’t be able to ignore the fact that a client returned for her.
Or that the once-small client was now much bigger.
That had to bring some clout. It might even secure her promotion tonight, if Xavier was on the fence for any reason.
This was perfectly timed icing on the proverbial promotion cake.
She hustled to the break room and made a tray of espressos, then headed for the conference room. The thought of everyone being held up by her tardiness sent a wave of nausea through her core, but at least she was arriving with a new contract and coffee.
Her pace slowed as the boss’s office, then the conference room came into view. The lights were off in both.
“Golf.” Nina leaned into view from her cubicle. “Peyton scheduled a tee time, waited around for Xavier to arrive, then told him not to bother sitting down. I saw it with my own eyes. They turned tail and left together. Just like that.” She snapped her fingers.
“That little—”
Nina raised a finger to her ruby-red lips, then cast her pointed gaze toward the other cubicles. Workers at nearby desks would overhear anything they said. People were nosy. Tessa knew that was true, because she was one of those people.
Elaine, the group’s finance manager, headed their way with a purposeful stride.
Tessa and Nina hurried to meet her in the adjacent hallway, several feet from the nearest desk.
Deep creases formed on Elaine’s forehead as she spoke.
“Five men left this office, and then seven hundred dollars was charged to the business account within an hour. All before nine in the morning.” She shook her head.
“I get questioned biweekly when I order donuts and coffees for the office at a quarter of that cost.”
“Tell me about the patriarchy without telling me,” Nina said.
“Mm-hmm,” Elaine drawled. Color pooled into her dark-brown cheeks. As someone twice Tessa’s age, Elaine had long ago reached her limit on inequality in the workplace, Tessa assumed. The feeling had spread far and fast in Tessa’s heart as well.
Maybe someday, someone would do something about it.
Considering all the key players at Hello, Marketing were male, and currently at playtime, this wouldn’t be the day for change.
But tomorrow, Tessa mentally vowed, after the promotion announcement at the gala, a whole lot is going to change around here.