Chapter Four
If downtown Harbor Heights was beautiful at night, then the Museum of Modern Art was spectacular.
Thanks to a business connection Xavier made with the museum, Hello, Marketing could rent the lobby and adjoining convention space at a steal, and he took full advantage. Tonight’s event was no exception.
The Weather Channel warned of evening showers, but the sky was a perfect inky blue as Tessa ran from her car to the building. Another good sign from the universe, she thought. Thank you for protecting my slicked-back and hard-wrangled chignon.
She hurried past the towering metal sculpture outside the front doors, then into the sea of coworkers, clients, and assorted business partners.
Xavier liked to treat all the Hello, Marketing accounts like family.
Everyone was invited to everything, and nothing was a secret where family was concerned.
That kind of authentic transparency had endeared all who crossed his path.
And it was one of the big reasons Tessa had stayed with the firm for so many years.
Colleagues her age encouraged her to move on periodically to build a robust and dynamic résumé, but she liked being part of a fast-growing, highly respected company, where she could rise through the ranks. And she was honored to see her network expanding alongside Xavier’s business.
Inside the event space, everything shined and twinkled under museum lighting.
The guests looked elegant enough to be part of a movie set.
She scanned the scene, deciding where to begin mingling, when the rousing hoot of Peyton’s laughter interrupted.
The sound pulled her eyes to the far corner of the elegant space, where he held court with a group of men and women close to his age.
The number of twentysomething interns had tripled in recent months.
She supposed, if they all worked for free, or as close to it as she had, while they finished college, it made a lot of sense for the company and benefitted the interns as well.
She spotted Xavier chatting with his former father-in-law, Peter Mahoney.
Mr. Mahoney was Hello, Marketing’s business investor.
She didn’t know him well, but opportunities to chat with her boss, sans Peyton, were nearly nonexistent these days, and this was too big a night to let opportunity pass her by.
She swiped a flute of champagne from a passing tray, then headed in their direction. With a little luck she’d appear casually cool, instead of near bursting with anticipation.
She’d worn higher heels than normal and a simple but elegant black dress that accentuated her figure and perpetually fair skin. The combination gave her extra confidence, which she needed desperately.
The men took notice, pausing their conversation to greet her.
Xavier smiled first and opened one arm to motion her closer.
Peter took her flute of champagne and sipped. “Thank you.”
Tessa gaped and started to protest, then clamped her lips shut.
Xavier winced. “Sorry. Peter—”
“Don’t change the subject,” he said, raising a hand in warning. “Last month you had a network issue, now it’s accounting, and I want an explanation.”
Xavier’s lips parted, and he turned quickly away, guiding Millie’s father toward the bar.
Tessa’s phone buzzed inside her beaded clutch, and she answered it, hoping no one had seen the men abruptly leave her behind. A group chat with Kate and Hallie appeared on-screen.
Hallie: We have arrived
Kate: Party time!
Tessa hurried toward the museum’s front doors. “You both look amazing,” she told them the moment they came within reach. “Thank you for being here.”
Kate looked like a movie star in an elegant, off-the-shoulder satin gown. Hallie looked equally glamorous in a pair of black dress pants with matching black shirt and vest.
“We wouldn’t miss it,” Kate said. “This is a huge deal for you. I turned down two dates to be here, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
“We all match,” Hallie said. “We would make incredible gothic cake toppers.”
Kate slid a peacock-blue invitation from her clutch and raised it before her. “As long as the cake is to celebrate this.”
Tessa squinted at the golden curlicue script centered on the embossed card stock.
“You are cordially invited to attend this year’s Influencers Ball,” Tessa read.
Kate shimmied her shoulders. “I got my invite! And you’re both coming!”
“That’s incredible!”
“And very fancy,” Hallie said, eyes fixed on the invite.
“It’s going to be the event of the year.” Kate beamed.
“I can’t wait,” Tessa said. “Count me in, but I’ll need help with what to wear.”
“Same,” Hallie said. “I accept and will also need help.”
Kate grabbed her friends’ hands and squeezed. “Not a problem. I am so excited. I want to scream, but there are far too many cameras here.”
“I can’t promise I won’t scream if my name is announced later,” Tessa said. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this nervous.”
Kate released their hands and focused on Tessa. “Try to find your Zen before the big moment, because I plan to film your acceptance,” she said. “And Hallie will film the boys’ club.”
“What?” Tessa laughed.
Hallie worked her brows. “I want to catch all their confused expressions when the promotion doesn’t go to a former frat boy. Although it might be difficult to differentiate those expressions from their usual ones.”
Tessa snorted. “Well, they’re huddled up over there, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding—” She turned toward the corner, but the group of interns and Peyton were gone.
Peyton’s laugh pulled her eyes to the bar, where he’d engaged an even larger crowd. One that included Xavier and Peter.
“Dammit,” she groaned. “I really need to learn to golf.”
“Random,” Hallie said, “but okay.”
Kate gripped Tessa’s elbow, pulling her attention away from the bar. “Ignore that. Whatever they’re up to right now is irrelevant. It has nothing to do with you or this event, which is gorgeous, by the way, and soon to be all about you.”
Tessa nodded. “You’re right.” Peyton probably reminded Xavier and the older men in attendance of their youth and early days in the field.
“Come on,” Kate said. “Let’s have some fun and take lots of fabulous photos.”
Tessa grinned. “Deal.” She grabbed a server’s attention and another drink to distract her from all her male coworkers at the bar. Kate selected one too. “What’s new?” Tessa asked.
“I was thinking about Hallie’s wedding invitations,” Kate said.
Hallie frowned and headed for the finger foods buffet. “Why?”
“Because you’re getting married, and people need to know when to show up. I thought we could assemble the invites together. Make a night of it. Meet at my place, order food, and gossip while we stuff the envelopes.”
“Love that,” Tessa said. “I’ll bring drinks.”
Hallie shrugged. “I sent out the save-the-date cards months ago, so I’m not too worried about folks knowing when or where to show up. It’s all everyone in both our families talks about.”
Tessa frowned. Had she been this unbothered a month before her wedding? No, she thought. Not that it mattered. Her marriage wasn’t exactly one to model. Still, Hallie’s aloofness had the hallmarks of avoidance she knew too well. Tessa made a mental note to give this added thought after the gala.
She and Kate sipped from their flutes while Hallie sampled her way down the table. “Here,” Kate said, scoring another champagne flute and passing it to Tessa. “Cheers.”
“I’m going in search of iced water,” Hallie said. “It’s hot in here.”
A roar of laughter rose from the bar, and Tessa set her empty flute aside.
“Please take my mind off of that,” Tessa said, flicking her gaze in the direction of the massive good time she was missing.
“Anything new going on?” Kate asked. “Besides this giant party for your promotion?”
She considered telling Kate about Devin’s return, and a pang of worry seeped into her heart. She’d been so stunned by the news, she hadn’t asked her dad how his physical went or made sure all was well with his health.
“Tessa?” Kate asked, a note of concern in her voice.
Tessa refreshed her smile. Tomorrow she’d check in on her dad. Tonight, she had a promotion to accept and a party to enjoy. “I see Millie,” she said. “Let’s go say hi.”
An hour later, she’d introduced Hallie and Kate to a dozen new friends and caught them up on office gossip with a little help from Millie and Nina.
She’d forgotten why she felt so nervous earlier, until Xavier walked through the crowd toward the stage, and the entire place fell silent.
Her pulse rose, and her head felt light. She’d waited more than ten years for this moment. And tonight she got to experience it with Kate and Hallie at her side. All her long hours, the painfully thin social life, and the endless takeout and leftovers would soon be worth it.
Kate raised her phone toward the podium. Hallie turned her phone toward the bar.
Tessa moved on autopilot, closer to the mic and her future.
Bits of her well-rehearsed speech ran through her mind as Xavier welcomed guests, family, and friends.
Thank you so much for this incredible honor, she began mentally, rehearsing the words she’d say after her name was called.
I wouldn’t be where or who I am today, Xavier, without your kindness and generosity all those years ago—
I’m so immeasurably grateful for this opportunity—
Her boss’s voice broke through her inner monologue. “This marketing and advertisement guru has continued to stun me with their insight and ingenuity from the moment of our first interview.” He beamed like a proud father, and Tessa’s heart soared.
She edged closer to the stage as he gripped the podium, only moments away from the next step in her life and marketing career.
In her periphery, she spotted Peyton heading toward Xavier as well.
Did he truly believe he had a chance at this promotion? She had years of seniority. He’d just started working there in the spring. Not to mention, she had twice the experience. A stack of satisfied clients.
Peyton’s top lip curled up on one side. A small look of knowing.