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“What kind of business are you planning to start?” I ask Billie.
“Oh, a bookstore.” She smiles and shrugs a shoulder. “I’ll call it Billie’s Books, I think. Maybe Blackwell Books.”
“You could go for Double B Books, after your family’s ranch,” Millie suggests, but then shakes her head. “No. Call it Billie’s Books. Make it about you. It’s your vision.”
“I agree,” I add. “Also, I’ll be your first customer.”
“You know,” Millie says, tapping her chin in thought. “I have it on good authority that the business next to the coffee shop might be going out of business soon. What’s more perfect than a coffee shop and a bookstore, right next to each other?”
Billie’s eyes light up in excitement, and I see Erin gesturing for me to join her from across the room.
“Excuse me, ladies. You keep talking about this because it’s brilliant. I have to run over this way.” I cross to where Erin’s standing with London. “Hey, London, thank you for coming.”
“Oh, it’s completely my pleasure. Thanks for inviting me. I didn’t really prepare a speech, because I thought I would just give a little background on myself and then take questions. Is that okay?”
“Works great for me,” I assure her as Polly rushes over to join us.
“We’re ready when you are,” Polly announces.
“I’m ready,” London says and straightens her gray Chanel jacket. “Let’s inspire some women, friends.”
“May I have your attention?” Polly calls out, and the room immediately quiets. “Please, take your seats, and we will get started.”
There’s shuffling and some chatter as the women grab their seats. I see that Marion, the former owner of the coffee shop, is here. We have massage therapists and real estate agents and attorneys in attendance.
Abbi is almost vibrating with excitement as we join Polly.
“Thank you all for coming to our first Iconic Women’s Collective event,” Polly says, and we all smile as everyone erupts in applause. “I’m Polly Allen, the owner of Pocket Full of Polly, and I’m one of the five creators of this amazing collective.”
“I’m Summer Quinn,” I continue. “I own Paula’s Posey’s.”
“You may not have heard,” Millie picks up the introduction torch, “but I recently bought Bitterroot Valley Coffee Co from Marion. Oh, and I’m Millie Wild.”
“Hi, everyone,” Abbi says with a wave. “I’m Abbi Kastella. I own Bitterroot Valley Housekeeping Services.”
“And she’s an angel,” Charlie calls out. “My house has never been cleaner.”
“I need your number,” someone else calls, making Abbi grin.
“I happen to have business cards with me,” she says. “Hit me up later.”
“You should,” Erin says with a nod. “And last but not least, I’m Erin Wild. I’m a bookkeeper, and I’m in the process of getting our event space up and running out at Wild River Ranch. The five of us were having drinks together not too long ago, and with the courage of a little tequila, we decided that there is a need in our community to work together to build up other women entrepreneurs.”
“Agreed,” I put in as the others around the room nod. “I’m so tired of society telling us that we should be in competition with each other. Since when? There’s room at the table for all of us.”
“We all have strengths and weaknesses,” Polly continues. “And this is a wonderful way for us to network and help each other. The five of us are open books, and we’re happy to discuss just about everything.”
“Our goal is to bring in amazing guest speakers to talk to us as a group about what has worked for them or what hasn’t. To tell us their stories.” I smile over at London and gesture for her to join us. “At this inaugural meeting, I’m so delighted to introduce a powerhouse of a woman to all of you, London Ambrose-Montgomery. In case any of you have been living under a rock, London is the co-owner of Seattle’s professional football team, she owns a podcast, an amazing clothing boutique in New York, and does so much more than I can run down for you here. So, without further ado, please welcome London Ambrose-Montgomery.”
The five of us take our seats, mixed in with the other ladies in the audience, and for the next half hour, we listen raptly as London tells us all about her childhood, where she comes from, and how it was important to her to set herself apart from her billionaire father. To make her own way in business.
I have to check with Libby, the manager of the bar, to make sure we’re okay to run over our allotted time because there’s no sign of anyone wanting to leave by 8:00 p.m.
In fact, London is still answering questions at nine, and I step in to save her.
“Let’s give London the chance to catch her breath,” I suggest and pass the woman a glass of wine. “I suspect that we’ll be able to talk her into coming back another time to speak with us again.”
“You got it,” London confirms after sipping her wine. “I have a condo here at the resort, and I would love to come back. I’d also like to speak with some of you individually. Based on what I’ve heard, you all have some incredible business ideas.”
