Page 125 of Book Club Confidential

“Which is absolutely your choice, of course,” Nina amended, eyes on Tessa. “But we’d like it very much if we could come along. We have experience and capital to bring to the charge.”

Jenny helped herself to a coffee and shrugged. “I’m still going home at the end of the semester, but I like you, and I’ve sent you the client list. None of them will return anyone’s calls now. They say they’re waiting out their contracts, or flat out breaking them. Apparently, they organized.” She scrunched her features, as if the thought of client organization was absurd. “They called it 4H or something. I thought that group was for kids building bird houses and taking hikes, but maybe that’s a Minnesota thing. I’ve only lived in Virginia a few years.”

Tessa leaned against her countertop, certain she’d collapse otherwise. “They’re the Harbor Heights Helping Hands.”

Jenny shook her head. “Never heard of it.”

Tessa laughed as the details of the moment began to take shape.

“My dad is also ready to help, if we need him,” Millie said. “He’s done supporting Xavier. There have been problems there for years.”

Tessa remembered the snippet of conversation she’d overheard at the gala. The older man had seemed upset. What had he said? She reached into her memory archives for the words that hadn’t seemed relevant to her a month back.

“Don’t change the subject.” She heard Millie’s father’s stern voice in her head. “Last month you had a network issue, now it’s accounting, and I want an explanation.”

“I overheard him asking Xavier about accounting and network issues,” Tessa said. She looked at Jenny, understanding that both of those problems likely linked back to Xavier’s protégé, Peyton.

Millie looked exhausted. “I told Xavier this was coming. He’s been distant and distracted. Then he promoted Peyton, thinking he would keep things going while Xavier did whatever he’s been doing. He knew he needed help. I’ll never understand why he chose him.”

A smile formed on Tessa’s lips as the moment began to fully take purchase. “Holy shit!” Her eyes widened. “You all left Hello, Marketing?”

“Yep.” Nina cracked the lid off her cup and blew a steady breath across the steam. “And Cindy and Elaine, but Cindy’s kid has soccer this morning, and Elaine is ready to retire. Now, tell us you’re open to the possibility of partners for your new adventure. We brought everything we need to pitch ourselves to you.”

Tessa sat on a barstool cautiously, worried she might collapse from shock. Her eyes misted as she looked around at the bags and boxes. “You want to work with me?”

“We want to be business partners,” Millie said. “Silent partners, if you want, but yes, we do, very much.”

“Michels Marketing is going to be a wild success,” Nina said. “With or without us. We believe in you.”

It only took a moment for her to understand how these women knew the name of her business when she’d just decided last night. “You saw the news!”

They nodded.

“Hon,” Josephine said. “Everyone saw the news.”

“We’d be here anyway,” Millie said. “We knew we weren’t coming back when we left work Friday afternoon. We plan to tell Xavier in the morning.”

A wellspring of laughter broke inside Tessa, and she bent forward at the waist, overcome with unexpected, unstoppable delight. When she straightened, her friends smiled back at her. “I’m starting an all-female marketing firm.”

“Yeah, you are,” Nina said.

“And you’re my partners.”

“We accept,” Millie said. “We’ll probably be sued by Hello, Marketing, but I suspect we’ll be okay if that happens.”

Tessa grinned. “I know a corporate attorney, and I think her brother is in love with Kate.”

“I’m in love with Kate,” Jenny said. “I can’t believe you know MC Kate.”

Nina cocked her head. “You know I hate to gossip.”

The women waited for her to continue.

“Elaine’s been upset about the company’s spending, specifically by Peyton, for a while, but Xavier keeps signing off on it. I’d give up a kidney to know what that’s about.”

“Mm.” Millie lifted her drink, a sip of coffee still in her mouth. She swallowed and frowned. “Dad thinks Xavier is sleeping with a mutual golf buddy’s wife from the country club,” Millie said. “I guess the accusation came out on the green a while back, but Peyton swooped in and caused a big distraction. As usual. The conversation was dropped, but Dad can’t let it go. Xavier’s whole schtick with Hello, Marketing is supposed to be family values and transparency with the customers. Their golf buddy is a customer.”

Tessa slumped over the counter and rested her stunned face in waiting palms. “Holy cow.”