Page 13 of Book Club Confidential

“Oh, I guess so, but honey—”

“I love you, Dad. I hope you have a wonderful evening. Talk soon!”

Tessa disconnected the call and checked the time. She’d let herself cry for ten minutes in the shower. After that, she had to get back on track.

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!”