Page 69 of Book Club Confidential

Jenny raised, then dropped a hand on the conference table. “How is that useful right now?”

The others squirmed but remained silent.

Xavier waited, eyes fixed on Peyton.

Peyton looked nervously at Tessa, then at their boss. “Because women don’t have to shave if they don’t want to?”

“Yes,” Xavier said. “And?”

Tessa forced her gritted teeth to part before she cracked a molar. So Peyton had been stealing her ideas. She’d spent months thinking she wasn’t being creative enough. That her ideas were so commonplace that others in the office always had the same ones.

Not others, though. Peyton.

Peyton widened his eyes. “L and L is all about female empowerment.”

Tessa folded her hands on the table. “Lilacs and Lace also sell a line of organic hair removal products,” she said.

“Then we can show that the company believes in the right for women to be hairy,” Peyton said, doubling down. “But if ladies want to be smooth, then they have a product for that.”

The men nodded.

Tessa checked the time on her phone. It was nearly five fifteen. She still needed to drive home, do her hair and makeup, then change.

She couldn’t stay and argue with him tonight, nor did she want to. “Or,” she said, “we can use the campaign to showcase their products, instead of making them an afterthought.”

Peyton shot to his feet, palms flattened on the table. “How is that helpful?” He looked to Xavier for backup. “She shot me down without making any suggestions.”

“Brainstorming means considering all sides to every idea,” Xavier said. “Then we pick the strongest ideas and build a campaign. Tessa has a point, so let’s keep going. What else?”

Peyton dropped into his seat and went back to typing.

Xavier started an around-the-room, asking everyone to share at least one relevant thought or idea.

Tessa’s phone vibrated with an incoming call from Kate. She pressed the option to reject and sent a text response instead.

Tessa: Sorry! Stuck in a meeting

Tessa: Leaving soon

Tessa: Won’t be late

Tessa: Promise

A series of small dots bounced on-screen, indicating that Kate was typing. Then they stopped and didn’t start again.

Tessa’s heart fell. She knew how bad this looked. Knew Kate would assume she’d abandoned her and her quest to change.

The mental calculations began anew. Kate’s event started at seven. Tessa’s dress was pressed and waiting. She’d showered this morning. All she really needed to do was change clothes, add some jewelry, makeup, and heels. She could leave her hair down, if she had to.

If she left now, she’d get stuck in heavy traffic. Walking or jogging home would be faster than driving, but then she’d need a shower. There wasn’t time for that, especially if her hair got wet and she had to blow it out again. Her current makeup would definitely run in the shower as well, setting her back some more.

Peyton stood again, looking at his laptop before speaking. “I think we should use a color palette of neutral tones to reflect the skin tones of women around the world, then overlay a rainbow of other colors, to showcase and celebrate the unlimited differences in every woman.”

The table perked.

Tessa gasped.

“Tessa?” Xavier asked. “You don’t like it?”