Silence. Chauncey looked as if he were holding his breath.
“I...” Vanessa faltered.
“‘Cause if you’ve changed your vision, that’s fine. Evolution is part of the process. But we bill for revision rounds beyond the contracted scope, and we’re already at our limit.” I leaned forward, ignoring the way the movement made my head spin. “You want a new direction, we can do that. But it’s gon’ cost you, and it’ll push your launch date back six weeks minimum.”
“How much?” she finally asked.
I named a figure that made Chauncey’s eyebrows climb toward his hairline.
“I’ll have to think about it,” Vanessa said stiffly.
“You do that. Meanwhile, we’ll proceed with the current campaign unless I hear otherwise by end of business tomorrow.”
I ended the call before she could respond and slumped back in my chair.
Chauncey let out a low whistle. “Remind me never to get on your bad side.”
“You’re too smart for that.” I reached for another ice chip. “Now get back to work.”
As his screen minimized, I pulled up the Black Ember Distilling file. The proposal was due in three weeks. I’d been staring at the same brand positioning slide for twenty minutes yesterday before giving up.
I closed the file and let my head drop to the table for a moment. Lord, how was I supposed to handle difficult clients and million-dollar campaigns while my body was busy building two human beings from scratch?
My office door burst open. I didn’t need to look up to know it was Tia.
“Mom! You have to see this.” She rushed to my desk, phone extended. “I found the perfect dress for you.”
I lifted my head and took her phone, grateful for any distraction from Greece and Black Ember and Vanessa and this relentless nausea. The screen showed a deep emerald silk column dress with a subtle cowl neckline and long sleeves. Sleek and fitted through the bodice and waist. Exactly the kind of sophisticated, elegant style I loved.
“Tia,” I breathed. “Baby, this is gorgeous.”
“Right?” She perched on the edge of my desk, vibrating with energy. “I know you said you’d handle finding your own dress, but I saw this and immediately thought of you.” She paused. “Mom, you look really tired. Are you getting enough sleep?”
The concern in her voice was so genuine, so much like the little girl who used to bring me tea when I had headaches, that I almost broke right there. “I’m fine, baby. Just busy with work.”
“You sure? You seem... I don’t know. Different lately.” She tilted her head. “Is Dr. Bedi sure you’re not sick? Because you’ve been acting strange ever since that appointment.
“I’m fine. Apparently turning forty-three comes with some hormonal adjustments I wasn’t expecting.”
Tia didn’t look convinced, but after a moment she nodded.
I seized the opening before she could ask another question I couldn’t answer. “Back to the dress.” I looked down at her phone again. “It’s beautiful.”
“The boutique here has it in stock.” Tia swiped to show another angle. “I already called. They can hold it for you if you want to go try it on this week. But you need to order it soon. Custom orders take at least four weeks.”
I stared at the fitted silhouette, imagining my body in December. By then, I’d be eighteen weeks along. I’d need an empire waist and strategic draping. Anything but this sleek, form-fitting design.
“I need to think about it.”
Tia’s face fell. “Think about what? It’s perfect for you.”
“I know, baby. I just need to make sure the timing works.”
“What timing?” Her eyes narrowed. “You order it, they make it, you pick it up. Unless...” She tilted her head. “You already have something else in mind?”
“No. I don’t have anything else.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
