Can I defend a choice I can't explain?
I pick up my phone and text the Boss Babes group chat
Emergency session. Can you meet tonight?
Three responses come in under a minute. All yes.
***
Priya, Liv, and Nadia are already in the corner booth when I walk through the door at seven. Priya stands when she sees me, grabs my left hand, and checks for a ring.
"No ring. Okay, he didn't propose."
Liv studies my face. "No puffy eyes. He didn't break up with you either."
Nadia crosses her arms. "Spill."
I slide into the booth. "It's not about that. It's work."
They exchange a look.
"Professional," Nadia repeats. "With Tom."
"Yes."
Priya waves a hand. "Go."
I give them the short version. Castellano's email. Richard's offer to replace Tom. My defense of Tom's work. Richard telling me to trust my judgment.
"So you defended him," Liv says. "Richard backed you. What's the problem?"
I press my palms flat against the table. "What if I'm too close to it? What if I'm missing something?"
"Do you think Tom's work is excellent?" Priya asks.
"Yes. Objectively yes."
"Would you have defended any photographer whose work was this good?" Liv asks.
I don't hesitate. "Yes. Because losing him would hurt the project."
"Then you're not defending Tom because you can't see straight," Nadia says. "You're defending him because replacing him would be the mistake."
My sternum still feels tight.
"This isn't about Tom," Priya adds. "It's about whether you'll let Castellano bully you into compromising your vision."
Liv leans forward. "You need to tell Tom what's happening."
My stomach drops. "It's handled. Richard backed me. There's nothing Tom needs to do."
"He deserves to know Castellano is targeting him to get to you," Nadia says.
"It'll just make him uncomfortable. What if it makes things weird?"
Priya's expression doesn't change. "It doesn't always have to be comfortable to be right."
Liv's voice is quieter. "Partners communicate. Even when it's hard."
