Three women who know Sam well enough that she texts them or meets them when things go sideways. The people she trusts.
"That's actually really cool," I say.
Sam looks at me like she's trying to figure out the angle. "You think so?"
"Yeah. I mean it."
She shifts her weight, glances past me toward the street, then back. "You could come. If you want."
The offer hangs there.
"You want me to meet the Boss Babes?"
"Yeah." She says it fast, like if she slows down she'll rescind it. "I mean, they've been asking about you anyway."
Asking about me.Which means Sam has been talking about me.
"Should I be nervous?"
Sam's mouth quirks. "Oh, definitely. Three women who've heard everything about you? You should be terrified."
She's messing with me now. "Okay. I'm in."
"You sure? They're not going to go easy on you."
"Where's the fun in that?"
She pulls out her phone. Thumbs move across the screen. She hits send and the screen lights up immediately. Three times in rapid succession.
"They're excited?" I ask.
Sam tilts the screen so I can read it.
Priya
??????
Liv
FINALLY
Nadia
Data point: this is significant
"You have no idea," Sam says.
We take the subway two stops downtown into Tribeca, the post-presentation adrenaline keeping the conversation light.By the time we turn the corner onto Greenwich Street, I'm genuinely looking forward to the interrogation.
The wine bar is small. Eight tables, exposed brick, a chalkboard menu listing wines I've never heard of. It tries for cozy and mostly succeeds.
Three women wait at the corner table. Wine glasses in front of them, coats draped over chair backs, eyes tracking us the second we walk through the door.
This is it.
If they don't like me, this gets complicated.
Sam raises a hand in a small wave and heads toward the table. I follow.
