Darla's nose wrinkles. "Make the war room… girly."
The word lands, a struck match.
Frankie pushes off the wall. "No glitter."
Candace nods. "We can do it without glitter."
Maggie's grin turns wicked. "We can do it with lace."
Ruby writes under MALACHI: WAR ROOM MAKEOVER—Pastel tablecloths, fake flowers, tea lights, "Boss Babe" mug, vision board supplies.
Frankie makes a choking sound. "A vision board?"
"Psychological warfare," Ruby says reverently.
Candace chimes in. "Execution. It has to happen when they're all called to the war room. Trapped."
Ruby's eyes gleam. "Trapped. In the feminine divine."
Darla laughs. "He's going to look as though he's about to commit murder."
Maggie lifts her brownie in a toast. "With a 'Boss Babe' mug in his hand."
Ruby points at the next name. "East."
Frankie sits forward. "We don't touch his bike. We touch his kingdom." She smiles. "The shop. We give it a rebrand."
Ruby writes under EAST: GRAND REOPENING! EAST'S BIKE BOUTIQUE—Balloons on handlebars, ribbon across door, ceremonial scissors, fake five-star reviews.
"Fake reviews," Candace reads.
Ruby nods. "My favorite: 'Manager was professional, kind, and emotionally available.'"
Darla makes a strangled sound. "He's going to combust."
"Laminate them," Frankie says.
Darla's hand drifts to her stomach, smile wavering then steadying. "He'll hate it," she says warmly, already picturing his face.
Ruby slaps the marker. "Knox."
"We can't mess with his bike," Candace says.
Ruby's grin turns measured. "Wrong. We do exactly that."
"Knox loves his bike," I say.
"Exactly. We don't damage it. We decorate it."
I raise an eyebrow. "Decorate how?"
Ruby lifts her hands. "Full princess."
"Define princess," I say, fighting a smile.
Ruby lists on her fingers. "Tassels on the handlebars. Pink streamers. Rhinestone decals. A tiny basket."
Darla gasps. "A basket."
