I nodded while Will tipped his head back and took a few gulps of wine.
“Well, welcome.” The woman made introductions, and I immediately forgot the names of everyone on the couch, though I nodded politely. “You two both interested in becoming consultants?”
I opened my mouth, but curly hair didn’t wait for me to answer. “I just love it when couples sign up together.” She winked at me. “Husband and wife duos always sell better than singles.” She sniffed at the woman beside her. “Wish I could get my hubby to sign up with me—he’d never agree to be my downline though! Ha!”
The women on the couch giggled, while I shot Will an amused look. He didn’t return it.
“I’m nobody’s downline, m’kay?” He stood with one hip cocked, swirling his glass of red, a distasteful curl to his lip.
The curly-haired woman waved a hand at him. “Oh, it’s not an insult, hon. We’re all somebody’s downline.”
The ladies nodded in agreement, and Will sniffed, his expression softening slightly.
I grinned. “Besides, we’re not togeth—”
He flung an arm out, blocking me, and slid slightly in front of me. “You say couples make more money? How much are we talking?”
I rolled my eyes at his back. Snakes. He’d taken the bait.
I gritted my teeth and muttered at him, “You’re just here for laughs, remember? To hear the ‘drivel,’ as you put it, that they sucker in the gullible with?”
He waved a hand and hissed at me to be quiet. “Don’t be rude, Jolene, it doesn’t hurt to at least hear them out.”
I folded my arms and polished off the rest of my measly glass of wine. I definitely needed more to get through this.
I sidestepped around Will and addressed the curly-haired lady. “So how about that summit yesterday, huh?”
The ladies on the couch all nodded.
“Such a tragedy.”
“I can’t believe Mama Pearl is gone.”
“Yeah, yeah, it was awful.” I waved it off, just wanting to get my information and get out of there. “But I meant those protesters. Can you believe they had the gall?”
A blond on the loveseat clicked her tongue. “So disrespectful.” She leaned forward and looked around at us all. “You know, I heard Carolyn tried to get her entire downline to join her in boycotting the summit.”
The women all muttered and shook their heads.
“Such a betrayal. I can’t even imagine.”
“You know, we grew up together, but I’ll never speak to her again.”
Another nodded. “She’s dead to me.”
I raised my brows. Wow. Now I understood what Peyton meant last night about being in or out—if you were out with these ladies, you were really out.
I licked my lips. “What—what was that name again? Carolyn what?”
The blond blinked at me, confused. “Carolyn Lopez?”
I snapped my fingers. “That’s the one. She was the leader of the protests?”
The blond shrugged. “That’s what I hear. You know, it’s one thing if you just can’t cut it, but it’s another to turn around and blame Potent Potions—after everything they’ve done for us.”
The ladies raised their glasses in agreement, and I winked at Will. I’d gotten the information I wanted, and now it was time to make my escape. “Well, thanks, ladies, it’s been swell, but I’ve got to get—”
“Everybody take your seats, it’s presentation time!”
Sue and her friends swept in from the kitchen, snack trays in hand. They herded everyone deeper into the living room, and I found myself being jostled to a spot with Will behind the couches. I frowned toward the front door—I was trapped, shoulder to shoulder, at least six women away from sweet, sweet freedom.
16
OPEN UP!
Ladies perched on the arms of couches and sat down on the floor, the couches at their backs. Heidi slid onto the arm of an easy chair, while Will and I stood in the back. My spirits sank as I realized I was trapped. My shoulders slumped as I looked at my empty wineglass—had I wandered into a nightmare?
Sue swished her wand through the air, and the lamps dimmed. A floating, glowing gold chest hovered in front of her, and the lid lifted—purple light spilling out.
“Ladies, and Will, thank you so much for coming to my party tonight. But it’s not just a party—no.” Sue waggled a finger. “It’s so much more.”
I snickered and looked to Will to share an eye roll, but he shushed me. Oh, great. He’d gone traitor—I was alone.
Tiny glowing vials of potions floated out of the velvet-lined interior of the chest. Sue stepped forward and uncorked the first one. “Potent Potions offers a full range of proprietary blends designed to support you and your loved ones. Potent Potions isn’t about what’s inside the vials”—Sue swept an arm across the room—“it’s about what’s inside you.”
She lifted one palm. “What are your dreams? Financial freedom? Becoming an independent seller is the fastest, most proven way to make a boatload of money on your own schedule. All it takes is hard work and believing in yourself. Why, just look at me.” She fluffed her black bob. “I’ve been able to quit my job. Why, I had to, just to keep up with the workload.”
I frowned and muttered to Will, “Is that a good thing?”
“You!” Sue pointed at me, and all thirtysomething sets of eyes swiveled my way. My heart picked up its pace. “What’s your job?”
I gulped. “Pet psychic.”
Sue’s smile faltered for only a moment before she plastered it back on her face. “And wouldn’t you love to quit to be your own boss?”
I pressed my lips into a tight line. “I mean… I already am but—”
The curly-haired lady on the couch cut me off. “My sister recently found out she can talk to animals.”
I froze. Did this lady somehow know my secret?
“She realized the only men she talks to are pigs!” Curly slapped her thigh and erupted into bawdy laughter while all the women tittered.
Sue adjusted her cardigan and went on with her presentation. “Don’t we all want independence? To spend more time with our families? To be able to
