By Design — Marcia King-Gamble

Elle Stanford, a rising star at her marketing firm's future looks bright until she unexpectedly loses her job. Forced to find something at year end, she reluctantly accepts a sales associate's position at H. E. Caldwell's, a high-end black owned store in Philadelphia. The store, though dated, attracts the elite and those with disposable income. Elle has innovative marketing ideas to turn the store around, if only her manager would let her.

H.E. Caldwell's is experiencing its own challenges. Independent stores are having a hard time surviving. And Elle finds out soon enough that the store might be up for sale. She runs into Miles Bradshaw; a man she had a one-nighter with years ago. Now Miles keeps turning up at H. E. Caldwell's. But is he interested in her, or interested in getting information for his client. Is Miles on H. E. Caldwell's side, or is he serving the entrepreneur looking to buy the store cheap? Can their developing relationship survive what Elle perceives as Miles' betrayal? Can any relationship survive if you don't trust the man you're in love with?