The Business

Power Plays in Postwar London

In The Business, Charlotte Bingham delivers a spirited saga of ambition, intrigue, and the price of success against the backdrop of 1950s London’s booming advertising world. When tenacious copywriter Stella Harcourt lands her dream position at the prestigious Grafton & Mills agency, she believes she has finally escaped her modest Lancashire roots. But as Stella navigates high-stakes pitches to aristocratic clients, lavish office soirées, and ruthless power brokers, she discovers that every triumph comes with a hidden cost—and that the real currency of influence is knowing how to profit from others’ secrets.

Love, Lies, and Ledger Books

As Stella climbs the corporate ladder, she crosses paths with enigmatic art director James “Jamie” Cavendish, whose sophisticated charm masks a haunted past. Their creative partnership ignites award-winning campaigns, yet sparks of jealousy and workplace politics threaten to derail both their reputations. Meanwhile, Stella uncovers discrepancies in the agency’s accounts—unexplained bonuses, offshore bank transfers, and a shell company with ties to a shadowy syndicate. Torn between loyalty to her mentors and her own moral compass, she must decide whether to expose the corruption she’s unearthed or risk being complicit in a deception that could destroy everything she’s worked for.

Redemption Beyond the Boardroom

In a thrilling climax set amid the glittering lights of a West End gala, Stella confronts those who manipulate both image and outcome, wielding creativity as deftly as any weapon. The Business is a compelling portrait of postwar ambition, where glamour and grit collide, and where one woman’s quest for integrity proves more challenging—and more rewarding—than any advertising brief.

.Charlotte Bingham is a bestselling British author celebrated for her vibrant storytelling, sharp wit, and richly drawn characters whose personal triumphs and trials reflect the shifting tides of modern society.