The Universe

A city, an industry, and the people who run it.

The Toxic Universe takes place in the rooms where reputations are made: boardrooms, courtrooms, showrooms, galas and kitchens after the guests have gone home.

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The Novels

Three books in story order, from a first meeting in Atlanta to the reckoning that follows.

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Meet

The Characters

Founders, partners, attorneys and spouses — each with a public profile and a private cost.

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Trace

The Timeline

The spine of the franchise, book by book, with the reader's gate protecting deeper turns.

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Where it happens

The map of the world

Every location below is named in the novels. Nothing on this map was invented for the website.

Atlanta

10 locations

Atlanta
city
The franchise's home city, where Book One begins and the founding circle lives and works.
Buckhead
district
An Atlanta district named in the Book One setting.
Open Door
institution
The nonprofit organization led by Fatima Ellis.
Mercer Hayes Creative
institution
The creative agency where David Mercer and Marcus Hayes are business partners.
Ashley's Boutique
venue
The boutique owned by Ashley Brooks-Hayes.
Carter Family Foundation
institution
An Atlanta institution named in the Book One setting.
Bridges Atlanta
institution
An Atlanta institution named in the Book One setting.
The Table
institution
Camille's dating community, built around trust, where Book Two's connections begin.
Wynn Advisory
institution
A professional setting named in Book Two.
Brielle's Beauty Studio
venue
The beauty business Brielle owns and operates.

Charlotte

2 locations

Charlotte
city
Renee Williams's city, and the setting of the Book Three leadership storyline.
Whitmore Strategic Advisory
institution
The firm headed by Celeste Whitmore, and the professional arena of Book Three.

The Web

Every connection, on one map

Select a name to isolate their relationships. Filter by book or type to narrow the world.

Filter by bookRelationship type

17 confirmed connections

RomanticFamilyFriendshipProfessionalRivalryUnresolved

Select a name to isolate their connections

Connection list

Fatima Ellis

Executive director, The Open Door Initiative

Romantic·David Mercer
A dating relationship that develops in Book One, raising difficult questions about personal autonomy.
Friendship·Ashley Brooks-Hayes
Longstanding close friends. Ashley's celebration is where Fatima meets David Mercer.

David Mercer

Co-owner, Mercer Hayes Creative

Unresolved·Renee Williams
A former romantic history that Renee carries with her into Book Three.
Romantic·Fatima Ellis
A dating relationship that develops in Book One, raising difficult questions about personal autonomy.
Family·Naomi Mercer-Reed
Brother and sister.
Professional·Marcus Hayes
Business partners at Mercer Hayes Creative.

Ashley Brooks-Hayes

Boutique owner

Romantic·Marcus Hayes
Married. Their storyline carries through Book One and into Book Three, where commitment, financial security and individual choice collide.
Friendship·Fatima Ellis
Longstanding close friends. Ashley's celebration is where Fatima meets David Mercer.

Marcus Hayes

Co-owner, Mercer Hayes Creative

Professional·David Mercer
Business partners at Mercer Hayes Creative.
Romantic·Ashley Brooks-Hayes
Married. Their storyline carries through Book One and into Book Three, where commitment, financial security and individual choice collide.

Naomi Mercer-Reed

Attorney and David’s older sister

Romantic·Jordan Reed
Married.
Family·David Mercer
Brother and sister.

Jordan Reed

Ministry and community initiatives

Romantic·Naomi Mercer-Reed
Married.

Renee Williams

Workforce strategist based in Charlotte

Unresolved·David Mercer
A former romantic history that Renee carries with her into Book Three.
Professional·Dorian Price
Dorian chairs the workforce initiative steering committee tied to Renee's storyline.
Romantic·Julian Avery
Renee's romantic connection in the Book Three storyline.
Friendship·Elise Bennett
Elise is Renee's close friend and former colleague.
Professional·Celeste Whitmore
A professional connection explored in the Book Three storyline.

Celeste Whitmore

Head of Whitmore Strategic Advisory

Professional·Renee Williams
A professional connection explored in the Book Three storyline.
Family·Nia Whitmore
Mother and daughter. Nia serves as operating director at the firm Celeste heads.

Camille

Founder of The Table

Professional·Simone Walker
The Table's founder and one of its central members.
Professional·Leah
Leah is Camille's trusted colleague at The Table.

Simone Walker

Attorney and Table member

Romantic·Adrian Cole
The central dating connection of Book Two: a genuine attraction developed at The Table.
Professional·Camille
The Table's founder and one of its central members.
Friendship·Malcolm
Malcolm is a thoughtful friend of Simone's, with his own emotional work to do.

Adrian Cole

Investor and redevelopment figure

Romantic·Simone Walker
The central dating connection of Book Two: a genuine attraction developed at The Table.

Brielle

Beauty studio owner

Romantic·Terrence
Chemistry complicated by two independent lives and professional pressure.

Terrence

Creative director and father of two

Romantic·Brielle
Chemistry complicated by two independent lives and professional pressure.

Malcolm

Mental health professional

Friendship·Simone Walker
Malcolm is a thoughtful friend of Simone's, with his own emotional work to do.

Leah

Operations lead at The Table

Professional·Camille
Leah is Camille's trusted colleague at The Table.

Nia Whitmore

Operations director at her mother’s advisory firm

Family·Celeste Whitmore
Mother and daughter. Nia serves as operating director at the firm Celeste heads.

Elise Bennett

Workforce operations professional

Friendship·Renee Williams
Elise is Renee's close friend and former colleague.

Dorian Price

Steering group chair

Professional·Renee Williams
Dorian chairs the workforce initiative steering committee tied to Renee's storyline.

Julian Avery

Restoration architect in Charlotte

Romantic·Renee Williams
Renee's romantic connection in the Book Three storyline.

The map view is available on larger screens. Every relationship is listed above in full.