Just a few more clients.
Just a few more?—
“Olivia...” He waits a beat for me to look at him. “Could you hang back a moment?”
I somehow manage to close my laptop without slamming it and slide it back into my bag, stealing myself another moment to gather my composure before looking at this man I want to strangle with my bare hands.
Tristan waits for Dee and Dumb to leave the conference room before sitting back down at the head of the table between Cam and Peter.
Please, sweet baby Jesus, let this be it.
“Listen, Olivia,” Cameron interjects, and I cringe, already not loving his tone. “We know you’ve been waiting to make partner, but we just don’t think you’re there yet.”
Before I can even open my mouth, Peter steps in. “Being partner takes everything, Olivia. It takes long hours and unbelievable dedication.”
The hair on the back of my neck stands on edge, like I’m about to get stabbed.
These fuckers.
“I believe my track record has proven I have no problem working long hours, gentlemen. And I’ve certainly never givenyou any reason to question my dedication to the firm. I’m not sure what else you’re looking for, but I can assure you?—”
“Olivia,” Tristan stops me. “Our concern is that you’re not settled. Yes, you’re dedicated. Yes, you’re good at your job. You’re one of the best we’ve ever had, but you’re still young. You’re not?—”
“I’m not what?” My inner boss bitch is reminding me to keep my temper on lockdown because freaking out and calling this man a limp-dick little prick is not going to make me partner right now.
The way Tristan looks down his Roman nose at me makes me cringe. This isn’t going to be good. “You’re a young woman, Olivia. You’re going to want to settle down. You’re going to want to find a husband. Start a family. You can’t think we’ll always be your top priority.”
I close my eyes as I inhale.
Did he just tell me I didn’t get the job because I’m a woman who can’t balance my job and a possible family I may or may not ever have?
I look between the three men, taking my time to decide how exactly I want to handle this.
Telling them all to get fucked isn’t an option.
Threatening them with HR because apparently they’re sexist assholes isn’t much of an option either, considering this is their firm, and I’m an at-will employee.
But seriously, I can’t let this go. No way. Not today. Not in this lifetime.
With my mind made up, I smooth my hands over the cool mahogany table and look over the three partners. “I’m sorry, gentlemen, I’m not sure I heard you right. Are you not offering me partner because I’m a woman or because I might one day be a wife and mother?”
“We’re not offering anyone partner today, Olivia.” Cameron straightens his tie. “We’re simply saying we’d feel more comfortable with the idea of a younger partner if they were more...”—he clears his throat, like that’s going to make this axe-dropping any better—“settled and had already shown us they can balance the inevitable.”
Inevitable? What the hell?
I’m not being made partner because I’m notsettled.
Are you kidding me?
What in the Mad Men era of business?—?
My head spins as my blood boils.
I’ve chosen my career over having a life, and now I’m being punished for it.
Maybe Serena had the right idea.
I think I need a drink.
