I’m pretty sure he didn’t hear the last part because he’s started rummaging in his desk drawer. Once he finds what he’s looking for—apparently, a can of nuts—he cracks open the lid and tosses a handful in his mouth, chewing noisily.
The look I shoot him is lethal.
“What?” he says defensively.
“Should I continue, or wait until snack time is over?”
“I’m hungry. I’ve been in a meeting for three hours.” At my frown, he holds out the can. “Sorry, would you like some?”
I stare at him. “What I’d like is just five minutes of your undivided attention.”
“Only five more minutes? You got it.”
His phone starts vibrating again on his desk. I glance at it, but his eyes stay on me.
“Clock is ticking, Ms. Adams.”
He’s trying to piss you off, Kate. Don’t let him.I take a deep, steadying breath. “Women are hugely supportive of this bill. Our polling indicates eighty-three percent in favor.”
“Never mind who’s gonna pay for it, right?” He grabs his water bottle and takes a long swallow. “Look, I get it. It’s a nice idea in theory.”
“In theory?”
“The last thing Hammond would support ismoreregulations. We’re pretty busy dismantling the last eight years’ worth that completely paralyzed job growth throughout the state. Hammond’s entire agenda hinges on that promise.”
He eyes me as I process this. Something about my silence seems to soften him a touch, and when he speaks again, he almost sounds sympathetic.
“Look, I’m not trying to be rude. It’s just a fact. Subsidizing a program like this is a nonstarter.”
I register pain in my hands, and when I look down I realize I’m white-knuckling the arms of the chair. I peel my fingers off one by one.
“So there’s nothing I can say to convince you. Nothing Senator Warner can offer in exchange.”
“Nope. She has nothing we need.” He grins, baring two perfect rows of white teeth. He’s a walking advertisement for orthodontia.
“Why don’t you run it by your boss?”
“I’ll do that.” Translation:Not a chance in hell.
“Can I ask you something? If you weren’t even going to listen to what I had to say, then why’d you bother taking this meeting?”
His face goes a bit deer in the headlights, like he’s scrambling for a plausible lie.
“Sometimes things can surprise you,” he finally says haltingly. “Look, Ms. Adams—”
“It’sKate,” I say tersely.
“Kate, then.” His eyes flare a little on the syllable. “You caught me on a bad day. I’m eyeball-deep in drafting legislation that’s supposed to juggle the competing needs of fifty people who all seem to thinktheirprovisions should be the priority.” He exhales an exasperated breath, as if the weight of the world rests on his oversize shoulders.Cry me a river, buddy.“I hope you’ll forgive me for being a little short.”
I let out a clipped laugh and stand, shouldering my workbag. “A little short.Right.Thanks for your time.”
He stands too. “You know, there are other ways to go about what you’re trying to do that would garner bipartisan support. You could make it a tax play entirely if you got Senator Warner to lobby for a credit—”
My laughter erupts in a staccato burst.Ha-ha-ha.“Thanks, but I don’t need your help.”
He cocks his head to the side. “Really. So tell me again, why are you here?”
I havegotto stop setting myself up like this. “I have no idea why I’mstill here, actually. This meeting has been a gigantic waste of my time. And yourmuchmore important time as well.”
