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The little color he had drained completely from Len’s face.
Rhonda from HR cleared her throat. “We appreciate the notice, but per our policy with the nature of our business, we will have to ask you to leave immediately after relinquishing your computer and building identification,” she commanded robotically, as an HR professional is prone to do.
“Now, hold on a minute there, Ronnie,” Len said, waving his hand in her face dismissively. Oh, what a thrill. He was going to grovel; I couldn’t wait to hear it. “Is there anything we can do to get you to stay, Bea? I assume you’re going to another agency? You don’t strike me as the type of woman to ditch her career once she lands a husband.”
“Obviously not, Len. This isn’t the 1960s.”
“Right. So would a counteroffer be of interest to you at this juncture? We will make it worth your while, I can promise you that.”
“I appreciate it, Len, but I find that after loyalty has beenquestioned, all bets are off in the future. How could you trust me again with one foot out the door? It would become a festering problem, I’m sure of it. I’m sorry, but I just don’t see it working out.”
“This is business, Bea. I think we can all handle a frank discussion about money. Can’t we?”
“Len,” I said, summoning my most patronizing of voices. “I think it’s best for both parties if we call it a day.”
“But there are three parties to consider now, aren’t there?”
Well, he wasn’t being subtle about the Case Company. I loved watching him scramble, grasping at straws, all to keep me at the agency.
“That’s true, but I’m no longer considering your party, Len. Thanks for everything.” I grinned, standing up from my chair. I already had my desk cleaned out, computer and badge ready to submit, so I floated on out of there with my head held high, wearing a short skirt that would have been wildly inappropriate without nylons. Still, it was a subtle invitation for Len and the rest of them, Jessica McCabe included, to kiss my ass.
The Case Company would call to cancel their contract the next day.
•••
SYL AND Ihad made plans to take a long lunch together to celebrate my new job. Collin was invited, but he had taken the day off, citing he wasn’t feeling well and needed rest. I’d have to address it later. I was all too ready to toot my own horn. I deserved it. My new office was much closer to the Case Company, a few blocks away, so when Syl asked me to lunch on my first day, I figured it was harmless enough, since I enjoyed her company.
“My boyfriend and I are thinking about moving to Queens,” sheshared with me over fast casual sushi. “After we get married, we want to have a baby and I don’t think we could afford Brooklyn anymore. Oh, hold on.” Syl pulled a small brush out of her bag and gave my front tresses a quick once-over, gently grooming me like a mother would a child. “Windy today, just a little knot. I got it.”
“Thanks. Well, what does John do?” I asked, slightly jarred by her touch, but also oddly grateful. “I don’t think you’ve ever told me.” Most of our conversations thus far had revolved around me. Iwasthe more interesting one, bless her.
“He makes pizzas at his family’s restaurant. They’re actually pretty successful, but John is kind of a, uh, wild soul, God love him, so I don’t see the D’Attomos giving him any real responsibility soon. They have other favorite sons, older ones. I’m sure he’ll get a piece, but we won’t be able to rest on our laurels. So we’re relying onmysuccessful climb up the corporate ladder.”
“What were you doing before the Case Company?”
“Retail. I was a manager at H&M.”
“And you didn’t want to climb their ladder?”
Syl popped a piece of a California roll in her mouth, talking as she chewed. “Meh, retail is a thankless job. Everyone treats you like you’re a piece of shit, especially when you’re the manager. So when I heard about this opportunity, it seemed like it might be less of a headache. It’s about the same pay, but better hours and better benefits. And I only have to deal with a few assholes instead of a lot of them.” She snorted and then stopped herself. “Not that Collin’s an asshole! He’s actually a very nice man, Bea. All things considered.”
“What kind of things?”
“You know. I mean, no offense, but you guys are fucking rich people.”
Oh, how Ilovedhearing her say that, but I still wanted her to beable to relate to me. I wasn’t like them, that had been made abundantly clear, even if I still wanted to join their club. Regardless, I inexplicably wanted Syl to be my friend. Maybe it was the caring, maternal energy she gave off, being a few years older than me, but I found myself liking the way she made me feel. It made me want to share things with her. Noteverything,but something. “I guess so,” I said, “but I don’t come from the kind of money that Collin does. Come on, you saw how his family was about our engagement.”
“Pretty cold.”
“Downright subzero,” I said, swallowing some sashimi.
“Where are you from, Bea?” Syl asked me in a way that was so sincere, so genuinely curious. Her voice was soft and she looked me in the eye. She wasn’t just making polite conversation. She really wanted to know.
I gave her the North Carolina spiel. She hung on every word like she was memorizing it. I adored having her full attention. We were bonding, even if it was under false pretenses, at least on my end. I wanted to know more about her, too. She was so pretty and despite the frequent cussing, she was obviously intelligent. So how did she end up in such a humdrum life? Why didn’t she strategize better? Who’d raised her? So many missed opportunities, and the fiancé? Surely she should have dumped him. He wasn’t even fit to inherit a pizza parlor.
“What about you?” I asked her.
“I’m from here, but I was a foster kid,” she told me. “I went into the system as a four-year-old.”
