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“I’ve earned this,” he said with quiet intensity. “I’ve been here every Christmas Eve, every day after Thanksgiving.”
“And I haven’t?” I cried, throwing my hands up before remembering I was never to show weakness in front of him.
“That’s the issue isn’t it? You think you should make partner instead of me, and you hate me because I’m the favorite.” He looked all too genuine and serious, like he might provide a shoulder to cry on, while still making sure he was one rung ahead of me on the ladder.
This was getting too serious, too fast. I had to deflect.
“No Andrew. I don’t hate you because you operate under the delusion that you will make partner. I hate you for stealing my best business development opportunity in years, for ingratiating yourself with the most senior female partner to the exclusion of the women in this group, for generally kissing ass and grinding the rest of us under the heel of your custom loafers.”
His eyes turned flat and he took a step back. I shivered slightly, feeling the temperature drop despite my racing heart.
“So that’s what you think of me? Please, tell me more, Margo.”
Shit. I was in too deep. I had showed my hand to the devil himself and now he was never going to forget it.
“I think this conversation has gone on long enough. I need to get moving on this deal.”
He bared his teeth slightly at me and stalked out of my office.
I sat back down at my computer and tried to distract myself from the awkwardness with Andrew by working, but my mind kept circling back to the flatness of his eyes and the tightness of his expression. Things had always been tense between us, ever since that day in our second year, but this time felt different. This time felt like if both of us didn’t bend, something would break. Was I the problem?No way. He betrayed you, remember?
I had to remind myself he wasn’t a tortured hero in a movie, as much as he looked like one. He had made the choice to alienate us. God, the way he had tormented Cynthia when they were staffed together as juniors on the BlackTower deals. She must have cried in my office twice a week for months. He was ultra competitive. I had begrudging respect for it, but not for his methods. I was more of a “keep your head down and just be the best” type of competitor.
I didn’t like the person I was around him, though. I wasn’t usually cruel or cutting. I wasn’t sweetness and light, but I was thoughtful and chose my words carefully. With Andrew it felt like I was pure emotion, reacting out of anger, lashing out at every other word. I sipped from my coffee and considered. Maybe, just maybe, I needed to be a little bit nicer. If I extended an olive branch, would he meet me in the middle?
7
Margo
Iwoke up to Mr. Magoo kneading my hair. I grabbed my phone. My eyes were gritty and it took a second for the time to sink in. It was seven am on my last day of freedom.Crap.I started, causing Magoo to meow unhappily and nearly knocking my laptop off the bed. I grabbed for it, almost sliding off the edge myself. I groaned. I had nodded off around three am with the final revisions to the purchase agreement dancing like sugarplums in my head.
“Sorry Magoo.” I scratched under his chin and he butted my hand happily. “I wish I could trade places with you today. I’m sure your plans are to lay on the couch and then switch to a nap under the radiator.” He butted me again, his little pink tongue coming out to lick my hand.
I checked my messages while Magoo’s purring vibrated through my body.
Emily
I might murder Josh before Christmas ever happens. Please say you’re coming home soon.
Josh was my Dad’s best friend’s son and both Emily’s eternal tormentor and childhood crush. Dad and Len Philips had been friends for 20 years and Josh had practically grown up with us from the age of 12. I pictured my whole family together for the holiday. If Josh was home, I was betting he, Len and Mary were over at the house every night to play cards with my parents. Mary had taught my Mom poker a few years ago and Mom couldn’t get enough. I sighed. I missed them. I had gone up to visit over the summer but Emily hadn’t been able to come.
I’ll be there Christmas Eve. Keep the homicide to a minimum until I’m there to help.
In response I got a selfie back of Emily on the couch with a big mug of coffee raised like it was a pint of beer, Christmas lights twinkling behind her.
I smiled and sent back “Looking good! Can’t wait to see you <3.” I flopped back onto my bed and sighed. I missed my family.
Emily was a vet in Portland, so I saw her only occasionally when I visited my parents, but she came home to visit much more frequently.
She worried constantly about our mom and dad and stopped by once a month to make sure there was nothing that needed fixing at the house, that our dad was remembering his heart medication, that our mom was getting out and walking enough. I wasn’t the worrying type, having decided long ago that I had enough to worry about and that the best thing I could do for my parents was spend quality time with them when I visited. Emily was a classic older sister.
I smiled to myself, thinking of Emily’s busybody mentality when it came to family celebrations and holidays. She had already sent at least three emails to our mom asking what we were having for Christmas dinner and whether she should get these crabs she found at the specialty grocery store near her house. Meanwhile, I had made sure the lady at Bergdorf’s had gift wrapped everything for me, because there was no way I would have time before the holiday.
Whenever I was down in the dumps about firm life, Emily reminded my life looked like a movie. “You’re living the American dream Margo! You zip up your Jimmy Choo boots and go trotting off to your glass tower every morning, where you make decisions that change the world.”
More like make decisions that make Gerald even richer. Speaking of the devil...I bet he wasn’t up yet but would be soon. And even though I had a 10 am deadline, I could look forward to receiving several increasingly tetchy check-ins.
“Let’s go, Magoo! Time to face the day.” Magoo eyed me like I was rabid but hopped off the bed and followed me into the kitchen, where he let out a few meows to remind me that I had better feed him before I even thought about using the bathroom. I poured his kibble while he regarded me with what I assumed was excitement. He had the inscrutability of all Scottish Folds. I gave him one more scratch before I went to get ready for work.
