“Yes, I am. It’s entertaining. You enjoy working down here?”
“Yeah, I like it. Conners has a really positive corporate culture and—”
“Spare me the cheerleading. Do you like working in this office?”
“It’s a hell of a lot better than being lobby gatekeeper at the Winston Building. I have an office here, so I can work without a hundred distractions. Not to mention, I don’t have to face all the irate walk-ins who insist they don’t need an appointment to see anyone they want. If there’s one thing secretarial work taught me, it’s that a lot of people are arrogant, and the rest are basically stupid.”
“Well, I suppose I did ask what you thought of working here...” he said, hands in his pockets.
“The people here are great. The walk-ins at the Winston lobby were mostly idiots though. It’s refreshingly idiot-free here.”
“I wouldn’t go so far as to say idiot-free. Perhaps there are a reduced number of idiots per floor compared to your previous job, but there are several VP’s I’d describe as complete dumbasses.”
“Did you say dumbass? I thought if you went to Exeter they taught you to say something much fancier than dumbass. Maybe you can say it in French?”
“L’idiot isn’t as satisfying to say. I’ve spent hours with these people, trying to explain the most basic principles of running a publicly traded conglomerate, but their concerns are entirely insular.”
“You mean they’re focused on their own departments?”
“Yes.”
“Isn’t that why they were hired? To show stewardship over their narrow purview?”
“They seem incapable of seeing the larger picture, the direction this company must go. My grandfather didn’t leave a son to take up the reins. There’s only myself, and my views are so different from his that it’s been a rough transition. The board and the stockholders are used to Grandfather’s steady patience, his conservative investments, the annual anniversary gala for him and Grandmother.”
“There’s a gala?”
“There was one every year, very lavish in the old style. She passed away two years ago, and I think that was what convinced him it was time to step down. None of us live forever. They had a grand time while it lasted. I remember sneaking champagne from the trays as a child at the parties, and thinking the entire world was made of gold and roses.”
“It must have been wonderful. Were they very happy together?”
“Yes. But—they met and married before he made his fortune. So he knew he could trust her. That she was more than a golddigger. They were partners in the beginning. She worked right alongside him until my mother was born. Then they had enough money that she could be a society wife and my mother a debutante.”
“Then how is it you’re a Conners if your dad isn’t one?”
“I carry my mother’s name. My grandfather’s name. My father was the husband in a youthful folly that didn’t last long.”
“Oh. I’m sorry. I mean, I was totally being nosy.”
“I don’t mind it. I thought it was common knowledge. I spent most of my childhood away at school, holidays with my grandparents and Mother and whoever her latest boyfriend was.”
“That’s...sad. My parents were...not super happy together, but they stayed together until I graduated high school and Pax was in college.”
“Then what? Did they divorce?”
“Yeah, and by the time I was 21 they were both gone.”
“You mean they passed away?”
“Yes.”
Her mom was the teller at a bank that was robbed. The guy saw her push the silent alarm and shot her. The year before that, her dad wrecked his car while he was drunk. So basically, she didn’t enjoy her college years. But she didn’t want to seem depressing and dark, so she left all that out.
“That’s horrible, truly, Paige. I’m so sorry.”
“I still have my sister. At least...”
“What?”