“Thanks,” I say, although I’m not sure if that day will ever come. I hate feeling this negative, but right now, I don’t have a whole lot of positivity left.
“That model you created made everything more efficient, too. They should recognize that.”
“Hopefully.”
I worked my ass off on the model because I knew it’d make a difference. Nobody from management has said anything. I’ve been hiding my disappointment because I don’t want people to think I’m starved for praise. I’m just hoping they see the contribution I made despite their silence.
But given how the meeting went today…
“Or maybe not…” I tap my mouth with the end of my pen.
The tone Dad used earlier in his office comes back to me. The way
he pointedly mentioned my advancing in life and Court. Does Dad think the work I do needs a bigger impact? Greater than the model or a possible new product line?
“Do you think my dad wants me to bring in an account?”
“What do you mean?” Shock twists Rodney’s face. “Bringing in a new account is a VP job. A junior analyst would never be expected to do that.”
But Dad brought up Court. In that tone. “There’s this guy…” I start.
“Yeah?”
“I met him, and we became sort of…um…friendly.” Rodney doesn’t need to know the details of just how friendly we became. I tell him about Dad’s reaction—how I should get to know Court.
When I’m done, Rodney looks at me like I’ve turned into a Vulcan, minus the logic. “So you think your dad brought it up because he wants you to bring this guy in as a client?”
“Maybe…? He’s taking control of a trust worth more than a billion dollars. He’s going to need someone to manage his money, right?” I say, even though part of me wonders if I’m insane to even think it. Court probably already has people taking care of his money. And isn’t it awkward and ridiculous to ask him to move his account here just because we slept together once, especially after I made a big deal about not associating with him anymore?
“Well… If you can swing it, that’ll definitely get you noticed. You might end up working for the VP managing his account, too.”
Right. And the devil on my shoulder says I should go for it. If I get passed over again this year, I’m done at SFG.
Rodney continues, “But if that’s what it takes to earn you the recognition you deserve, I think it’s really unfair. You’ve already proven yourself. I don’t understand why you keep getting overlooked.”
“Thank you.” The annoyance behind his words soothes the anger inside me.
It doesn’t do any good to stay irritated at the circumstances I’m in…or the fact that I’m not taken seriously because of my gender. I need to figure out what I’m going to do to get noticed by the people who determine my fate at the firm. And I need to consider what Dad might’ve meant when he brought Court up the way he did.
Chapter Fourteen
Court
The next morning, Nate and I are at Éternité, a fancy French fusion restaurant, for brunch. I’ve mooched off him from time to time, and joked that I’d treat him if I ever became rich, which is about to happen in a couple of days.
Besides, he lent me his jet. I owe him this mimosa brunch, even if it does have a price tag that would make most financially sensible people clutch their pearls in horror. The restaurant is worth the cost, though. The décor is elegant and light, the food is prepared perfectly and the service is impeccable.
And while we’re waiting for our food and drink, Nate gets the gist of the story about how I made a mistake because Curie and Skittles are twins, and how I played nurse to Skittles.
Nate nods. “Smart. Nursing chicks always earns you points.”
“Obviously.” Except she said no dating because of some promotion, of all things. Was she playing hard to get because she regretted the one-night stand? Some women are weird about that sort of thing. They don’t want to look easy. Personally, I like easy women, especially when they’re easy only with me.
Our brunch arrives. Nate shuts up and starts attacking his bacon like he hasn’t eaten in a decade. He has a strict motto: life is uncertain—eat bacon first.
“Your phone’s quiet,” Nate says after polishing off his bacon. “Your mom give up?”
I wasn’t thinking about her, but I’m not about to tell Nate I’ve been obsessing about Skittles and her promotion. “Maybe.”