PROLOGUE
12:15 PM, Sept. 1
Elizabeth: DEFCON 5
Carmen: Um, you know that DEFCON 5 is like the good one? Peace breaking out everywhere? Also, glad to see you figured out texting. Welcome to the 21st century.
Elizabeth: FINE, Carmen. DEFCON 1.
Carmen: OK, I’ll bite. Did William finally go behind your back and repaint the living room the wrong gray?
Elizabeth: I’m just going to leave this here.
https://www.FLASHbooks.com/The-Four-BIG-Mistakes-of-Women-Who-Will-Never-Lead-or-Win/download
The Four BIG Mistakes of Women Who Will Never Lead or Win
Hardback/FLASHReader – September 1
by Heather Hall, COO, FLASH.com and CEO, The Hall Family
This sure-to-be runaway hit is a must-have for all women looking to get ahead in a man’s world. FLASH executive Heather Hall has been there, done that—and so have her closest friends. Drawing on all their collective experience, she reveals a distinctive set of mistakes women make that ultimately sabotage their careers—and their lives.
Don’t be another mistake—purchase Heather’s book in a FLASH! This book can be purchased with the Official Book Circle Conversation Guide.
Carmen: I don’t have time to read Heather’s crap. I’m busy actually being a mom instead of writing about how fabulous I am in the workplace. I mean, whatever. Good for her.
Sara: Hey! Some of us have to work, Carmen. Be nice.
Carmen: OK, you know I don’t mean you and Elizabeth. That’s different. I’m sorry, but you can’t be a superstar executive, wife, mom, and an author on top of it. I’m not buying it.
Sara: Carmen, I’m sure she has lots of help. We should try not to be so judgy. It’s great that one of us is so successful.
Carmen: I don’t accept your definition of success.
Sara:
Martha: While you guys were busy bickering, I clicked the link and started reading—not good.
Elizabeth: Right?! Sara, what’s the emoji for “Holy shit, I can’t believe I defended this bitch all these years?”
Carmen: Did Elizabeth Smith just say the “b” word? You have my full attention, and I’m finding the book right now.
MARCH
HEATHER
From: Heather Hall <[email protected]>
Sent: Mon. 3/2 5:17 a.m.
To: Elizabeth Smith <[email protected]>
Subject: Girls’ Weekend
So I got your message about doing our annual girls’ weekend in June. I’d love to do it, but this year I have to pass. I can’t tell you all the details, but I have a project in the works that may completely transform my career. I know that sounds melodramatic (even for me), but this project is really special. It should be ready in September if everything goes to plan.
I feel really bad that I can’t get away this year. Would you let me treat you, Carmen, Martha, and Sara to a week at my Carmel cottage? You know what, I’m not letting you guys say no. The tickets are on their way.
Love and kisses,
Heather
P.S. Any news on the baby front? I have my fingers crossed for you. I know that this will be the year you get everything you want! No one deserves it more than you.
ELIZABETH
Elizabeth’s fingers hovered over her keyboard as she considered whether to reply to Heather’s message. She was really disappointed that Heather was backing out of their girls’ weekend. Heather was one of her oldest friends, and Elizabeth had spent the whole winter looking forward to their getaway with their other three college friends, Carmen, Martha, and Sara.
She would e-mail Heather later. She needed to get her head in the game today. The Old Man and Joe had invited her to lunch, and she suspected something was in the works. It felt like it was one of those days, a day when something happened that changed the arc of things. Elizabeth’s world as a big firm attorney was characterized by long stretches of tedious, hard work punctuated by the rare day that brought a big win (or loss). A new client. A big deal. A breakup. A promotion.
Elizabeth had taken the time this morning to pick out her most flattering suit, straighten her fine, brown hair that she kept cut in a sharp bob, and apply a little more than her normal five-minute makeup. She hated that how she looked was an integral part of her success, but that’s the ways things were, and she didn’t see it changing anytime soon. She felt she was doing well enough in that department, though. The baby weight was nearly all off after months of coffee for breakfast, a salad for lunch, and the promise of a half bottle of wine on Friday if she kept it together during the week.
Elizabeth pushed back from her desk and headed for the elevator. Walking down the hall, she mentally prepared for the conversation that was to come. As she closed in on the elevator bank, Kenny strode out of his office and sidled up next to her.
“Hey, lucky,” he said with a smile. “Nice break on the office. I thought they would give it to me, but I’m happy with my spot. And I’m sure it makes them look good to have a woman in the corner office. I don’t mean that as an insult at all. You understand.”
“No offense taken,” Elizabeth replied, doing her best to mask her mild annoyance. She had developed an incredibly thick skin over the years, and it took way more than a comment like that to insult her. Getting the Old Man’s corner office was no guarantee that she would be getting the Old Man’s work or responsibility. It was just an office, after all.
Elizabeth added, “Sorry, I actually don’t have time to chat. I’m late to lunch with the Old Man and Joe.”
“Oh, didn’t he tell you? I’m tagging along. I wonder if they’ve decided to pick a new cochair.”
Hmm, thought Elizabeth. She had expected that the lunch would be an opportunity for the Old Man to dispense some of his famous “wisdom” on his way out, but it was equally plausible that with his departure they might decide to elevate someone to cochair the corporate transactions team with Joe. But surely they would be speaking to us privately on something that important, thought Elizabeth. If Kenny was coming along, it must be something else. And she doubted Kenny was in the running, a guy five years her junior, no matter how good everyone thought he was.
“I think it’s just a friendly lunch, Kenny,” replied Elizabeth calmly. “I wouldn’t make too much of it.” As they walked together toward the elevators, Elizabeth decided that she actually felt a little bad for Kenny. If they were really promoting someone, it was going to be her, and Kenny would be disappointed. Elizabeth supposed Kenny had a shot, but, in her heart, she felt certain she had the leg up, and not just because she had more experience. She was also confident that she was the better attorney. Kenny was good, too, but a lot of the big successes Kenny was known for were a result of Elizabeth’s leading the team. He wasn’t a particularly bad guy; in fact, he could be a lot of fun to work with, but he had a knack for hogging the credit. Elizabeth figured everyone knew who the real brains of the operation was, so she never drew any attention to it. Firm life was hard enough without making unnecessary enemies.