Satisfied he’s dealt me a blow, he pushes the stapler onto its side before he turns to leave. Pausing at the doorway, he throws his parting comment my way. “Have you checked your calendar this morning? Doug wants to see us both at 8:00, probably to give me the Fonica account. I’ll ask him to let you down easy. It’s the least I can do,” he says.
I paste on a smile that convinces no one. “I guess I’ll have to see you again at 8:00 then.”
He runs his gaze across my neatly organized desk—but for the stapler, of course. “Yup, you are the most boring man alive.”
I pull my lips into a line. “So you said.”
His gray eyes are bright. “And cranky too. The girls forgot to mention that. Really, Christopher, you have the personality of an ogre.”
“Ogres are known for being cranky and boring? I must have missed that when I watched Shrek.”
He barks with laughter before sauntering along the hall back to his own office.
Wyatt Jefferson may be a prize jerk, but he’s part of the boys’ club here at Anderson and Smith. They all went to the right schools, know the right people, and are always a step ahead of an outsider like me. I’m the guy who has always had to work so much harder to be seen. To be taken seriously.
To be an equal.
What the likes of Wyatt Jefferson sees as boring and grumpy is simply me keeping my head down, trying to do the best job I can to get where I need to be.
Safe.
My phone buzzes on my desk and I glance at it, my teeth clenched at the interruption until I spot it’s my kid sister calling.
“Hey, Kelly. Whatever it is, can you tell me in two minutes? I’m due at an important meeting soon and two minutes is literally all I’ve got.” I glance at the clock. 7:53AM.
“You know how you’re my favorite brother,” she leads.
“I’m your only brother,” I correct.
“You’re that too. See? You win all brother awards.”
“What do you want, Kell?” I ask with a resigned smile, because I know what’s coming next. She’s going to ask me for cash, for books or food or some other thing she needs for college. NYU doesn’t come cheap.
“How do you know I want something, Kit?”
I glance at the clock once more. 7:54AM. “Let’s pretend you’re calling me to say hi, and not that you need some bill paid.”
“I am calling to say hi.”
“And?”
“And I am a little short on the rent this month.”
And there it is.
“How much do you need?”
“Only about $250, although if you could throw in another $100, I could eat something other than noodles this month. I know how much you care about my nutritional needs.”
This is a regular occurrence, Kelly calling me, asking for more money. There’s no way I’m not giving it to her. She’s my little sister, my only sister. She’d never take advantage of me. We’re a team, the two of us. We’ve been a team for the longest time, out of necessity as well as out of love.
“No problem.”
“You’re the best, Kit,” she gushes, and I know she means it. “Seriously. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”
“Graduate next year. That’s all I ask.”
“That’s the easy part.”
“It is for a genius like you,” I reply with a light laugh.
Truth be told, I don’t mind sacrificing so much to put Kelly through college. She’s a bright kid, and just because our parents died in debt shouldn’t mean my sister’s future should be any less dim. I know with the right start in life, she’ll go far.
Like I have.
“You’re finding out today if you’re going to Chicago for a couple months, right?”
My nerves kick up. “Right.”
“That will be so awesome for you! I hope you get it.”
“I hope so, too.”
“You’ll do great. I know you will. You’ve got to be the most loyal and hardworking employee that firm has ever known. You’ve got this.”
I love a good pep talk from my kid sister.
“I’ll call you later, and before you ask, I’ll transfer the money into your account today.”
“It’s been said before. Best. Brother. Ever.”
I smile. “Bye, Kelly.” I hang up the phone, notice the time, and do one final check of my presentation before I collect my laptop and make my way to my boss’s office.
Doug Attfield sits at his desk, talking on the phone. I knock on the metal doorjamb, and he gestures for me to come in. I take a seat on one of his leather sofas and wait, satisfied that I’m here first.
Hot on my heels, Wyatt breezes into the room and plunks himself down on the other sofa. He places his ankle on his knee and smirks at me. I avert my gaze.
You shouldn’t have to look into the face of a jerk too often in your day.
Doug finishes his conversation and calls us over to his desk. “Look, I’m gonna cut to the chase. Things are changing by the hour right now, which means I’ve had to make a snap decision about who’s going to Chicago.”
“I’m already packed, Dougie. Just tell me when I’m leaving,” Wyatt says.
Inside, I roll my eyes. Surely Doug won’t fall for that level of arrogance?
“That’s good to hear, Wyatt, because I need you on the next flight.”
What the…?
That was supposed to be my job. I should be the one on the next flight to Chicago. Me getting the fast track to junior partner.
Jefferson can’t keep his self-satisfied excitement from boiling over. He punches the air and exclaims, “Yes!” before he extends his hand to shake Doug’s.
“I have every confidence you’re going to do a great job,” Doug tells him.
“You know I will.”
“But I’ve prepared a case for—” I protest.
“My mind’s made up, Christopher,” Doug replies.
Wyatt turns to look at me and offers me the least genuine smile I’ve seen in a while. “Sorry, pal. Better luck next time.”
I’m sure he means it.
There’s not much more for me to hang around for, so I thank Doug, congratulate Wyatt through gritted teeth, and walk out of the room.
“Hold on a second,” Doug says, and I turn back.
“What is it, sir?”
“As I mentioned, a few things have changed, and an opportunity has arisen.”
This piques my interest. “What’s the opportunity?”
“It’s a lumber mill in the Pacific Northwest. We need a man on the ground to do the due diligence required before we decide whether to purchase the business. It’s a big one, high turnover, profitable. I recommended you because I know you’re the right man for the job.”
Jefferson chortles under his breath.
I ignore him. “I’m up for anything, sir. You know that. I’ll do what it takes to get the job done.”
“That’s what I like to hear,” Doug says. “A can-do attitude goes a long way at Anderson and Smith.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’ll get Anita to send you the info, but I need you to be ready to leave tomorrow. It’ll be a good two months, perhaps three, but when you come back, I think we’ll be able to have that conversation you’ve wanted to have with me for a while now.”