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I went shopping to find a new cocktail dress for parties we frequented. When I got home, the door to Curt’s office was slightly ajar, and I could hear him on the phone. I knew I shouldn’t listen because work discussions were confidential. However, I couldn’t resist learning more.
My husband was always vague about work. My understanding of his company was limited to the following:
Curt was a pharmaceutical chemist but simultaneously served as General Counsel for a small American company that couldn’t facilitate its drug testing in the US. Thus, this cancer research company had outsourced drug development to Shanghai, China. The development site could perform all preclinical tests. Most of the time, his work pertained more to chemistry than the law.
I leaned in to listen, but abruptly Curt swung the door wide open, and I practically fell to the floor.
“Hold on a second,” Curt said to the person on the phone. “I’ll have to call you back.”
“Hi Curt,” I stammered nervously hoping my husband wouldn’t berate me for eavesdropping.
“Lana, I had no idea you were home. How long have you been here?”
“Not long. I just walked through the door,” I lied while trying to regain my composure.
Curt nodded. “Did you research the details of our trip to Xi’an?”
“Um ... I’ve been busy.”
“Busy, doing what?”
“How difficult can Xi’an be? We can wing it.”
“Woman, I’m going to kill you. Do I look like a man who wings it?”
“No, but you should try.”
“Lana, our holiday requires a detailed list of sites, maps, directions, and everything else.”
“Uh, huh,” I murmured with disinterest.
“I’m very busy with work and rely on you to complete these details.”
“Speaking of work, do you think it’s a good idea to include non-competition and penalty clauses in your employment contracts?”
Curt stopped suddenly and asked, “Why were you reading through confidential documents?”
“You accidentally left them on the breakfast table,” I replied nervously.
“I need to pack,” Curt grumbled as he walked into the bedroom. “We don’t have much time.”
I shrugged casually. “It’s not like we’re going to Pudong. Hongqiao Airport isn’t very far away.”
“It’s Friday night and traffic is always bad at this hour.”
“Curt, I know you think those clauses are good deterrence practices. However, if you litigate in California then they might backfire.”
“Can we talk about this later?”
“A California court could invalidate your entire contract which would affect the ownership of your scientists’ work,” I continued.
“Damn it,” Curt screamed from the bedroom. “What the hell is this?”
“What is what?” I asked as I walked into our bedroom.
“This,” Curt yelled pointing at his shoes covered in vomit.
“I didn’t do it,” I said holding my hands in the air like a criminal under arrest.
“No shit, Lana. I know you didn’t throw up all over my shoes. Where is that bastard?”
“I’m so sorry, my darling,” I said to Peter, my new friend who had captured my heart with his big green eyes, brick-pink nose, and black glove-like paws. He spent most of his time sunbathing behind the drapes by the window.
“Thank you, but I’m still angry.”
“Curt, I wasn’t talking to you. I was talking to Peter.” I gently cradled my cat like a baby, while he swooned in my arms.
“I’m not sure which is more disgusting, this puke or the way you kiss that cat.”
“I’m cleaning it up,” I promised while running to get paper towels and Clorox wipes. “Maybe we should skip this trip since I don’t want to leave Peter alone.”
“No, the maids can take care of him.”
“I wish we could take my little bon vivant with us.”
“No, we’re not taking him anywhere. Lana, please don’t wear that hat.”
“Why?”
“It’s ridiculously huge. Do you want to be that person on the plane?”