To: ThePrez@serenityrangers.com
From: ED@mythicmail.com
Subject: Ev, E.E., Hardass … ThePrez?
Everett, is that you? Because if it is — I love you.
— Edie
That evening she Skyped her grandparents to break it to them that she’d failed. She’d tried to strike a blow for the little guy. All she’d really done was make life intolerable for the true corporate paladin.
Everett.
“So I resigned,” she said after she’d stuttered through all that had happened. “As I walked out, Bethany joined me. You remember Bethany from the commune? It turned out she quit right after me.”
It was hard to admit her failure to her grandparents, who were beaming at her out of her laptop screen. They’d raised her, given her their best. “I just wanted … ” Her voice broke. “I just wanted you to be proud of me.”
“We are proud of you, sweetheart,” her grandmother said.
“But … but management won. And Philip, the worst abuser, nearly won the day.”
“We’re still proud of you,” her grandfather said. “You did what you thought was right. You helped people, honey.”
“I helped management!”
“No, you helped Houghton and Bethany,” her grandmother said. “They’re people, too.”
Her grandfather nodded. “You helped people, not the company or the bottom line.”
“But even that doesn’t matter,” her grandmother said. “We’re proud of you, sweetheart, whatever you decide to do. We’re proud of you because we love you.”
• • •
A week later, Edie was sitting at her kitchen table, going through the stack of open positions that she’d printed out. Bethany was with her, making coffee.
Edie’s pencil hovered over the programmer’s job she had interviewed for yesterday. It was a nice place, progressive and welcoming. But the CEO’s hair was too light, and a bit shorter than she trusted … oh heck. She was thinking of Everett again.
Why hadn’t he called?
Well, she knew why. He’d basically told her that she was trouble, trouble he didn’t need and didn’t want. She didn’t blame him. After all, who had been Sedgwick’s willing fool?
She crossed out the job listing, harder than was necessary.
“Did they offer you a job?” Bethany set a mug of latte in front of Edie and sat next to her with her own mug.
“Yes. But it wasn’t quite right.” Edie sipped. The sting of caffeine mingled with chocolate and sweet creamer. After a profitless week of searching and more than a little blue, Edie was very glad Bethany and her espresso machine had come to visit. “So far five companies have. None of them were quite right. You?”
“I’ve got two interviews tomorrow.”
“Good work.” Edie paused. “I’ve been wanting to ask something. Why did you quit HHE? You’d just been promoted.”
“The rumors.” Bethany shuddered. “Houghie, thanks to you, is starting to see me as a force in my own right. But even he believed I got the HHE promotion because we were sleeping together. I quit because I need a job of my own, Edie. Something I can be proud of, that Houghie can be proud of me for having.”
Edie thought of her grandparents, who were proud of her just because they loved her, and rubbed suddenly itchy eyes. Apparently, Howell wasn’t like that. Yet.
Everett was.
A tear squeezed out. She dashed it away.
“Thinking about Everett?”
“Could you tell?” She tried to take her mind off him by doodling on the job listings. “He hasn’t called.”
“And you can’t call him?” Bethany asked dryly.
“Oh, I called. Once.” Up the P, down the R, circle the O … “He was distracted. Said he’s in the middle of setting something up, and that he’d call when he was done. But he hasn’t. I’ve wanted to call him, but what if that was really a brush off?” She focused on the listing she’d traced. Programming manager wanted.
“Then he’s an idiot,” Bethany said. “Get on with your life, Edie. Get a kick-ass job. Then call him and make him beg.”
“Kick-ass job?” Edie picked up the paper. “Listen to this. Small but growing company. Employee-centered management style a must. Position may work closely with president. And the salary is definitely kick-ass.”
“Employee-centered? That sounds like just your thing.” Bethany leaned over. “Holy mama.”
“What?”
“That’s Tarcorp Consulting. They’re the up and comer. Investors clamoring to drown them in cash, full of bleeding-edge technology, and they’re great to their employees. Well? What are you waiting for? Call them.” Bethany grabbed Edie’s wrist, so tight it pinched. “And I want in.”
“Ouch, okay.” Edie punched the number into her phone. She gave the smooth contralto at the other end her name and some of her qualifications.
The woman asked a few questions, then said, “You sound like just the person we need, Ms. Rowan. Could you come tomorrow for an interview?”
Edie gave Bethany a thumbs up. “I could come in today.”
“Wonderful! We have an opening in an hour, at ten. And another at eleven. Would either of those work?”
Bethany grabbed her wrist again. Edie ground molars through the pain. “Well, actually … I know another progressive manager who’d be great. Could we have both appointments?”
“Absolutely. See you at ten.”
Edie clicked off. “We’re in. Can you let me go now?”
Bethany squealed and swept Edie into a hug that was actually more painful than the snake bite. “Thank you, thank you! This is ten times better than HHE. Houghie’ll just puke with envy. I’ve got interview clothes in the car. Can I — ?”
“Bathroom’s yours.” Released, Edie raced into her bedroom, sloughed sweats and donned heels and hose. They made it to Tarcorp Consulting with five minutes to spare.
The place had an attractive setup, half open, half private offices, and plenty of sunlight and lovely plants and art. The dozen people visible were in various stages of working, including two unabashedly doing nothing but thinking.
The receptionist guided them to the back. “Ms. Blondelle, you’re scheduled with HR, that door there. Ms. Rowan, you’ll interview with the president first.” She gestured Edie into a sunny corner office.
The office was split into two sections, a large sitting area with couches and tables, and a work area.
Behind the workstation, chestnut hair falling in loose waves to his shoulders, was Edward Everett Kirk.
Edie slowed. He looked up.
Their eyes met.
A smile spread on his face, brighter than the sunlight streaming through the windows. “Edie, right on time.” Without embarrassment, he leaped to his feet and hugged her.
“Have a nice interview.” The receptionist grinned and left.
Everett waved Edie to the couches. “I was going to call you tomorrow. Your timing is perfect. As usual.”
She stumbled to a couch and sat. “You started your own company, Mr. Kirk?”
“Restarted. Seemed like the best fit for me. Combines my corporate know-how with the independence of my Tarzan. I’m Everett here, not Mr. Kirk.” His smile grew.
Edie got lost in that dimple. She missed him so badly she shook with it.
He sat beside her, took her hands in his. “Edie, I’m sorry. I should have seen Sedgwick was behind the trouble at HHE sooner. I would have, but I was so angry and heartsick after your hearing. Then, when I figured it out, I was furious with myself for letting him get the upper hand. I was so afraid he’d threaten you before I could take him out.”
Her heart warmed, hearing that. “He was tricky, Everett. I let him use me, not once, but twice.”
“He deceived you. That’s different. Then, after he was arrested, well … I couldn’t face you until I had fixed it so I’d never be that vulnerable again. So that you would never be vulnerable again. I’d started my own company years ago and decided to spin it up again, expand it.”
“But you didn’t call.” Her fears bubbled out. “It was a week. You could have told me.”
“I didn’t want to call until I was sure I could make a go of it. But I couldn’t have waited much longer. I missed you so much.” He smiled. “Forgive me?”
She’d been so worried, but she couldn’t lie to him. Never could. She smiled back. “Always.”
They smiled for long moments into each other’s eyes. Then Everett cleared his throat. “Let me tell you about the position I’ve got in mind for you. A people manager. Someone who can relate to the worker, and fights for the little guy. Someone who complements both my Tarzan and my Kirk.” He kissed her hand. “The job title is Partner.”
She clasped his hands like a lifeline. “What about fraternization between employees?”
“I hope so.” He released her with one hand to snag a box out of his pants pocket. A ring box. “I love you, Edith Ellen Rowan. I hope you’ll say yes to a lifetime partnership, in business and at home.”
“Oh, Everett, I love you too. Yes!”
To: ED@mythicmail.com
From: ThePrez@serenityrangers.com
Subject: I love you
Edie — I love you too :)
— Everett