Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 87601 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87601 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
I leave Dad’s office and head over to my smaller, fishbowl office on the opposite side of the open seating area in the middle of the floor. The overstuffed couches, armchairs, and glass tables for holding coffee and snacks were meant to create a gathering space for the executives to network during the day. In reality, they mostly sit empty, while my father’s VPs remain glued to their computers and cell phones in their offices, none of them wanting to risk a rival overhearing the details of their latest deal.
I wouldn’t say the environment at Watson Global is toxic, but it’s absolutely competitive, and anyone who’s made it to the forty-fifth floor knows to watch their back.
I should watch mine. If anyone from the company sees me with Gideon, I’m sure my father will know all about it by the time I make it home on the subway. And then I would be scrambling to explain myself instead of controlling the conversation.
I need to hit the timing on this just right…
If Gideon and I are still going strong in a few weeks, I’ll have to find a way to break the news to my father before anyone else does. After this morning’s revelations, the thought is enough to put a knot in my stomach, but not enough to consider calling this off.
Gideon is already too important to me to even think about that.
We’ll just have to be careful for a little while. And that’s not such a big deal. I’d rather be alone with him than out at a fancy restaurant anyway.
I text him, asking if he’d be okay with getting takeout and eating at his place tonight. He texts back in a few seconds, saying—Absolutely. I’ll take as much alone time with you as I can get. I just didn’t want you to think I wasn’t interested in courting you properly.
I grin, charmed by the idea of being “courted,” and text back—We can save the courting for after we aren’t on the down-low. As big as this city is, it’s also remarkably small. And apparently, we run in the same circles.
Agreed, he says. And things are going so well with Adrian, I don’t want to flub the ball on this. We had a nice talk again last night.
That’s great! I shoot back, happy for him and Adrian.
It is, he replies. I see a path forward to a real relationship with my son for the first time in a long time. I want to break the news that we’re dating with thoughtfulness and finesse, when the time is right. And that isn’t right now. Gigi finally agreed to the paternity test. Adrian’s going with her to the doctor’s office on Thursday.
There’s a knock on my glass door and I look up to see Dave, the project manager for the shelter. I lift a hand and motion toward my cell, indicating I’ll be with him in just a second.
Good news! I type quickly. I’ll keep my fingers crossed and see you tonight at your place at six-thirty. Have a great day.
Turning my phone on silent, I leave it face down on my desk as I move to let Dave in. I’ve named Gideon “Puppy Pilot” in my phone, but I don’t want Dave to see a personal notification popping through during work hours. Dave is in his mid-thirties, but he’s as old-school as my father. Personal calls and texts are for personal time, outside the office. I’m sure he’s instructed his wife not to contact him during working hours unless it’s a life-or-death emergency.
When I’m at the helm, that’s something I want to change. People’s lives are too complicated to have such a harsh divide between personal and professional time. I’d also like to see parental leave extended by two weeks and offered to both mothers and fathers.
That’s actually at the top of my list of changes to discuss with Dad once I’ve found my footing with the company and proven I’m an asset to Watson Global.
Changes to Watson Global are still top of mind on Wednesday when I go straight from my cozy bed to a high stress jobsite in the north Bronx.
It takes approximately ten seconds in my hard hat to realize Dave’s presence isn’t appreciated—or necessary. Mitch, the foreman, and the rest of the construction team have things well in hand. Dave’s attempts at “oversight” are only slowing things down and impeding innovation.
After hearing him shut down Mitch’s proposal to add a dog grooming and kennel area near the back entrance, to help families needing to flee domestic violence with their animals in tow, I can’t help stepping in.
I draw Dave aside, sharing the research on how many abused partners put off leaving dangerous situations because most shelters don’t accept animals. “I only know that because I did a project on creating community refuge spaces in grad school,” I say, hoping to soften the blow of knowing more about the needs of domestic violence victims than the man leading this project. “But I think we could really help fill a void here, Dave. Make this project stand out. Could be great for the company’s charity and you as the leader of the project.”